Quality Manager – Supplier Assurance Devices

About Us:

How many companies can say they’ve been in business for over 177 years?!

Here at ZEISS, we certainly can! As the pioneers of science, ZEISS handles the everchanging environments in a fast-paced world, meeting it with cutting edge of technologies and continuous advancements. ZEISS believes that innovation and technology are the key to a sustainable future and solutions for global change. We have a diverse range of portfolios throughout the ZEISS family in segments like, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. We are a global company with over 42,000 employees and have over 4,000 in the US and Canada alone! Make a difference, come join the team!

What’s the role?  

As a Quality Manager in Supplier Quality Assurance, you will be responsible for leading a team of quality professionals in ensuring that suppliers meet the necessary quality standards and regulatory requirements. You will play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and safety of the products acquired from external suppliers, ultimately contributing to the company's mission of delivering high-quality medical product to the market.

Sound Interesting?

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Accountable to advise all quality aspects regarding Supplier Quality Assurance to ensure safety, effectiveness, reliability and quality capability of purchased material from suppliers
• Set team goals and performance metrics, ensuring that objectives are met and team members are motivated to excel in their roles.

• Responsible for the implementation, execution and improvement of the incoming goods inspections incl. first Article inspections and the team of incoming inspectors, providing guidance, support, and fostering a positive work environment
• Responsible for the Supplier Non-Conforming-Product Process (Purchased materials) and for analyzing supplier performance indicators in order to improve the supplier quality
• Conduct supplier and contract manufacturing audits to ensure conformance with the quality management system, procedures, and contracts
• Negotiations and closure of quality assurance contracts with suppliers
• Collaborate effectively with relevant internal departments such as purchasing, production, Quality and R&D to increase quality of purchased products
• Responsible for representing supplier quality processes in internal and third party audits
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement within the supplier quality assurance function
• Stay up to date on laws and standards, new directives, etc. and adapt the supplier's quality assurance processes accordingly.
• Provide leadership during investigations of major quality/delivery problems.
• Organize potential problem solutions and lead cross-functional problem resolution efforts
• Maintain constant contact with the global Supplier Quality teams to achieve continuous development.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work closely with other locations with the aim of achieving best practices and process standardization
• Supporting the interfaces, e.g. to achieve project goals
• Drive performance through clear and ambitious goal setting, foster teamwork, listen and communicate openly, drive customer orientation and a winning mentality
• Identify potential risks related to supplier quality and develop mitigation plans to address them

Working with cross-functions departments e.g.:

• Purchasing / Sourcing
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Quality management
• R&D Engineering

Do you qualify?

• Bachelor or Master of Science/ Engineering or comparable, required
• Minimum 8 years work experience in quality assurance or related roles in quality
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in a leadership role
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in managing external, internal and supplier audits
• Strong oral, spoken and written communication skills in English (German or other language skills are an advantage)
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, ability to effectively manage cross-functionally (internal/external teams) and understands cross-functional tensions
• Analytical mindset with the ability to identify trends and implement data-driven decisions
• Certifications of ISO-9001 and ISO-13485 Lead auditor is preferred
• Expert in interpretation of technical drawing (GD&T) and AQL sampling plan table
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Several years of experience in the application of methods and tools in quality management (such as SIX SIGMA, FMEA,