Manufacturing Quality Manager

Has COVID found you tired of city or suburban life?  Feeling a need for space and change of pace?  Do you find yourself daydreaming of a home in a more picturesque location?  What if work happened to be just down the road, amazing views of the river, and no freeway gridlock on the way in?Well, look no further!Kent Employment Solutions, in partnership with Aria HR, is kicking off a retained recruitment of a Quality Manager for our Columbia Gorge client, Innovative Composite Engineering.  Though best known for the NoLimitz brand of windsurfing masts, Innovative Composite Engineers is an innovative designer and manufacturer serving industries to include recreation, military, aerospace, and automotive. They are seeking a Quality Manager to work directly with the Operations Manager leading a small team. If you have extensive experience with AS900 or ISO9001 quality systems, a bachelor’s degree, leadership and customer acumen, and a successful career of leading quality assurance engineering in a LEAN manufacturing environment, we’d love to talk to you about how you can create best in class Quality Systems that drive continuous improvement and innovation.  Reach out to me directly at michelle@ariahr.com.Why should you join this team?·       Position of high visibility and direct impact partnering with the head of Operations – Be a big fish in a little pond full of affable fish·       ‪Excellent benefits with up to 4% 401K match·       Interesting and diverse product mix with a wide range of industry customers·       Leave the bureaucracy and confining & limiting structure of a big company behind for a smaller, local, collaborative team that value entrepreneurial spirit·       Wait! Did I already mention running off to a scenic location in The Gorge – White Salmon?    SCOPEReporting to the Operations Manager, the Quality Manager is responsible for implementing and maintaining ICE’s Quality System. Provides support to engineering and manufacturing.  Performs audits and evaluates audit findings for root cause and corrective action. Reviews specifications for consistency to quality plan. Analyzes quality problems. Interacts with customers to ensure compliance with requirements as relates to quality systems. Performs program development toward continuous improvement effort. Assists customers with on-site/off-site quality audits. Conducts supplier audits and assist in the flow-down of requirements of the quality system to suppliers.  This role supervises a team of three, including QA Techs and a QA Engineer.  DAY to DAY·      Runs day-to-day QA operations and supervises the QA teamPerforms implementation and maintenance of Quality SystemEnsures ongoing ISO / AS complianceSupports internal and external audits/assessmentsPerforms root cause analysis of quality problemsPerforms implementation of Corrective ActionWorks directly with customers and suppliers on quality issues & quality auditsProvides manufacturing and production supportPerforms Quality control and implementation of continuous improvementSupports process engineering and develops & maintains process documentsPerforms inspections using FARO arm and develops inspection programs for first article and production itemsTrains personnel in inspection, proper quality procedures, and use of Statistical Process ControlLeads & mentors employees in the use of quality tools, techniques, and methodologies to measure & monitor product qualityDevelops improvements in quality reviews, specifications, and corrective action analysisDevelops LEAN initiatives toward continuous improvementManages job stress and interacts effectively with others in the workplace  Necessary Qualifications, Experience, & QualitiesBachelor’s degree in a role-relevant program and a minimum of 4 years of manufacturing quality assurance experience or a combination of work experience and education.AS900 and/or ISO9001 quality systems expertise and educationStrong knowledge of statistical methods / SPCLEAN manufacturing work experienceAble to perform hands-on, detail-oriented workInitiative and able to implement changeAble to function independently as well as part of a teamRecent supervisory or leadership experienceProficiency in MS Office SuiteCommunicate effectively in English, both orally and in writingExperience with composite materials manufacturing a plusPer ITAR regulations, applicants must provide evidence of US Person status by completing a U.S. Export Control Compliance Verification form at reception. US laws and regulations prohibit the unauthorized export of restricted technology to non-US persons ICE is a drug and tobacco-free workplaceABOUT OUR CLIENT Innovative Composite Engineering, our client was one of the earliest technology companies to call the Columbia River Gorge home. Steve Maier founded it in 1989. The vision of ICE was to apply advanced composite technology from the aerospace industry to the design and manufacture of industrial and consumer products. That remains their vision. ICE works with its customers to engineer solutions to their needs then moves these prototype developments into volume production.  Capabilities range from pre-prig table rolled tubing to complex molded components. ICE manufactures a diverse range of parts for a broad customer base, including components for use in the oil and gas industry, surveying equipment, UAV aircraft for Boeing/Inset, furniture for Polo Ralph Lauren, and automotive, to name a few.  ICE engineering technology is cutting edge, and they truly care about their employees.  ICE believes in promoting a growth culture that ensures employee satisfaction.  Some of the Employee Perks·      ‪Small and diverse employee population, the chance to interact with the entire organization that makes a significant impact on the world with its products·      A great boss with a sense of humor and loads of composites familiarity to share·      Tuition reimbursement·      Great Health and wellness programs with employee deductions that won’t break the bank·      Innovative products customized for a huge variety of customers, with some exciting new products coming soon·      Collaborate with a great group of people who are excited about this as a rebuilding yearCompensation – $80-100K Annually DOE*This is NOT a remote role. Must be onsight at White Salmon, WA facility.Kent Employment Solutions has been exclusively retained to handle this search, and Aria HR is partnering in the recruitment process. We are sourcing, screening, and vetting any potential candidates. Candidates should not contact our client directly. We appreciate you respecting the process by applying here or reaching out directly to michelle@ariahr.com.