Job Title: Director of Quality and Operational Excellence
Location: Simpsonville, SC
Reports to: Director of Operations
Employment Type: Full-time
Seniority Level: Senior-Level
Industry: Manufacturing | Mechanical Power Transmission Components | Engineering Services
Job Function: Operations | Quality | Continuous Improvement
Job Summary:
Are you a strategic leader with a passion for driving quality and operational excellence? We’re looking for a Director of Quality and Operational Excellence to champion our Quality Management System (QMS) and lead transformative initiatives that elevate performance, enhance product integrity, and embed a culture of continuous improvement across our operations.
This is a high-impact role where you’ll shape the future of our manufacturing excellence by leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and project management methodologies to deliver measurable results.
Key Responsibilities:
• Lead and evolve the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring full compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Drive enterprise-wide improvement through Lean, Six Sigma, and TPM practices—reducing waste, increasing efficiency, and enhancing product quality.
• Champion cross-functional collaboration to solve complex challenges and implement sustainable process improvements.
• Develop and track KPIs that measure quality performance and operational success.
• Mentor and empower teams, building internal capability through training and coaching in quality and continuous improvement tools.
• Partner with manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain to proactively address quality issues and implement preventive strategies.
• Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and innovation throughout the organization.
Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field (Master’s preferred)
• 10+ years of progressive experience in quality and operational excellence roles within industrial manufacturing preferred.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification strongly preferred
• Project Management Professional certification (PMP) preferred.
• Proven success leading large-scale quality and CI initiatives
• Deep understanding of ISO standards and regulatory compliance in manufacturing environments
• Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills
Physical Requirements:
• On site with regular visits to manufacturing sites
• Occasional travel required to support multi-site operations
• Ability to lift up to 15 lbs and work at a computer for extended periods
Essential Job Functions:
• Develop a comprehensive quality management strategy and vision that is aligned with the overall business objectives.
• Establish quality policies, procedures, and best practices to standardize and streamline quality assurance activities.
• Implement robust quality processes covering the entire product lifecycle, from design to manufacturing to post-sales support.
• Continually review and update quality systems to incorporate industry best practices and address evolving business needs.
• Conduct in-depth analyses to identify quality-related challenges, risks, and improvement opportunities across the organization.
• Assess the root causes of quality issues and implement corrective/preventive actions to address them.
• Champion a proactive quality culture focused on exceeding customer expectations.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to resolve complex quality-related problems.
• Foster a quality-centric mindset and encourage continuous improvement practices across the organization.
• Implement training and development programs to upskill employees on quality tools, techniques, and best practices.
• Implement lean manufacturing principles and other quality methodologies to eliminate waste and inefficiencies.
• Establish robust quality control checkpoints across the value chain to prevent defects.
• Research, evaluate, and deploy new quality tools, technologies, and software to improve efficiency and effectiveness
• Lead cross-functional teams in conducting root cause analyses and developing corrective/preventive actions
• Facilitate the implementation of lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies
• Ensure customer requirements are met through effective issue resolution and process optimization
• Schedule and oversee internal and external quality audits to identify areas for improvement
• Assess and audit the quality systems and performance of subcontractors and suppliers
• Collaborate with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure quality compliance across the value chain
Why Join Us?
• Work alongside a collaborative, experienced leadership team
• Be part of an industry leader with a strong brand reputation and an innovation-driven culture
• Drive operational and customer excellence while advancing your career in a key leadership role
RBC Bearings is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
Equal Opportunity Employer
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