Associate Partner Quality Manager

Associate Partner Quality Manager

Does the thought of joining one of the fastest-growing, privately held data center companies sound exciting to you? Do you enjoy collaborating with team members to drive and operate some of the industry's leading and most innovative infrastructure solutions?

At Aligned Data Centers, not only do we celebrate success across our platform, we celebrate the very teams that drive and support that success! Our culture is founded in passion, engineered from innovation, and driven by the pursuit of operational excellence. We are a company dedicated to driving positive change in the industry through continuous data center innovation, diversity and inclusion, and corporate sustainability.

We realize not only is providing a comprehensive benefits package important, but we also provide a generous 401k match with immediate vesting, free membership to Gympass which provides our employees a rich health and wellness benefit and competitive time off plan. Giving back and having fun is important to our team whether it be serving our communities or employee and customer events. Our Aligned DNA is what makes us unique and successful!

As part of our exciting growth, we are currently searching for an Associate Partner Quality Manager.

The Associate Partner Quality Manager supports the qualification, development, and performance management of supplier partners providing critical equipment and services for Aligned Data Centers. This role works closely with Procurement, Engineering, Construction, Commissioning, Operations, and Supplier Partners to ensure equipment and materials meet Aligned quality, reliability, and delivery requirements.

The position is responsible for supplier quality assurance activities including supplier assessments, APQP implementation, corrective action management, root cause analysis, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Adherence to Owner Furnished Equipment (OFE) Partner Quality Manual procedures.
• Evaluate OFE Partner's work from their manufacturing facility to pre-energization and equipment startup activities.
• Lead gap assessments and work with OFE Partners to effectively address and close open actions.
• Support both factory and field level assessments of OFE Partner field service processes and procedures.
• Provide cross functional support to team members focused on factory assessments and design/materials Supplier Corrective Action Review ("SCAR").
• Follow-up on SCARs to OFE Partners for quality issues as per established procedures and conduct follow-up activities to drive robust corrective/preventive actions.
• Liaison with Aligned stakeholders (Operations, Commissioning Teams, and Contractors) when quality issues are identified and facilitate communications with responsible OFE Partners.
• Follow a Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology when addressing Supplier Partner gaps in performance.
• Monitor supplier performance metrics including quality, delivery, responsiveness, and warranty performance.
• Verify implementation and effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with supplier partners.
• Facilitate lessons learned and best-practice sharing across suppliers.
• Support Factory witness tests (FWT) with cross functional teams.
• Superb written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Exhibit a professional, positive attitude in all circumstances.
• Identify and mitigate supplier-related risks affecting project schedules and operational reliability.
• Work with Procurement, Engineering, Construction, and Operations teams to resolve quality concerns.
• Support development of supplier quality standards and procedures.
• Ability to travel 25% of the time, with an expected cadence of approximately two trips per calendar month.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 1-3 years' experience in manufacturing quality role with exposure to standard processes and procedures.
• Working knowledge of Quality Management systems such as ISO 9001.
• Experience with root cause analysis methodologies (8D, DMAIC, Fishbone etc.).
• Supplier quality experience within low-volume, high-mix manufacturing.
• Standard MS Office Proficiency (Outlook, Excel, Word, Power Point)
• Ability to multi-task, with strong time management and organizational skills.
• Desire to work in an extremely fast-paced and ever-changing environment.
• Must have a strong attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality.

ADDITIONAL DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Applied knowledge using Core Quality Tools, such as APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, PFMEA, Process Control Planning, MSA, etc.
• ISO 9001 auditor training or equivalent quality system experience.
• ASQ Certifications, e.g., CQE, CMQ/OE, and/or CQA
• Statistical Analysis (SPC, Minitab, etc.)
• Six Sigma Green / Black Belt Certification.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing Tools, such as Value-Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Gemba, etc.
• SharePoint or other data repository experience
• MS Access or similar database experience

COMPETENCIES:

• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.
• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals.
• Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; Communicates changes effectively; Builds commitment and overcomes resistance; Prepares and supports those affected by change; Monitors transition and evaluates results.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Educates others on the value of diversity; Promotes a harassment-free environment; Builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Judgement - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Project Management - Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Ability to work independently in both remote and office environments.