Director Quality

Summary basic function of the role

The Global Quality Director will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive quality management strategy across multiple manufacturing sites worldwide. This role will ensure compliance with industry standards, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and enhance product quality to meet customer expectations.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Quality Strategy & Leadership
• Develop and implement a global quality strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Lead and manage quality teams across multiple locations to ensure standardized best practices.
• Define and enforce quality KPIs and drive improvements in yield, defect rates, and customer satisfaction.
• Quality Assurance & Compliance
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, and other relevant industry standards.
• Oversee internal and external audits, including customer audits and regulatory inspections.
• Develop and maintain a robust Quality Management System (QMS) to track non-conformances, CAPAs, and process deviations.
• Process Improvement & Problem Solving
• Implement continuous improvement methodologies to reduce defects and improve efficiency.
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive action plans to address quality issues.
• Work closely with R&D, Engineering, and Manufacturing to ensure quality is embedded in product design and production processes.
• Supplier & Customer Quality Management
• Establish supplier quality programs to ensure raw materials meet required specifications.
• Lead customer complaint resolution processes, including investigations and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with customers to understand their quality requirements and exceed expectations.
• Training & Culture Development
• Foster a culture of quality excellence through employee training and engagement.
• Lead quality training programs for plant personnel, focusing on best practices, regulatory compliance, and defect prevention.

Skills and Competencies

• Expertise in ISO 9001, CAPA, and Root Cause Analysis.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with a track record of driving global quality improvements.
• Experience working with international regulatory bodies and customer quality requirements.
• Professionalism in all forms of relevant and contemporary external and internal customer communications, i.e. phone etiquette, email protocol, etc.
• Ability to work directly with and communicate amongst all team members.
• Highly skilled at problem solving coupled with a high degree of knowledge on Cortland products, processes and procedures.
• Must be able to troubleshoot service-related product issues by performing research and extensively communicating with the various functional areas.
• Must have the ability to read and interpret high level financial reports, as well as understand the details and calculation of basic financial concepts such as cost, price, margin, variance, etc.
• Ability to interpret and communicate technical information in written, oral and diagram formats

Education & Experience:

• Education Requirements: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related field.
• Experience Requirements: 10+ years of experience in quality leadership, preferably in rope manufacturing, textiles, or industrial materials.
• Certification Requirements:
• ISO 9000 Management Overview
• ISO 9000 Internal Auditor Training
• ISO 9000 Lead Auditor Course (optional)

Physical Demands

Employee will have to be able to travel to a variety of work locations, including traveling by air/auto to remote sites. Employee will need to listen, understand, and speak with team members in person, telephonically, and electronically at all levels within a diverse workforce and with supported organizations. Employee is able to work in front of a personal computer and telephone for long periods of time, as well as sitting for a period of time due to travel.

Approximately 25-50% of travel, including international travel.