Quality & Continuous Improvement Lead

Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Quality & Continuous Improvement Lead serves as GMRE's primary quality subject-matter expert and continuous improvement resources. Reporting to the Director of Security & Compliance, this position supports the development, maintenance, and improvement of GMRE's enterprise quality practices and Quality Management System (QMS).

The role extends beyond AS9100D and ISO 9001 compliance. The Quality Manager works across the organization to improve how work is defined, performed, evaluated, and improved through effective processes, procedures, work instructions, self-assessments, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and performance measurement.

This position partners with departments and programs to identify opportunities for improvement, strengthen process discipline, reduce recurring issues, improve consistency, and increase organizational maturity. Success requires a collaborative, practical, and quality-minded professional who can influence change, build strong working relationships, and help employees and leaders continuously improve how GMRE operates.

Success Measures

• Effective and sustainable AS9100D and ISO 9001 QMS.
• Improved process consistency, documentation, and discipline.
• Increased use of self-assessment and continuous improvement practices.
• Timely and effective root-cause analysis and corrective action.
• Strong audit readiness and customer confidence.
• Measurable improvement in organizational quality and maturity.
• Effective collaboration across departments, programs, and locations.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Quality Management and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and continually improve GMRE's QMS in alignment with AS9100D, ISO 9001, contractual requirements, and company objectives.
• Serve as a quality subject-matter expert and resource to departments, programs, and leadership.
• Help departments define, document, maintain, and improve processes, procedures, work instructions, and supporting records.
• Facilitate continuous improvement initiatives focused on effectiveness, consistency, efficiency, and organizational maturity.
• Promote practical quality principles throughout the organization rather than limiting Quality to certification or compliance activities.
• Develop and support methods for departmental and process self-assessment.
• Identify recurring issues, process gaps, trends, and improvement opportunities and work with responsible organizations to address them.
• Facilitate root-cause analysis, corrective action, preventive improvement, and verification of effectiveness.
• Support development and monitoring of meaningful quality and process performance measures.
• Promote standardization and sharing of effective practices across GMRE.

Quality Management System and Auditing

• Coordinate day-to-day administration and maintenance of the QMS.
• Monitor applicable AS9100D, ISO 9001, customer, contractual, and internal quality requirements.
• Plan and perform internal audits and process assessments.
• Support external certification, customer, and government audits.
• Coordinate findings, nonconformances, observations, and corrective actions through closure.
• Prepare quality performance information, trends, risks, and recommendations for review by the Director of Security & Compliance and organizational leadership.
• Support management reviews and maintain required quality records and objective evidence.
• Evaluate QMS effectiveness and recommend improvements to policies, processes, procedures, and controls.

Enterprise Process Improvement

• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Program Management, Contracts, Security, Supply Chain, and other functions to improve business and operational processes.
• Help process owners establish clear responsibilities, inputs, outputs, controls, measures, and documentation.
• Review processes and documentation for clarity, effectiveness, consistency, and alignment with applicable requirements.
• Encourage departments to routinely evaluate their own performance and identify opportunities for improvement before issues become findings or customer concerns.
• Facilitate cross-functional problem solving where process gaps or quality issues involve multiple organizations.
• Support development of scalable processes and quality practices that enable GMRE's continued growth.
• Apply appropriate Lean, process-improvement, and problem-solving methods where they provide practical value.

Program, Manufacturing, and Supplier Quality

• Support programs and operational teams in interpreting and implementing applicable quality requirements.
• Assist with production readiness, inspections, First Article Inspection (FAI), process verification, configuration control, and quality planning as applicable.
• Support supplier quality activities and resolution of supplier-related quality issues.
• Assist teams in identifying and controlling quality risks throughout program and product lifecycles.
• Support customer quality activities, audits, reviews, and corrective-action responses.
• Help ensure lessons learned and recurring quality issues are incorporated into future processes and planning.

WHY WORK FOR GMRE? 

GMRE is a small veteran-owned company who cares about our employees. We offer health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), vacation, Paid Time Off (PTO), or Paid Sick Leave (PSL) based on state laws, paid holidays, and life insurance to all permanent full-time employees. GMRE’s mission is to provide high quality engineering and technical services to help our customers grow and succeed. 

GMRE is an equal opportunity employer. GMRE is committed to making employment decisions based on valid requirements, without regard to age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other applicable status protected by state or local laws.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. 

Requirements

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Strong working knowledge of AS9100D and ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
• Strong understanding of process management, continuous improvement, and organizational quality principles.
• Experience conducting internal audits, process assessments, root-cause analysis, and corrective action.
• Ability to evaluate processes and translate requirements into practical procedures, work instructions, controls, and improvements.
• Ability to facilitate problem solving and improvement activities across organizational boundaries.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to identify trends, systemic issues, and improvement opportunities.
• Effective written communication and technical writing skills.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Ability to communicate quality concepts in practical business and operational terms.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing, supplier quality, and aerospace or defense quality requirements preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and applicable quality, document-management, and enterprise systems.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Business, or a related discipline required.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in quality management, process improvement, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or government contracting preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supporting an AS9100D and/or ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
• Experience with internal auditing, corrective action, process improvement, and cross-functional problem solving.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, supplier quality, customer audits, or government contracts preferred.
• ASQ, Lean Six Sigma, Lead Auditor, or related professional certifications preferred.

SECURITY CLEARANCE AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must have ability to obtain and maintain an active U.S. SECRET clearance and be subject to a government security investigation.
• Driving or renting a car for company business is expected with some frequency. For insurance purposes, a valid driver’s license is required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift to 30 pounds at a time.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

• Occasional travel for meetings, training, and site visits. Less than 20% travel expected.

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