Supplier Quality Manager – New Product Introduction (NPI)

At Polaris Inc., we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are, and we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE.

The Supplier Quality Engineering Manager for New Product Introduction is integral to the success of future Polaris product programs and developing deep integrations with Polaris’ most critical suppliers.

This role will strategize, organize and lead the activities of the NPI Supplier Quality and Development team as it relates to all aspects of the team’s role in insuring supplier production readiness for product launch and sustaining engineering changes on existing platforms. This role will be responsible for the development and leadership of the team’s talent and organization for a team of supplier development and supplier quality new product engineers. This position will require a high degree of collaboration with leadership in sourcing, product engineering, plant engineering, packaging engineering, training and corporate & plant quality in order to be successful.

Key Leadership Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute strategy to achieve external component qualification for new products while sustaining existing product lines.
• Coordinate distribution of work across team of Supplier Quality engineers throughout the new product development cycle.
• Manage and support cross functional teams to drive down DPM and disruptions to the final assembly plants.
• Manage and develop employees, using formal processes and informal coaching, including communication of job expectations, planning, monitoring and appraising job results, and ensuring that standards, systems, policies, and procedures are upheld.
• Interface with appropriate leadership teams in product line business units, operations, engineering, and sourcing to ensure alignment on key quality issues.
• Responsible for team organization and other administrative activities.

Key Technical Responsibilities:

• Direct the execution of standards established within the supplier quality assurance manual and in accordance with Polaris internal procedures.
• Partner with cross-functional leadership in the development of new and existing product manufacturing and quality recommendations.
• Ensure all team deliverables are executed using a standard set of tools and processes (based on AIAG standard practices).
• Ensure team successfully executes against all supplier readiness responsibilities, including: APQP, Design Review, DFM, FMEA, PCR and DCR’s, Run at Rate, Pulse Builds, CAPA/CAR.
• Ensure team successfully executes against all launch control responsibilities, including Control Plans, PPAP, Monitoring Metrics, and Safe Launch.

Key Supporting Roles:

• Manage overall creation, implementation, documentation, and execution of centralized core Supplier Quality standards per the Quality Operating System.
• Collaborate with core technology experts on advanced technology process development.
• Drive collaboration with supplier quality engineers and plant training, safety and quality personnel, to ensure effective solutions that integrate across departments.
• Ensure team has capacity and accountability for production support through the product lifecycle.

Requirements:

• BS/MS in Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in a related field, including 3+ years in a management or leadership role.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally (10%-20% of time, including international travel).

Key Skills:

• Quality, manufacturing, or engineering experience with powersports or automotive components preferred.
• Ability to effectively lead, influence, and work in cooperation with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to think strategically, set vision, and direct action for a large team.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills – ability to work in a matrix organization and effectively lead without direct positional authority.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to write clear, concise technical documentation and ability to deliver candid developmental feedback.
• Ability to identify and solve complex technical problems.
• Excellent creative thinking skills.
• The passion to set and meet high standards of performance.

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The pay range for Minnesota is $114,000 to $150,000 per year. Individual salaries are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography.