Quality Operations Manager

Quality Manager

The Quality Manager is responsible for enabling our organization to deliver high quality technology and world-class operations through implementation of a Quality Management System. You will be a primary interface and thought-partner with key stakeholders across Engineering and Operations to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and support auditability. In this role, you will be accountable for the acquisition and maintenance of certifications including ISO 9001, serving as both an execution leader and strategic designer, scoping and driving individual projects in close collaboration. Takes the technical specifications that Gecko operates under across the all government and commercial lines of effort and ensures that all products, practices and procedures conform to the exacting standards necessary to meet government contractual requirements. Synthesize requirements from various government technical specifications, industry standards and codes and ensure that Gecko has processes in place to meet or exceed those requirements.

Implement a QMS with adequate processes to meet regulatory requirements

Identify all applicable government codes (MILSTD, Technical Publications, Codes) for a given project

Review standard operating procedures and practices for compliance

Support retrospectives and team learning sessions, identifying root causes for failures and best practices that produced superior results. Establish uniform process(es), track internalization of lessons learned

Work with the Business Development team to identify the hidden cost outlays within a given contract (Inspection and training requirements, additional safety programs, etc.)

Ensure that FDE projects incorporate requirements outside of technical standards (HERO, EMI, Laser/RSO requirements, etc) necessary to work on government installations (Navy, Air Force, NRC)

Work closely with Corporate NDT level III to ensure compliance with government and commercial standards

Conduct assessments as required by various instructions. Schedule and coordinate any required third party audits

Partner with Operations teams to ensure business operations are standardized and consistently executed, including Field Operations as well as internal equipment maintenance activities

Ensure Product Quality by partnering with engineering during the design phase to ensure downstream success

Partner with Engineering and Supply teams to ensure supplier quality evaluations and agreements are in place and are met, at minimum throughout satisfactory delivery of goods and/or services

Own Document Management systems to ensure processes and technical specifications are captured, current, and readily available to all stakeholders

Exceptional leadership, organizational, and time management skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders

A process and systems-oriented thinker, with demonstrated knowledge of quality management implementation and regulatory requirements

Practical and outcome-oriented, able to design and implement right-sized processes and systems to maximize value while minimizing friction

Mission-oriented, able to be flexible in the design and implementation of a QMS to meet the fast-paced, ever-evolving needs of the organization and/or projects

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, or 10 years of equivalent experience in a highly regulated industry (nuclear power, etc.)

A minimum of 5 years of experience in quality management, continuous improvement, or a related field, preferably within a government contracting environment or a highly regulated industry inclusive of quality elements such as Supplier Quality, Quality Assurance Testing, etc.

Understanding of how technical decisions impact relevant users and stakeholders

Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams of technical and non-technical individuals

Ability to institutionalize lessons learned, critically self assess, and increase efficiency.

Willingness and interest to travel as needed to get very close to the difficult and complex problems to discover appropriate solutions

Demonstrated ability to lead retrospectives, identify root causes, and implement best practices for continuous improvement.

Master's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field or 20 years experience in a highly regulated industry (nuclear power, etc.)

Certifications related to quality management and continuous improvement, such as Six Sigma (Green Belt or Black Belt), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), or Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)

Experience with government codes and standards, such as MIL-STD, and familiarity with technical publications and industry codes

Proven experience in implementing and maintaining Quality Management Systems, particularly ISO 9001

Experience conducting assessments and audits to ensure compliance with technical and safety standards

Familiarity with NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) standards and practices, particularly TP 271

Strong communication and coordination skills, with experience working with major industrial base customers and government installations

Certifications in one or more QMS Frameworks (e.g., LEAN, Six Sigma, TQM, Baldrige Excellence, Juran, etc)

Familiarity with electro-mechanical system manufacturing and testing

Familiarity with Commercial and DoD quality standards and specifications

Familiarity with successful Document Management implementation and maintenance

Strong understanding of vendor/supplier management systems and building successful partnerships

At Gecko, our people are our greatest investment. In addition to competitive compensation packages, we offer company equity, 401(k) matching, gender-neutral parental leave, full medical, dental, and vision insurance, mental health and wellness support, ongoing professional development, family planning assistance, and flexible paid time off.

Gecko values collaboration, innovation, and partnership, and we believe we do our best work when we're together in person. We're an office-first culture but understand that sometimes you may need to work from home. Many people are in the office five days a week, others need a bit more flexibility. Ultimately, we care about the outcomes we achieve - and creating a culture of autonomy and trust that enables that impact.

Gecko is committed to creating a culture of inclusion and belonging, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe it is our collective responsibility to uphold these values and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to join us in our mission to protect today's infrastructure and give form to tomorrow's. All qualified applicants will be treated with respect and receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, uniform service, veteran status, age, or any other protected characteristic per federal, state, or local law. If you are passionate about what you do and want to use your talents to support our critical mission, we'd love to hear from you.