Vice President of Quality

Piston Interiors is seeking a Vice President of Quality. The Vice President of Quality is a key member of the executive leadership team reporting directly to the President. This role provides enterprise-level leadership for the Quality function across U.S. and Mexico operations and has direct responsibility for plant quality execution ensuring quality standards controls containment corrective actions and daily operating discipline are effectively deployed across all manufacturing sites. The VP of Quality leads the Quality Management System (QMS) drives disciplined problem-solving and continuous improvement strengthens customer and supplier quality performance and builds a culture where quality is owned at every level.

Strategic Quality Leadership

• Serve as the senior-most Quality executive for Piston Interiors setting enterprise direction for Quality across U.S. and Mexico operations and maintaining direct accountability for plant quality execution at all manufacturing sites.
• Provide executive direction to the Quality function ensuring alignment with corporate strategy OEM requirements and industry best practices.
• Serve as the executive voice for quality matters with customers suppliers and internal leaders reinforcing trust and credibility.

Plant Quality Execution & Operational Accountability

• Directly lead plant quality execution across all manufacturing locations including shop-floor quality standards inspection controls containment corrective actions layered process audits and adherence to control plans.
• Hold plant quality leaders accountable for daily quality performance rapid response to defects or escapes disciplined problem solving and sustainment of corrective actions.
• Partner with Plant Operations to ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet quality requirements while balancing safety delivery cost launch readiness and customer commitments.

Quality Management System (QMS) Compliance & Audit Readiness

• Establish deploy and continuously improve the Quality Management System (QMS) across all facilities to ensure compliance with IATF 16949 ISO standards and OEM-specific requirements.
• Lead internal and external audit strategy and execution including customer audits and third-party/registrar audits; ensure readiness effective responses and sustained compliance.

• Provide executive oversight of Business Management Systems (BMS) governance (process architecture document control internal audit programs and cross-functional standardization aligned to IATF/ISO and customer-specific requirements).

Launch Quality Prevention & Advanced Planning

• Lead proactive quality planning and prevention activities (including APQP alignment quality planning cadence layered process audits and launch readiness) to minimize escapes and stabilize new program launches.
• Partner with Operations Engineering Program Management and Supply Chain to integrate quality requirements into manufacturing processes control plans and production systems.

Customer Quality Performance & Escalation Management

• Own customer quality performance: oversee customer scorecards warranty data returns and audit outcomes; set targets; and lead recovery plans when performance is at risk.
• Direct structured problem solving and corrective action discipline (e.g. root cause analysis containment verification and sustainment) to eliminate recurring issues and strengthen systemic controls.

Supplier Quality & Supply Base Performance

• Strengthen supplier quality performance in partnership with Supply Chain: supplier selection input PPAP readiness performance monitoring escalation and development plans.

Quality Governance Metrics & Management Review

• Establish enterprise quality metrics and governance (e.g. SQDC FPY PPM customer complaints audit findings) with transparent reporting and effective escalation.

Organization & Talent Leadership

• Build organize and manage a high-performing Quality team including plant quality leaders ensuring clear roles capability development succession planning and accountability.

Financial Stewardship

• Create and manage the Quality budget including headcount planning capability investments and continuous improvement resourcing.

• Bachelors degree required (Engineering Quality or related discipline); Masters degree or MBA preferred.
• 15 years of progressive experience in Quality leadership within automotive manufacturing (Tier 1 preferred); multi-site and plant quality execution responsibility strongly preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma Black belt certification preferred
• Bilingual (Spanish) is preferred.
• Deep working knowledge of IATF 16949 ISO standards customer-specific requirements APQP/PPAP FMEA Control Plans MSA SPC and core problem-solving methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience leading customer relationships on quality matters including audit management and performance recovery.
• Proven ability to lead coach and develop leaders build strong cross-functional partnerships and drive culture change.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance risk cost throughput and customer requirements.
• Excellent communication negotiation and influencing skills across all levels.