Director of Quality
Optima Organizational Solutions · Kansas City, MO
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Quality
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 15+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level quality role at Optima Organizational Solutions (industrial) in Kansas City, MO. Lead, mentor, and develop plant-level quality leaders and cross‑functional quality teams.
- They ask for
- 15+ years · degree required · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Root cause, SPC, FMEA
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Missouri: typical posted base $100k–$141k.
Median of the low and high ends of 6 live postings that list pay, out of 18 quality engineer openings in Missouri, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Missouri plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 17 other live quality postings in Missouri.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (15+ vs 5+)
Typical $100k–$141k, from 6 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Six Sigma 67%
- ✓ Root cause 56%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 50%
- ✓ CAPA 39%
- ✓ Lean 39%
- ISO 9001 33%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for MSA / Gage R&R, MES, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Optima Organizational Solutions
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from Optima Organizational SolutionsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Key Responsibilities
Develop and execute the overall quality strategy across multiple manufacturing facilities within the business unit. Lead all aspects of Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Supplier Quality, Customer Quality, and Quality Systems management. Establish standardized quality processes, metrics, and best practices across all sites to ensure consistency and operational excellence. Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing defects, improving process capability, increasing customer satisfaction, and lowering cost of poor quality. Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action activities for internal and external quality issues. Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, industry, customer, and internal quality standards. Oversee internal and external audit programs, including customer audits and certification maintenance activities. Partner with Operations and Engineering leadership to improve manufacturing process capability, product reliability, and operational performance. Develop and maintain KPI dashboards related to scrap, rework, warranty, customer complaints, supplier performance, audit findings, and quality system effectiveness. Lead supplier quality initiatives to improve incoming material quality and supplier performance. Support new product introduction and product launch activities to ensure robust quality planning and validation processes. Provide executive leadership with regular reporting on quality performance, risks, and improvement opportunities. Lead, mentor, and develop plant-level quality leaders and cross‑functional quality teams. Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer‑focused quality excellence throughout the organization. Support strategic business initiatives, acquisitions, and operational expansion activities as required.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related technical discipline required. Minimum 10–15 years of progressive quality leadership experience within complex manufacturing environments. Minimum 5 years of multi‑site quality management experience at a regional, business unit, or corporate level. Strong knowledge of quality systems, statistical analysis, manufacturing process controls, and continuous improvement methodologies. Experience leading quality organizations in industries such as HVAC, industrial equipment, automotive, heavy manufacturing, appliances, or other engineered products environments preferred. Demonstrated experience managing customer quality issues, warranty reduction initiatives, supplier quality programs, and operational quality improvements. Strong knowledge of ISO standards, regulatory compliance requirements, and structured problem‑solving methodologies. Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, APQP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, CAPA, and root cause analysis tools. Proven ability to influence cross‑functional teams and lead organizational change within a fast‑paced manufacturing environment. Strong executive presence, communication, and leadership capabilities. Willingness to travel extensively to support multiple manufacturing facilities across the United States. Advanced English communication skills required.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or related field preferred. Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification strongly preferred. Experience supporting large‑scale manufacturing operations with high‑volume production environments. Experience driving enterprise‑wide quality transformation initiatives. Familiarity with ERP/MES systems and advanced manufacturing technologies. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Our client, a leading U.S.-based manufacturing organization is seeking a highly strategic and results‑oriented Business Unit Quality Director to lead quality operations across multiple manufacturing facilities in the United States. Position Summary This executive-level role will be responsible for driving enterprise quality strategy, operational excellence, customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the business unit. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience leading quality organizations within complex manufacturing environments, with a strong background in multi‑site operations, supplier quality, customer quality, quality systems, and continuous improvement methodologies. This leader will partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and executive leadership teams to ensure consistent quality performance and support long‑term business growth objectives.
