Vice President, Quality

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025!

The Vice President Quality will provide strategic thought and execution leadership required to transform Daikin’s upstream quality to support new product introductions, existing product optimization projects, and after-market quality management programs. Leading the enterprise Quality function for Daikin Applied, with accountability for developing and executing the Annual Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) aligned with Business Unit and Corporate objectives. Drive standardized quality systems and processes across the organization, including Supplier Quality, Quality Management Systems (QMS), certifications, regulatory compliance, and internal auditing programs. Provide governance for Quality Assurance and New Product Introduction (NPI) processes, while serving as the senior escalation point for field quality issues. Champion talent development, organizational capability building, and the reporting of enterprise Quality KPIs.

Location: Onsite or Hybrid role based out of our Plymouth, MN corporate offices

Your Responsibilities:

Quality Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute the enterprise Quality strategy aligned with business objectives, customer expectations, and operational goals.

• Lead the Annual Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), establishing priorities, targets, and accountability across the organization.

• Serve as the executive leader and advocate for quality culture throughout the company.

Quality Management System (QMS)

• Own and continuously improve the Quality Management System, ensuring compliance with applicable standards, certifications, and regulatory requirements.

• Lead internal and external audits, management reviews, and certification activities.

• Establish standardized quality processes, procedures, and governance across all manufacturing sites.

Manufacturing Quality Excellence

• Drive defect prevention, process capability improvement, and variation reduction through Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Establish and monitor manufacturing quality metrics, including first-pass yield, scrap, rework, cost of poor quality, and customer quality performance.

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action processes for significant quality issues.

Supplier Quality

• Provide executive oversight of Supplier Quality programs, including supplier qualification, development, performance management, and risk mitigation.

• Ensure supplier quality requirements are integrated into sourcing, product development, and production processes.

• Drive improvements in supplier quality performance and incoming material quality.

New Product Introduction (NPI) & Quality Assurance

• Establish quality governance for New Product Introduction (NPI), ensuring robust validation, risk assessment, and product readiness processes.

• Oversee PFMEA, control plans, product validation testing, manufacturing readiness reviews, and launch quality performance.

• Ensure lessons learned and field feedback are incorporated into future product designs.

Customer & Field Quality

• Serve as the senior escalation point for critical customer and field quality issues.

• Lead field quality programs, warranty improvement initiatives, and corrective action activities.

• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Service, and Customer Care teams to improve customer satisfaction and product reliability.

Quality Analytics & Reporting

• Own enterprise quality dashboards, KPIs, and reporting processes.

• Leverage data analytics and systems such as Unified Quality View (UQV) to identify trends, drive proactive improvements, and support executive decision-making.

• Provide regular quality performance updates to executive leadership and the Board.

People Development

• Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, coaching, and leadership development.

• Develop quality competencies across manufacturing, engineering, supplier quality, and operational teams.

• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and operational excellence.

Business Partnership

• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Business Unit leaders to drive quality, cost, delivery, and customer satisfaction objectives.

• Ensure quality objectives are integrated into strategic planning, operational reviews, and business performance management.

Your Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience in Business, Engineering, or a related field

• 15+ years; incl 12+ years people leadership experience

  Manufacturing & Quality leadership supervising others. Experience in any of the following: Six Sigma, Total Quality Management (TQM), Lean Manufacturing, ISO or SPC techniques.

• Experience working in a unionized organization is preferred

Your Benefits:

Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: 

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance  

• 401K retirement plan with employer match

• Paid time off and company-paid holidays

• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law

• Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service 

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $181,600.00 - $329,900.00 in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade in which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.