THE OPPORTUNITY:
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
*Own the quality assurance program across all facilities, including manufacturing sites in China and India, and a distribution centre in the U.S.
*Lead, develop, and mentor a team of six direct reports — including a QA manager and technicians across Winnipeg and Winkler.
*Serve as the primary quality contact for major industrial and agricultural OEM customers, managing audits, corrective actions, and ongoing relationship touchpoints.
*Drive continuous improvement initiatives with a focus on elevating supplier qualification and supply chain quality.
*Manage and maintain ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, including all documentation, system audits, and compliance activities.
*Lead the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) in collaboration with New Product Introduction and Engineering teams.
*Analyze internal and external quality data to generate actionable recommendations and drive systemic improvements.
*Collaborate cross-functionally with production, engineering, sales, and purchasing to define quality standards and resolve issues quickly.
*Manage incoming material quality and coordinate supplier audits as needed.
*Provide oversight of the Winkler foundry division's quality activities on an as-needed basis.
*Travel to global facilities (China and India) approximately once per year; travel to U.S. customers and suppliers as required.
EXPERIENCE THAT MATTERS:
Required:
*Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline; P.Eng. designation or equivalent is preferred.
*Minimum 5 years of progressive leadership experience within a quality assurance function in a manufacturing environment.
*Demonstrated experience leading ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 programs, including internal and external audit management.
*Hands-on experience with PPAP, SPC, GD&T, and root-cause problem-solving methodologies.
*Proven ability to manage supplier quality programs and conduct supplier audits.
*Ability to travel freely within the U.S. and internationally.
Preferred:
*Experience in automotive or heavy industrial OEM supply chains, where audit rigor and customer expectations are high.
*Background in lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies.
*Familiarity with hydraulic systems, fluid power, or iron casting / foundry operations.
*Experience providing quality oversight across international or multi-site manufacturing operations.
The ideal candidate for this role is a collaborative, assertive quality leader who knows how to create urgency without creating panic. You're equally comfortable presenting to a customer and coaching a technician — and you understand that in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, relationships are what get problems solved.
You bring calm under pressure, diplomatic instincts across departments, and a genuine commitment to developing the people around you. You're not looking to maintain the status quo — you're looking to make something better.
Our client, a 90-year-old, globally integrated manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders and custom iron castings is seeking a senior quality leader to own and elevate the company's quality assurance function.
Winnipeg-headquartered with manufacturing facilities across Canada, the U.S., China, and India, this organization has been recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for 19 consecutive years — a Platinum designation that reflects deep operational discipline and sustained performance.
The incoming Director will lead a quality team of six direct reports across two Manitoba facilities, while providing strategic guidance to quality managers at global manufacturing sites.
Winnipeg-headquartered with manufacturing facilities across Canada, the U.S., China, and India, this organization has been recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for 19 consecutive years — a Platinum designation that reflects deep operational discipline and sustained performance.
The incoming Director will lead a quality team of six direct reports across two Manitoba facilities, while providing strategic guidance to quality managers at global manufacturing sites.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
*Own the quality assurance program across all facilities, including manufacturing sites in China and India, and a distribution centre in the U.S.
*Lead, develop, and mentor a team of six direct reports — including a QA manager and technicians across Winnipeg and Winkler.
*Serve as the primary quality contact for major industrial and agricultural OEM customers, managing audits, corrective actions, and ongoing relationship touchpoints.
*Drive continuous improvement initiatives with a focus on elevating supplier qualification and supply chain quality.
*Manage and maintain ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, including all documentation, system audits, and compliance activities.
*Lead the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) in collaboration with New Product Introduction and Engineering teams.
*Analyze internal and external quality data to generate actionable recommendations and drive systemic improvements.
*Collaborate cross-functionally with production, engineering, sales, and purchasing to define quality standards and resolve issues quickly.
*Manage incoming material quality and coordinate supplier audits as needed.
*Provide oversight of the Winkler foundry division's quality activities on an as-needed basis.
*Travel to global facilities (China and India) approximately once per year; travel to U.S. customers and suppliers as required.
EXPERIENCE THAT MATTERS:
Required:
*Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline; P.Eng. designation or equivalent is preferred.
*Minimum 5 years of progressive leadership experience within a quality assurance function in a manufacturing environment.
*Demonstrated experience leading ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 programs, including internal and external audit management.
*Hands-on experience with PPAP, SPC, GD&T, and root-cause problem-solving methodologies.
*Proven ability to manage supplier quality programs and conduct supplier audits.
*Ability to travel freely within the U.S. and internationally.
Preferred:
*Experience in automotive or heavy industrial OEM supply chains, where audit rigor and customer expectations are high.
*Background in lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies.
*Familiarity with hydraulic systems, fluid power, or iron casting / foundry operations.
*Experience providing quality oversight across international or multi-site manufacturing operations.
The ideal candidate for this role is a collaborative, assertive quality leader who knows how to create urgency without creating panic. You're equally comfortable presenting to a customer and coaching a technician — and you understand that in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, relationships are what get problems solved.
You bring calm under pressure, diplomatic instincts across departments, and a genuine commitment to developing the people around you. You're not looking to maintain the status quo — you're looking to make something better.
