How to apply for Director of Quality

About Clarios

Clarios is a global leader in advanced battery technologies, powering everything from conventional vehicles to hybrid and electric models with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. Working here means contributing to the future of mobility and energy storage, with a strong emphasis on innovation and operational excellence. The company's commitment to quality and continuous improvement makes it an exciting place for quality professionals to make a tangible impact.

About the role

As Director of Quality – US/CAN, you will lead the regional quality management system, ensuring compliance and driving continuous improvement across plants in the United States and Canada. This role is pivotal in moving quality management closer to the shop floor, requiring hands-on leadership to enhance quality processes, manage warranty and APQP, and collaborate with operations to meet customer requirements. Your work will directly influence product reliability and customer satisfaction, making it critical to Clarios' reputation and success.

A typical day

A typical day might involve reviewing quality metrics from various plants, leading a virtual meeting with plant quality managers to address a recurring defect, and collaborating with operations leaders to implement corrective actions. You might also spend time on the shop floor during plant visits, auditing processes, and coaching teams on quality standards. Additionally, you could be involved in strategic planning for warranty reduction or supplier quality improvement initiatives.

Who Clarios is looking for

• Extensive hands-on shop floor experience in quality and operations, with a deep understanding of manufacturing processes and quality systems.
• Proven leadership in developing and deploying world-class quality management systems across multiple sites, including APQP, warranty management, and supplier quality.
• Strong track record in driving continuous improvement initiatives and strict enforcement of control plans and specifications.
• Experience managing quality teams in a regional or multi-plant environment, with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive accountability.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific examples of quality improvements you've led at the plant level, including metrics like defect reduction, warranty cost savings, or audit results.
• Emphasize your experience with APQP, control plans, and warranty management, as these are explicitly mentioned in the job description.
• Demonstrate your ability to work remotely while effectively managing teams across multiple locations; mention any prior remote or multi-site leadership experience.
• Showcase your knowledge of quality standards relevant to the automotive or battery industry, such as IATF 16949, ISO 9001, or similar.
• Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description, such as 'quality management system,' 'continuous improvement,' 'shop floor,' and 'supplier quality.'

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your hands-on experience on the shop floor and how it informs your approach to quality leadership.', 'A specific example of a quality improvement initiative you led that had a measurable impact on operations or customer satisfaction.', 'Your ability to develop and deploy a world-class quality management system across a region, including compliance and continuous improvement.', 'Your leadership style and how you collaborate with operations, suppliers, and other departments to achieve quality objectives.']

Research before applying

• Research Clarios' product lines, especially their advanced battery technologies for vehicles, to understand the technical context of quality challenges.
• Look into Clarios' recent quality initiatives or public reports on manufacturing excellence to align your answers with their strategic goals.
• Understand the automotive industry's quality standards and how they apply to battery manufacturing, including customer-specific requirements from major automakers.
• Explore Clarios' company culture and values, particularly around sustainability and innovation, to tailor your responses to fit their ethos.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How have you moved quality management closer to the shop floor in your previous roles? Provide examples.
• Describe your experience with APQP and warranty management, and how you've used these to improve quality.
• How do you ensure strict enforcement of control plans and specifications across multiple plants?
• What continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean) have you implemented, and what were the results?
• How do you handle a situation where a plant is not meeting quality standards? Walk us through your approach.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Avoid focusing only on corporate-level quality strategy without demonstrating hands-on shop floor experience, as the role demands deep operational involvement.
• Do not neglect to mention specific quality tools and standards (e.g., APQP, control plans) in your application, as these are key requirements.
• Avoid giving generic examples of quality improvements; instead, quantify results and describe your direct role in achieving them.