Head of Quality

Company Description

Continental is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist. Founded in 1871, the company generated sales of €19.7 billion in 2025 and currently employs around 78,000 people in 54 countries and markets.
 ContiTech is one of the world’s leading material experts for industry applications. The Continental group sector offers its customers reliable, safe and convenient industry and service solutions using a range of materials for off-highway applications, on rails and roads, in the air, under and above the ground, in industrial environments, for the food sector and the furniture industry. With about 20,000 employees (Status as of March 2026) at more than 60 sites globally, and sales of some 6.0 billion euros (2025), the global industrial partner is active with core branches in Asia, Europe and North and South America.

Job Description

General Management and Strategy

▪manage and coordinate quality management activities for the plant/operations related to process quality and lab
▪translate plant/operations unit’s quality strategy into action plans and ensure implementation
▪ contribute to strategic and operative planning of the plant/operations unit (e.g. with respect to investments, capacity and headcount planning)
▪ ensure the achievement of quality targets according to internal and external customer expectations
▪ initiate and implement continuous improvement activities by applying quality and CBS methods and training measures
▪ initiate and control investments for quality equipment together with BU/BA R&D (e.g. software, laboratory equipment, etc.)
▪ interface to segment, BU or BA functions in order to gather local quality management requirements and demands and other feedback
▪ participate in and/or steer local quality related and cross-functional projects
▪ conduct employee dialogues, personnel development and coaching for PQE and Lab

Financial Management

▪ prepare, review and manage the budget and forecast of quality cost centers
▪ ensure timely submission of financial data to controlling
▪ implement and conduct activities according to the budget established
▪ ensure that the financial goals are meet for process quality and lab.

Quality Management supports

▪ Support for implementation of and compliance to external (e.g. IATF 16949 or customer audits) and internal quality standards (e.g. CT quality system, equipment, tools, KPIs, etc.)
▪ Support for assess and decide about release of new products, new processes and equipment affecting quality
▪ Support for internal and external audits, assessments and preparation of management reviews, this includes regular internal assessments based on the mandatory elements of quality management guidelines
▪ Support for plant quality management systems (e.g. of plant, segment, BU or BA) according to segment/BU or BA standards

Quality Control

▪ ensure operation of incoming inspection according to production control plan, production planning and standards
▪ ensure operation of in process quality assurance according to production control plan, production planning and standards in close cooperation with production function of plant/operations unit
▪ stop production processes in case quality requirements are not fulfilled and ensure corrective actions
▪ manage blocked stock storage (non-conforming material) according to standards
▪ ensure operation of laboratory and quality equipment according to standards
▪ ensure definition of quality control (e.g. test criteria, test equipment, test frequency) as part of production control plans according to standards provided by (central) quality management
▪ drive Yokoten activities, i.e. implementation and application of structured problem-solving and lessons learned approach, in close collaboration with CBS function

Complaint, Warranty and Requirement Management

▪ Support for management of customer complaints (e.g. 8D reports, A3) and collect and address customer satisfaction according to standards
▪ Support for handling of warranty returns according the agreements with customer and automotive standards
▪ Support for increased awareness of costumer specific requirements in the entire organization
▪ Support for facilitate methodologies to analyze customer requirements appropriately in order to meet customer expectations and to identify relevant KPIs for the quality reporting
▪ Support for supplier performance monitoring (e.g. supplier quality) together with SCM / Purchasing
▪ Support for ensure local implementation of central quality standards

Training and Coaching

▪ ensure the availability of qualified employees for the quality function in cooperation with plant HR
▪ initiate and control the continuous qualification of quality employees in cooperation with plant HR

Monitoring and Reporting

▪ ensure quality performance (KPI) monitoring and reporting (e.g. regarding scrap, waste, etc.) in cooperation with plant controlling and production
▪ initiate and control measures to improve quality performance

Standardization

▪ provide feedback and input for further development of standards regarding quality processes (e.g. test criteria, KPI reporting, etc.), quality equipment (e.g. laboratory equipment, measurement equipment for quality assurance), quality IT (e.g.Control plan tools, etc.) to segment, BU or BA functions

Qualifications

Education / Certification

▪ university degree, preferably in engineering, science, quality management or related discipline (depending on plant size)
▪ certified ISO/TS 16949 (or similar) auditor
▪ Six Sigma certification will be an advantage

Professional Experience
(Variety of Functions, Variety of Business, General Management Experience)▪ 5 or more years of professional experience in various quality management functions
▪ cross functional experience e.g. in engineering, supply chain, purchasing or CBS preferred

Project and/or Process Experience

▪ comprehensive experience in rubber and plastic production processes

Leadership Experience

▪ 3 or more years in a leadership position, preferably in operational units with functional and disciplinary responsibility for other individuals

Intercultural / International Experience

▪ experience in working with international teams on quality topics and understanding of foreign cultures
▪ proficient in minimum 2 languages, English or German is mandatory