Director, Product Quality & Safety, Global Residential Fire

Description

• Use insights to drive continuous improvement and enhance product reliability and satisfaction.
• Benchmark against industry leaders and drive continuous improvement through Lean & Six Sigma methodologies.
• Represent Supply Chain and Operations in all product risk assessments and safety reviews.
• Conduct regular reviews of legacy products to ensure continued compliance and performance.
• Layered Process Audits (LPA)
• Develop and implement best-in-class Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for quality and safety processes, including:
• Collaborate with R&D and Engineering to ensure consumer use cases and failure modes are proactively addressed.
• Integrate voice-of-customer (VoC) and voice-of-consumer (VoCon) feedback into product design and next-gen innovation.
• Lead the Product Safety Office, ensuring robust risk assessments, root cause investigations, and corrective actions for all safety-related incidents.
• Partner with Customer Experience and Technical Support to analyze product feedback, warranty claims, and service data.
• Define and enforce internal Kidde-specific quality and safety standards that exceed regulatory requirements.
• Lead the global Quality & Safety function, setting the vision and roadmap for excellence in product quality and consumer safety.
• Ensure transparent communication with internal stakeholders, customers, and regulatory bodies.
• Lead cross-functional teams during product quality or safety incidents, including field issues, recalls, and regulatory escalations.
• Provide quality and safety oversight during all NPD phases, including DFMEA, QFD, and consumer validation testing.
• Serve as the executive sponsor for quality and safety initiatives across the global business.
• Institutionalize learnings into SOPs and future product designs.

Requirements

• Analytical Skills: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, using data-driven insights to inform decision-making.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Adaptability: Comfort with ambiguity and ability to adapt to evolving market conditions and organizational priorities.
• Stage-Gate Quality Reviews during NPD
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with experience leading salaried & hourly team members.
• Communication: Effective communication skills to convey complex ideas and strategies to diverse stakeholders.
• VoC/VoCon Integration Rate in NPD: 100% of new programs
• 15+ years of progressive experience in product quality and safety leadership, preferably in consumer products.
• Project Management: Strong project management skills and good organizational skills & ability to multi-task.
• Closed-Loop Corrective Action Systems (CLCA)
• ASQ or similar quality certifications are a plus.
• Proven experience with facilitating change in a fast-paced environment, influencing skills and the ability to build strong working relationships at all levels.
• Proven track record of leading through product safety incidents and driving systemic improvements.
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Strong analytical, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Financial Acumen: Experienced in budgeting and forecasting for quality and safety programs, including planning for testing activities, resource needs, and cost control
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically and envision the long-term direction of the quality organization in alignment with company goals.
• Master’s Degree
• Net Promoter Score (NPS): > 70
• Deep expertise in QFD, DFMEA, NPD, VAVE, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to develop positive relationships and work with staff, colleagues, cross-functional teams, third parties, and remote teams.
• Consumer Validation Pass Rate: > 90%
• Travel: up to 10% travel
• First Pass Yield (FPY): > 98%

Benefits

• Corrective Action Closure Rate: 100% within 30 days

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance