Global Quality Management System Lead

Overview

Are you someone who is passionate, motivated, and driven to make a difference?  If so, MSA Safety is the perfect fit for your career. 

At MSA, SAFETY is who we are AND it is what we do.  We are a purpose-driven company committed to deploying innovation and technology to deliver on our Mission to help protect people and assets all around the world.  We continue to be relentless in our pursuit of solving our customers greatest problems so they can go home safe each and every day. 

Are you in?  Read on for more details about this particular role.

Responsibilities

The Global Quality Management System Lead is responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving the global Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure compliance with applicable standards, regulatory requirements, and company policies.

This role serves as the subject matter expert for the QMS, drives global standardization and governance of quality processes, and delivers training to ensure employees understand the QMS, its elements, and their roles and responsibilities in its effective implementation. The role also leads audit and management review activities, and uses quality system performance data to identify and advance continual improvement opportunities.

The position partners closely with Manufacturing Quality, Supplier Quality, Product Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, Operations, and other functional teams to integrate QMS requirements into business processes and strengthen quality system effectiveness globally.

 Lead Global QMS Strategy, Governance & Standardization 

• Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the global QMS to ensure compliance with applicable standards, regulatory requirements, and company policies.
• Serve as the QMS subject matter expert and advise leadership and functional teams on requirements, interpretations, and best practices. 
• Lead the development, revision, approval, deployment, and governance of global quality policies, procedures, standards, and work instructions. 
• Establish and maintain a global QMS framework that promotes consistent application across regions, sites, and functions while accommodating applicable local regulatory requirements. 
• Define QMS governance, process ownership, and accountability to ensure the system remains effective and aligned with business objectives. 
• Partner with regional and site Quality leaders to implement global QMS requirements and resolve inconsistencies in execution. 
• Monitor changes to applicable standards and regulatory requirements and lead the assessment and implementation of necessary QMS updates. 

QMS Assurance, Audits, and Compliance 

• Develop and maintain a risk-based global internal audit program that evaluates QMS conformity, implementation, and effectiveness.
• Coordinate and oversee internal audits, including audit planning, execution, reporting, and corrective-action follow-up.
• Establish and maintain internal auditor qualification, training, and competency requirements.
• Coordinate external certification, surveillance, customer, and regulatory audits and serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors.
• Ensure audit findings, nonconformances, and corrective actions are appropriately contained, investigated, addressed, and verified for effectiveness.
• Analyze audit results and recurring findings to identify systemic risks, common failure modes, and opportunities for global improvement.
• Monitor certification status and compliance obligations and escalate significant compliance concerns to appropriate leadership.

 QMS Performance, Management Review, and Continuous Improvement 

• Plan, coordinate, and facilitate global QMS Management Reviews in accordance with applicable requirements and established governance.
• Consolidate and analyze QMS performance data, including audit results, customer feedback, process performance, corrective actions, risks, and improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate QMS suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness and identify opportunities to improve quality performance and organizational capability.
• Present relevant trends, risks, resource needs, and recommendations to leadership to support informed decision-making.
• Establish, communicate, and monitor Management Review actions, ensuring accountability, timely completion, and verification of effectiveness.
• Lead continual improvement initiatives based on QMS performance, audit findings, risk assessments, and organizational priorities.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and improve quality processes while maintaining compliance and effectiveness. Lead QMS improvement projects and digital transformation initiatives that improve process efficiency, data integrity, visibility, and accessibility.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of implemented improvements through measurable outcomes and follow-up assessments. 

Global QMS Training, Competency, and Awareness

• Develop, implement, and maintain a global QMS training and awareness program to ensure employees understand applicable QMS requirements, processes, and their individual responsibilities.
• Develop and deliver training on the QMS framework, its elements, policies, procedures, work instructions, and applicable quality tools.
• Establish training requirements and competency expectations based on employee roles, responsibilities, and the impact of their activities on product and process quality.
• Develop and maintain standardized training materials, resources, and delivery methods to support consistent QMS understanding and application across regions, sites, and functions.
• Partner with functional leaders, site Quality teams, and process owners to identify training needs and ensure appropriate training is completed.
• Evaluate training effectiveness through assessments, employee feedback, audits, observed performance, and other appropriate measures.
• Monitor training completion, competency records, and identified gaps; coordinate corrective actions and refresher training as needed.
• Ensure QMS training requirements are updated and communicated when policies, procedures, processes, or applicable standards change.
• Promote quality awareness and a culture of accountability, compliance, risk-based thinking, and continual improvement throughout the organization.

QMS Risk Management and Organizational Readiness

• Establish and maintain a risk-based approach to QMS planning, implementation, and continual improvement.
• Identify, assess, and monitor systemic QMS risks, including risks associated with process nonconformity, regulatory compliance, certification, and inconsistent implementation across sites.
• Partner with functional and site leaders to ensure quality risks are appropriately evaluated, documented, mitigated, and escalated.
• Assess the impact of organizational, operational, regulatory, and process changes on the global QMS and coordinate appropriate implementation activities.
• Lead QMS readiness activities for new site integrations, organizational changes, certification expansions, and the deployment of new or revised requirements.
• Coordinate cross-functional action plans to address identified QMS risks, implementation gaps, and compliance concerns. Monitor risk mitigation effectiveness and verify that actions are sustained. · Ensure lessons learned from audits, nonconformances, and improvement initiatives are incorporated into QMS planning and deployment.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• 5 years of relevant experience leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a manufacturing site’s quality management system (QMS).
• Substantial progressive experience in Quality Management Systems, Quality Assurance, or Manufacturing Quality.
• Thorough knowledge of ISO 9001 required; ISO 17025 requirements preferred.
• Strong understanding of quality management principles, risk management, process management, corrective action systems, document control, and audit methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and drive fact-based decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects and manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and quality management software systems.
• Excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills with the ability to build trust, conduct audits objectively, communicate findings constructively, and influence process owners and leadership to achieve sustainable quality improvements.

Education Required:

• Minimum of Associate degree in technical discipline.

Preferred: 

• Knowledge of standards such as NIOSH, NFPA, ATEX, IECEx, IEC 60079, ANSI/ASSP, EN, OSHA, CSA, UL, and applicable regional certification requirements.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, or equivalent certifications.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline preferred.