Quality Director – International Manufacturing Environment (Belgium, Turnhout Region)
We are conducting an exclusive search for an international, growing company in B2B manufacturing with a strong heritage, a clear long-term vision, and a leading role in its sector. The business combines global reach with the hands-on mindset and agility of a local operation.
To strengthen the leadership of its largest European production site in the Turnhout region, we are currently seeking a seasoned and hands-on Quality Director to lead all quality, compliance, and product safety efforts at site level.
The Role:
As Quality Director, you will report to the European Business Unit VP, with a dotted line to the Group VP Global Quality, Health, Safety & Compliance. You will be a core member of the Site Leadership Team and play a key role in fostering a culture of customer focus, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
You will lead a multi-disciplinary quality team and oversee five key domains: Quality, Product Safety, Product Security, Environment and Social Compliance Audits — with a strong focus on the first three.
Your Responsibilities
* Lead and the site’s overall quality strategy, aligned with global standards and customer expectations.
* Ensure compliance with relevant ISO standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001), product safety and security standards, and internal policies.
* Manage and continuously improve the site’s Integrated Management System, documentation and ensure audit readiness.
* Use Lean, Six Sigma, FMEA, and SPC methodologies to identify opportunities for improvement.
* Embed quality across the full value chain — from supplier management and incoming goods to final product delivery.
* Oversee daily Quality Control operations and coordinate inspections, testing, and certifications.
* Lead root cause investigations and implement effective corrective/preventive actions (CAPAs).
* Coach, develop, and inspire the quality team, while supporting cross-functional colleagues through training and guidance on quality systems and tools.
* Ensure clear and proactive communication with customers regarding quality, product safety, and compliance expectations.
* Manage quality assurance with subcontractors and suppliers to uphold upstream quality standards.
* Represent the quality function in the site’s management committee and act as a strategic partner to the VP Global Quality.
* Support the company’s broader transformation and growth journey by helping to embed structural and cultural change in quality practices.
* Maintain a strong presence on the shop floor and promote a quality mindset at every level of the organization.
The Profile:
We are looking for an experienced leader with a background in engineering, proven experience in an international, B2B make-to-order manufacturing environment and excellent people and change management skills.
You bring expertise, energy, and vision to elevate the quality culture at the company’s largest European production site.
Experience & Education
* Master’s degree in engineering or related technical field.
* 10+ years of experience in quality leadership roles within international, B2B, make-to-order manufacturing environments.
* A proven history of working closely with customers to understand and meet their requirements regarding quality, product safety, and product security, always striving to enhance customer satisfaction.
* Experience in managing an integrated management system and a demonstrated ability to increase customer satisfaction by proactively preventing quality defects and driving improvements in product quality and cost efficiency
* Fluent in both Dutch and English.
Leadership & Personal Qualities
* A natural leader who inspires trust, builds high-performing teams, and leads with vision and authenticity.
* Able to attract, coach, and develop talent while holding teams accountable through clear expectations and performance management.
* Lead by example, self-reflective, open to feedback, and promoting a culture of learning and ownership.
* Persistent, resilient, and maintaining high standards that elevate team performance.
* Thriving in transformation and having emotional intelligence to lead through change and complexity.
Technical Competence
* Deep knowledge of quality systems, regulatory & compliance requirements, risk management & Root Cause Analysis, and Operational excellence.
* Practical application Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, combined with a data-driven mindset and structured problem-solving, to reduce variation, prevent defects, and drive measurable improvements across the end-to-end supply chain.
* Experience in managing full product lifecycle quality — including R&D, engineering, and production collaboration.
Fit & Culture
* Combining strategic insight with operational reality — shaping the long-term quality vision while translating it into concrete, site-wide actions that drive continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
* Making quality decisions based on data, process performance, and customer feedback, with a pragmatic and improvement-oriented mindset.
* Results-driven, navigating ambiguity with clarity and ensuring progress through governance, structure, and strong follow-through.
* Building strong working relationships across production, supply chain, engineering, and commercial teams — aligning stakeholders around shared quality goals.
* Promoting a culture of accountability and ownership, embedding quality as a mindset across all levels of the organization.
* Seeing sustainability and compliance not just as obligations but as opportunities to future-proof quality and support responsible growth.
The offer:
This is a unique opportunity to join a successful and financially solid company, which strongly invests in people, innovation, assets and strategy.
As Quality Director you have a critical role in embedding a culture of customer focus, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
The growth and transformation of the company offer a lot of opportunities for career and personal development.
Interested?
Please send your application documents (CV and cover letter) to us via the contact form on this page, mentioning reference ENG11782.
Your application will be handled by Caroline Bastiaens.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us by email at caroline.bastiaens@bakker.be.