Director, Quality

Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOG), was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Apogee is a growing, profitable company with annual revenues approaching $1.5 billion. We provide distinctive metal and glass solutions for enclosing commercial buildings, and glass and acrylic solutions for picture framing and display applications. To learn more visit: www.apog.com.

The Apogee Large Scale Optical segment has grown from $100M to $200M in revenue through a recent acquisition. Our brands in the LSO portfolio develop and manufacture high-performance coated materials for a variety of applications, including wall decor, museums, graphic design, architectural interiors, digital display, and industrial flooring markets. We are the global leader in anti-reflective, conservation grade electrostatic dissipative, high-definition, and abrasion resistance coatings, that provide protection, innovative designs, and exceptional durability.

Position Summary

The Director of Quality - Manufacturing (Customer Focus) is responsible for driving product and process excellence across the organization with a strong emphasis on meeting customer expectations and enhancing satisfaction. This role leads quality assurance and control efforts in a manufacturing setting while ensuring that customer feedback, complaints, and quality requirements are systematically addressed and used to drive continuous improvement. This leader will be a key advocate for the voice of the customer throughout the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of a customer-focused quality strategy across manufacturing operations.
• Build and lead a high-performing quality team across multiple sites; coach, mentor, and develop local quality managers and engineers.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and customer-centric quality throughout the organization.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the quality team and customers to resolve quality issues and ensure compliance with their specifications and expectations.
• Analyze customer complaints, returns, and satisfaction surveys to drive root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and manage quality metrics that reflect both internal performance and customer experience (e.g., PPM, OTIF, NCR trends, customer scorecards).
• Lead Quality Reviews, Bowler chart reviews, and collaborate on product and process audits.
• Oversee audits and quality reviews with key customers and manage responses to corrective action requests (CARs).
• Work closely with Sales, Customer Service, Engineering, and Production to ensure product quality meets or exceeds customer requirements.
• Drive supplier quality programs to ensure purchased components meet quality and customer standards.
• Implement and maintain compliance with relevant quality certifications (e.g., ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100).
• Identify systemic risks and develop mitigation plans to protect brand integrity and operational consistency.
• Champion data-driven decision-making using statistical analysis, SPC, Six Sigma, and/or Lean methodologies.
• Use Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to enhance product quality and reduce customer complaints.
• Evaluate and recommend new quality tools, automation, and digital platforms for modernizing quality operations.

Personal Attributes and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field (Master's degree a plus).
• 10+ years of experience in a manufacturing quality leadership role, with a strong track record of customer engagement.
• Deep understanding of customer quality requirements in manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of quality systems and standards (e.g., ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100).
• Experience with customer audits, scorecards, and continuous improvement based on customer feedback.
• Six Sigma certification (Black Belt preferred), CQE, or similar quality credentials.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills with a collaborative mindset.
• Proven experience working directly with customers to resolve complex quality issues.

Work Environment

• Office and manufacturing floor setting.
• Travel for customer site visits, audits, or issue resolution.

Apogee and our brands are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.