Associate Procurement Quality Manager

Summary

Aligned Data Centers is a data center company focused on innovative infrastructure solutions, operational excellence, and continuous data center innovation. The Associate Procurement Quality Manager supports supplier qualification, development, and performance management while ensuring critical equipment and services meet quality, reliability, and delivery requirements. The role leads supplier assessments, corrective actions, risk mitigation, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement across the supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Adherence to Owner Furnished Equipment (OFE) Partner Quality Manual procedures
• Evaluate OFE Partner’s work from their manufacturing facility to pre-energization and equipment startup activities
• Lead gap assessments and work with OFE Partners to effectively address and close open actions
• Support both factory and field level assessments of OFE Partner field service processes and procedures
• Provide cross functional support to team members focused on factory assessments and design/materials Supplier Corrective Action Review (“SCAR”)
• Follow-up on SCARs to OFE Partners for quality issues as per established procedures and conduct follow-up activities to drive robust corrective/preventive actions
• Liaison with Aligned stakeholders (Operations, Commissioning Teams, and Contractors) when quality Issues are identified and facilitate communications with responsible OFE Partners
• Follow a Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology when addressing Supplier Partner gaps in performance
• Monitor supplier performance metrics including quality, delivery, responsiveness, and warranty performance
• Verify implementation and effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with supplier partners
• Facilitate lessons learned and best-practice sharing across suppliers
• Support Factory witness tests (FWT) with cross functional teams
• Superb written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Exhibit a professional, positive attitude in all circumstances
• Identify and mitigate supplier-related risks affecting project schedules and operational reliability
• Work with Procurement, Engineering, Construction, and Operations teams to resolve quality concerns
• Support development of supplier quality standards and procedures
• Ability to travel 25% of the time, with an expected cadence of approximately two trips per calendar month

Skills

• 1-3 years' experience in manufacturing quality role with exposure to standard processes and procedures
• Working knowledge of Quality Management systems such as ISO 9001
• Experience with root cause analysis methodologies (8D, DMAIC, Fishbone etc.)
• Supplier quality experience within low-volume, high-mix manufacturing
• Standard MS Office Proficiency (Outlook, Excel, Word, Power Point)
• Ability to multi-task, with strong time management and organizational skills
• Desire to work in an extremely fast-paced and ever-changing environment
• Must have a strong attention to detail
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality
• Applied knowledge using Core Quality Tools, such as APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, PFMEA, Process Control Planning, MSA, etc
• ISO 9001 auditor training or equivalent quality system experience
• ASQ Certifications, e.g., CQE, CMQ/OE, and/or CQA
• Statistical Analysis (SPC, Minitab, etc.)
• Six Sigma Green / Black Belt Certification
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing Tools, such as Value-Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Gemba, etc
• SharePoint or other data repository experience
• MS Access or similar database experience
• Ability to travel 25% of the time, with an expected cadence of approximately two trips per calendar month
• Ability to work independently in both remote and office environments
• Frequent walking and standing during assessments at supplier partner facilities and project sites
• Comfortable in manufacturing environments which may include hot/cold, dust, dirt, noise, etc
• Occasionally work near moving mechanical parts
• Ability to travel domestically as required to support supplier assessments. Factory witness testing, and project related activities
• Bachelor's degree preferred

Qualifications

Must Haves

• 1-3 years' experience in manufacturing quality role with exposure to standard processes and procedures
• Working knowledge of Quality Management systems such as ISO 9001
• Experience with root cause analysis methodologies (8D, DMAIC, Fishbone etc.)
• Supplier quality experience within low-volume, high-mix manufacturing
• Standard MS Office Proficiency (Outlook, Excel, Word, Power Point)
• Ability to multi-task, with strong time management and organizational skills
• Desire to work in an extremely fast-paced and ever-changing environment
• Must have a strong attention to detail
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality
• Applied knowledge using Core Quality Tools, such as APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, PFMEA, Process Control Planning, MSA, etc
• ISO 9001 auditor training or equivalent quality system experience
• ASQ Certifications, e.g., CQE, CMQ/OE, and/or CQA
• Statistical Analysis (SPC, Minitab, etc.)
• Six Sigma Green / Black Belt Certification
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing Tools, such as Value-Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Gemba, etc
• SharePoint or other data repository experience
• MS Access or similar database experience
• Ability to travel 25% of the time, with an expected cadence of approximately two trips per calendar month
• Ability to work independently in both remote and office environments
• Frequent walking and standing during assessments at supplier partner facilities and project sites
• Comfortable in manufacturing environments which may include hot/cold, dust, dirt, noise, etc
• Occasionally work near moving mechanical parts
• Ability to travel domestically as required to support supplier assessments. Factory witness testing, and project related activities

Nice to Haves

• Bachelor's degree preferred

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• HSA with employer contribution for eligible participants
• FSA for health and dependent care
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Generous 401k match with immediate vesting
• Paid time off and holiday pay
• Short-term disability, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance (with medical election)
• Voluntary life, critical illness, legal, and additional disability coverage
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Wellhub gym membership and other wellness initiatives
• Bonus opportunities
• Professional development opportunities
• Ability to work independently in both remote and office environments