Director of Quality Operations (Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing)

Location: De Soto, Kansas, United States; onsite. The position is primarily site-based with up to 20% travel. Valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction is required.

Company

hirify.global produces lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and sustainable energy applications and is expanding a large-scale battery manufacturing facility in Kansas.

What you will do

• Lead site-wide quality operations, quality systems, governance, and manufacturing quality strategy.
• Own quality performance outcomes, including first-pass yield, cost of poor quality, scrap, customer defects, process capability, and product reliability.
• Direct quality control strategies, inspection systems, testing frameworks, product release processes, NCR, CAPA, and escalation activities.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, statistical, digital quality, predictive analytics, and structured problem-solving initiatives.
• Provide executive oversight of audits, compliance, risk management, FMEA, control plans, product safety, and corrective actions.
• Build and develop the quality organization while partnering with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Product Development, and customer quality teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Quality Assurance, Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or a related technical field; relevant experience may substitute.
• 10+ years of progressive quality leadership experience in manufacturing, including quality systems, operations, and organizational performance.
• Experience with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, UL, CE, RoHS, SPC, MSA, FMEA, Control Plans, CAPA, 8D, and structured problem-solving.
• Demonstrated success leading quality organizations, managers, cross-functional improvement initiatives, and measurable KPI improvements.
• Strong business judgment, executive communication, stakeholder management, analytics, statistical methods, and digital quality systems experience.
• Working-level English proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking, plus unrestricted U.S. work authorization.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or higher, and ASQ certifications such as CQE, CMQ/OE, or CQA.
• Experience in lithium-ion battery, automotive, semiconductor, or other advanced manufacturing environments.
• Experience with greenfield manufacturing startups, rapid production scale-up, multi-site quality operations, or customer-specific automotive quality requirements.

Culture & Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, prescription, HSA, and FSA benefits.
• 401(k) plan with company matching and immediate vesting.
• Paid vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, parental, and caregiver leave.
• Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
• Annual performance-based bonus, wellbeing programs, employee recognition, and onsite food options.
• Pre-employment drug testing is required; PPE may be required in the manufacturing environment.