Quality Manager

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE "HAYW") is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence in the commercial pool market that is continuously growing. Hayward designs, manufactures, and markets a full line of residential and commercial pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety, flow control and energy solutions at our company owned facilities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward also has facilities in Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island as well as Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China. This position is fully onsite, based in Clemmons, NC.

Position Overview:

Leads all aspects of the Quality function for the Clemmons facility (Pool Division). Champions continuous improvement efforts, failure analysis, defect and variation reduction, problem-solving, and risk mitigation initiatives to maintain an effective Quality Management System (QMS) and ensure Hayward products meet or exceed customer expectations. Responsible for establishing and maintaining a plant-wide quality assurance system and team that contributes to customer satisfaction and Hayward’s success.

· Be the Quality Champion / Voice of Quality / Customer Advocate for the Clemmons facility.

· Supervises and trains QA/QC staff; determines workload priorities to support Operations and Engineering needs. Ensure that plant QA/QC is properly resourced to support customer needs, manufacturing operations, and product design/development.

· Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning and prioritizing workload and assigning and directing workforce accordingly, appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing employee complaints and resolving problems.

· Ensure all internally fabricated parts, purchased parts and finished products conform to engineering prints and performance specifications, and all non-conforming items are appropriately identified, quarantined, reviewed, and dispositioned. Ensure relevant parties (production mgmt, planning, supply chain, etc.…) are informed and involved throughout this process.

· Support New Product Development and Sustaining Engineering efforts through active Quality department participation in assigned design development projects.

· Actively participate in the Product Change / Engineering Change (PCD/ECN) process as the QA review authority for the Clemmons facility. Proactively review changes to ensure product quality/integrity/reliability are not compromised; work with change authors to resolve concerns and promptly report unresolved concerns to the Director of Global Quality. Ensure First Article Inspections (FAI) are completed, documented, approved, and reported in a timely manner

· Actively participate as a member of the Clemmons facility staff in plant meetings and activities.

· Prepare and submit Quality department budgets and capital expenditure proposals for the Clemmons facility.

· Ensure metrics (process capability, control charts, measurement quality) are established and used to monitor product quality, manufacturing performance, and drive continuous improvement. Actively investigate opportunities to apply or improve the use of metrics throughout the facility.

· Manage the Returned Materials Area (RMA) and Returned Goods Authorization (RGA) process, including overseeing evaluations and /or failure analysis of returned goods. Ensures that findings are documented and regularly reported to appropriate functions/personnel.

· Effectively use problem-solving processes (e.g.,8D, A3, Shainin Red-X, DMAIC) to develop root-cause analyses, effective corrective actions, and process improvement.

· Ensure consistent monitoring of supplier performance with Supplier Quality Engineers through the use of Supplier Scorecards for critical suppliers. Maintain regular contact with Supplier Quality Engineers on current suppliers and the evaluation of potential new suppliers as appropriate.

· Ensure appropriate supplier quality requirements are established and consistently applied to ensure conformance to established requirements for all supplied parts, components, or systems. Work with Supplier Quality Engineers to pursue Supplier Corrective Action Responses (SCARs) for systemic or significant failures.

· Maintain active and effective calibration and testing programs.

· Recommend actions or policies that result in improved quality, efficiency, cost reduction, or profitability for the company.

· Interact with Technical Services and Sales personnel to investigate, understand, and resolve customer / field complaint issues. Provide feedback to Clemmons Operations on issues resulting from manufacturing non-conformances and request formal corrective action when appropriate.

· All other reasonable duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Responsible for and manages all aspects of the Quality function for Pool Division at the Clemmons facility. Directs/coordinates the activities of carrying out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Must closely interact with Clemmons Plant Manager and staff, Product Managers, Engineering staff, and Quality Managers in other Hayward facilities. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning and prioritizing workloads; assigning and directing the Quality department workforce to support Operations and Engineering needs; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints; and resolving problems.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required. Must have demonstrated strong leadership, interpersonal, decision-making, and planning skills.

Must demonstrate knowledge of and ability to properly apply:

· Statistics and Statistical Process Control.

· Quality Systems and Standards (eQMS).

· Metrology and GD&T standards.

· Inspection and Control methods, techniques, and documentation.

· Problem-Solving methodologies.

· Product Development processes.

· Change Management.

Must be able to read and interpret blueprints/schematics. Must be knowledgeable in plastic molding processes including injection and blow molding. Must be familiar with Agency compliance (e.g., UL, CE, NSF, etc…) requirements and procedures.

Familiarity with sheet metal forming and fastening and electronics manufacturing are helpful but not required.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree (B.S./B.A.) from four-year college or university, preferably in a technical field (Engineering, Science, or Math), required with minimum 10 years related experience in Manufacturing Quality, Operations, and/or Engineering.

ASQ (CQE, CMQ, or CRE) or other relevant professional certifications desired.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit and walk. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally be able to lift, inspect, test, and/or move up to 75 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will routinely work in the manufacturing area near moving mechanical parts and will be exposed to fumes, dust, water, and airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to noisy in the production areas. Safety glasses are required in the manufacturing environment. Infrequent travel may be required.

The Quality Manager must interact frequently throughout the workday with other facility staff and the plant manager and establish a “culture of Quality” within the facility through leadership and effective communications.