Senior Director Quality

Job Title : Sr. Quality Director

Location : Bowling Green, El Paso, Phoenix,

Business Unit : Operations

Reports to : VP of Manufacturing

Salary Range: $185,000 to $200,000

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Quality is a strategic and operational leader responsible for defining and executing the quality vision across multiple manufacturing sites within a high-performance aftermarket automotive business. This role ensures that quality is not only a compliance function, but a key driver of business performance, customer satisfaction, and brand reputation.

This leader will build and develop high-performing teams, strengthen a culture of accountability and engagement, and implement world-class quality systems that enable speed, accuracy, and proactive risk management. The role requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on leadership, with a strong presence both on the plant floor and in executive decision-making forums.

Core Responsibilities

People Leadership & Culture

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing, multi-site quality organization with a strong focus on talent development—not just management.
• Foster a culture of accountability without toxicity—driving ownership, transparency, and trust across all levels of the organization.
• Champion employee engagement and empowerment, ensuring quality ownership exists at the plant floor level.
• Coach and develop current and future leaders within the quality function and cross-functional teams.

Quality Strategy & Business Impact

• Position Quality as a key business driver, directly influencing operational performance, cost, and customer satisfaction.
• Define and deploy a scalable, world-class Quality Management System aligned with IATF 16949 principles and aftermarket realities.
• Drive standardization and consistency across multiple sites while enabling flexibility where needed.

Customer Quality & Voice of Customer

• Establish and lead a robust Voice of Customer (VOC) system, including customer scorecards, feedback loops, and performance reviews.
• Design and implement early warning systems to proactively identify and mitigate customer risks.
• Lead customer escalation processes, ensuring rapid, effective, and transparent resolution of issues.
• Drive warranty reduction and field failure improvement initiatives through systemic corrective actions.
• Serve as the executive quality interface for key customers.

Field Quality, Risk & Recall Leadership

• Lead recall readiness and execution, including cross-functional coordination and external communication.
• Drive disciplined post-mortem analysis of field failures and major quality events to ensure organizational learning.
• Make high-quality decisions under conditions of risk, balancing speed and accuracy.

Operational Excellence & Root Cause Discipline

• Establish and enforce a culture of root cause excellence using structured problem-solving methodologies (8D, 5 Whys, PFMEA).
• Ensure corrective actions are effective, sustainable, and verified across all sites.
• Drive continuous improvement in internal quality performance, including defect reduction and cost of poor quality (COPQ).

Supplier Quality Integration

• Integrate supplier quality into the overall quality strategy, ensuring alignment from raw materials through finished goods.
• Partner with sourcing and supply chain teams to elevate supplier performance and accountability.
• Drive supplier development and ensure robust APQP/PPAP execution across the supply base.

Data-Driven Leadership

• Lead with data over intuition, establishing clear metrics, dashboards, and performance visibility across the organization.
• Utilize data analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure timely, accurate reporting to executive leadership with actionable insights.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to align on priorities and drive results.
• Influence decision-making across the organization to ensure quality is embedded in all processes.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve product quality, manufacturability, and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive quality leadership experience in automotive or high-volume manufacturing, including multi-site responsibility.
• Strong working knowledge of IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, and warranty systems.
• Proven track record of leading teams, developing talent, and driving cultural transformation.
• Experience managing customer relationships, escalations, and field quality issues.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence in a cross-functional environment.

Key Competencies

• Executive-level leadership and organizational influence.
• Talent development and coaching mindset.
• Balanced accountability with a positive, non-toxic leadership approach.
• Strong decision-making under pressure with sound judgment.
• Data-driven mindset with strong analytical capability.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

Performance Indicators

• Customer PPM, warranty rates, and field failure reduction.
• Customer satisfaction and scorecard performance.
• Effectiveness and timeliness of corrective actions.
• Reduction in cost of poor quality (COPQ).
• Employee engagement and retention within the quality organization.
• Supplier quality performance and integration success.

Why This Role Matters

This role is critical to shaping the company’s reputation for quality in the aftermarket space. Success in this position means building a culture where quality is owned at every level, problems are solved at their root, and the organization consistently delivers products that meet or exceed customer expectations.

Holley is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability during the application process, please contact Human Resources.