Head of Quality Assurance

Objective of the role: Chief Quality Officer / Director - Quality & Excellence

This is a highly strategic leadership role responsible for driving Quality, Business Excellence, and Governance across the Automotive and Industrial businesses of a 2000 Cr organization, operating through multiple manufacturing plants and diverse business verticals.

The role focuses on defining and executing the enterprise-wide quality vision, enabling transformation through robust Quality Management Systems (QMS), and embedding a strong quality culture aligned with long-term business objectives across multi-plant operations and multiple business units.

The incumbent will provide strategic oversight across plant quality, supplier quality, customer quality, and new product quality functions, ensuring consistency, standardization, and alignment with global benchmarks across all locations and businesses.

In line with the company's aggressive expansion strategy-including acquisitions, greenfield projects, and entry into new business segments-the CQO will play a critical role in building scalable, future-ready quality frameworks, driving digital transformation and continuous improvement initiatives, and supporting the organization's targeted 3x growth over the next three years.

Roles & responsibility:

Strategic Responsibilities

Define and drive the enterprise-wide quality vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned with the organization's growth plans, including expansion, acquisitions, and new business initiatives.Establish and institutionalize robust, scalable Quality Management Systems (QMS) and governance frameworks across all manufacturing plants and business verticals.Integrate quality into new product development, supplier ecosystem, and end-to-end business processes to ensure consistency and reliability.Lead enterprise-wide quality transformation initiatives, including digital quality, data-driven decision-making, and advanced analytics.Drive risk management frameworks to proactively identify and mitigate quality and business risks.Partner with leadership in M&A activities, including quality due diligence and post-acquisition integration.Ensure alignment with global standards, customer requirements, and regulatory expectations.Define and strengthen customer quality strategy, positioning quality as a key differentiator for business growth and long-term partnerships.

Operational Responsibilities:Provide overall oversight of end-to-end quality performance, covering plant quality, supplier quality, customer quality, and new product quality.Drive process excellence and standardization across multiple manufacturing facilities to ensure consistent quality outcomes.Ensure effective deployment of advanced quality tools and methodologies (Six Sigma, Lean, SPC, FMEA, APQP, PPAP, etc.).Monitor and drive improvements in key quality metrics, including PPM, COPQ, warranty performance, and customer satisfaction.Strengthen customer quality management, including proactive engagement, issue resolution, escalation handling, and feedback integration.Actively engage with key customers to build trust, address concerns, and ensure alignment on quality expectations and performance.Lead customer audits, reviews, and critical discussions, representing the organization on all quality-related matters.Strengthen supplier quality management systems, including supplier development, audits, and performance improvement.Ensure robust audit and compliance systems across all facilities.Enable best practice sharing and standardization across plants and business units.

People ManagementBuild and lead a high-performing, multi-location quality organization aligned with business objectives.Drive a strong culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization.Develop and mentor future leaders within the quality function.Strengthen capability in advanced quality tools and methodologies.Collaborate closely with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to ensure alignment.Act as a change leader during expansion, acquisitions, and transformation initiatives.Influence senior leadership and stakeholders on quality performance, risks, and customer expectations.

Key performance goals for the role: Critical outcomes of a job contributing to the organization's and role's successCustomer & Market OutcomesAchieve high customer satisfaction and trust, reflected through improved customer scorecards and reduced escalations.Drive significant reduction in customer complaints, PPM levels, and field failures.Ensure successful customer audits and reviews, strengthening long-term business relationships.Position quality as a competitive advantage in winning and retaining business.

Quality Performance & Operational ExcellenceDeliver measurable improvement in Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) across all plants.Improve first-time-right (FTR) and overall process capability across manufacturing operations.Achieve consistent quality performance across all locations through standardization and best practice deployment.Ensure robust warranty performance and reduction in repeat issues.

System & Governance EffectivenessEstablish and sustain robust Quality Management Systems (QMS) aligned with global standards (IATF, ISO, etc.).Ensure zero major non-conformities in internal, customer, and regulatory audits.Strengthen risk management and compliance frameworks across the organization.Enable data-driven quality governance with strong review mechanisms and dashboards.

Supplier Quality & Ecosystem DevelopmentImprove supplier quality performance and reduce incoming defects.Strengthen supplier capability and audit systems.Build a reliable and scalable supplier quality ecosystem aligned with business growth

People & CultureBuild a high-performing quality organization with strong leadership pipeline.Drive a culture of quality, ownership, and continuous improvement across all functions.Enhance organizational capability in advanced quality tools and methodologies.

Candidate Requirements:

Engineering Degree in Mechanical / Production / Industrial or a related field - MandatorySix Sigma Black Belt / Master Black Belt - Preferred18-25+ years of experience in quality leadership roles within Automotive / OEM / Industrial / Engineering sectorsProven track record of managing quality across multiple plants and business unitsStrong expertise in Quality Management Systems (QMS) and global standards such as IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and customer-specific requirementsDeep understanding of automotive and industrial quality frameworks, including APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, and MSA, along with structured problem-solving methodologiesHands-on experience in leading customer quality, supplier quality, plant quality, and new product quality functionsExperience in handling global OEM customers and managing senior-level stakeholder interactionsStrong knowledge of end-to-end manufacturing processes, including machining, assembly, and supply chain quality systemsUnderstanding of New Product Development (NPD) and integration of quality across the product lifecycleProven success in driving quality transformation, standardization, and continuous improvement initiativesExperience in new product launches, ensuring robust quality planning and executionExposure to greenfield projects, plant expansions, and M&A integrationExperience in leading customer audits, regulatory audits, and certification processesStrong awareness of customer quality requirements, audit expectations, and warranty managementKnowledge of supplier quality management systems, including audits, supplier development, and performance monitoringFamiliarity with regulatory compliance, governance frameworks, and risk management practicesExposure to digital quality systems, data analytics, and emerging manufacturing technologiesStrong business understanding of Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), productivity, and operational efficiencyProven ability to build and scale quality systems and teams within a growing organizationStrong experience in driving cross-functional alignment with Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain