Regional Quality Director, North America

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced quality leader to drive quality excellence across our North American operations. This role is responsible for leading all aspects of quality performance across the region, including customer and supplier quality, site quality leadership, quality management systems, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on leader with a proven track record of improving quality performance in complex manufacturing environments, driving customer satisfaction, and building high-performing teams across multiple locations.

The role is based in Mexico and requires relocation. Comprehensive relocation and visa support will be offered to the selected candidate.

Key Responsibilities

Regional Quality Leadership

• Establish regional quality strategy, KPIs, and performance objectives, ensuring alignment with global business goals.
• Drive continuous reduction of customer incidents, warranty exposure, and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
• Provide leadership and direction to site quality teams to achieve operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
• Lead the regional quality organization, including customer quality, advanced quality, and site quality leaders.

Customer & Supplier Quality

• Serve as the escalation point for significant customer quality concerns and ensure timely resolution.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with OEM and Tier 1 customers.
• Drive robust supplier quality management practices to improve overall product quality performance.

Operational Excellence & Quality Systems

• Ensure successful launch of new products and transfer programs through adherence to New Product Introduction (NPI) processes.
• Strengthen quality systems and capabilities across manufacturing sites through coaching, mentoring, and best-practice deployment.
• Support and lead quality improvement initiatives, including Layered Process Audits, A3 Problem Solving, Kaizen activities, Risk FMEA, and OEM readiness programs.
• Conduct regular audits of systems, operations, and products to ensure compliance with IATF 16949, customer requirements, and internal standards.

Talent & Capability Development

• Develop and strengthen quality leadership capability across the region.
• Identify organizational and training needs, implementing development plans to build sustainable quality expertise.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Strategic Projects

• Lead special projects and strategic quality initiatives as assigned by global leadership.
• Promote knowledge sharing and deployment of best practices across multiple manufacturing locations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive quality leadership experience within the automotive manufacturing industry.
• Experience working directly with OEMs and/or Tier 1 automotive customers is required.
• Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949, Automotive Core Tools, and VDA quality requirements.
• VDA 6.3 Process Auditor certification is preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt certification preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading quality transformations and performance improvement initiatives within multi-site manufacturing operations.
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders across functions, cultures, and locations.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to build credibility quickly and lead teams through transformational change.