Quality Manager - Rail Products

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Quality Manager for Rail Products at Wabtec offers a permanent full-time onsite role in Keysborough or Rydalmere, leading the QMS across Australia and NZ rail portfolios, ensuring ISO 9001 and customer specifications, driving audits and 8D actions, and developing supplier and customer quality programs. The ideal candidate has an engineering degree and 5-10 years in quality management within rail or manufacturing, plus ISO 9001 lead auditor credentials and CMQ/OE or CQE, along with solid data analysis and KPI reporting and a proven ability to influence across functions. To apply, tailor your resume to QMS, audits, supplier development and customer quality; travel readiness and a background check are required.

Company Description

What are we offering you?

• Permanent full-time position with generous bonus plan

• Discounted health insurance with Medibank

• Novated Leasing options

• Lifestyle discounts with Woolworths, Coles, Avis, JB Hifi and 500+ other retailers

• Access to our Employee Assistance Program

• Birthday Leave

Job Description

​​​​​​Who will you be working with?

Wabtec’s Transit products and services serve all types of rail transit, from high-speed trains to regional networks and metro systems. Our integrated series of components, manufactured using advanced technologies, are designed to meet our customers’ needs for safety, energy efficiency and reliability. Whether it’s improving air quality for passengers with cleaner, greener HVAC systems; providing safe, reliable braking systems or pantographs or passenger information systems; or refining accessibility with advanced door system technology, our products are designed to meet the specific needs of our customers. 

Where is the position located? We are open to the role being based at either of our offices in Keysborough, Melbourne or Rydalmere, Sydney.

What will your typical day look like?

The Quality Manager is responsible for leading the quality assurance and control systems across the entire product portfolio of Wabtec Transit and Components businesses in Australia and New Zealand. This leadership role ensures that all processes and final products comply with Wabtec established standards, customer specifications, and strict regulatory frameworks as applicable. This role monitors quality performance through audits, inspections, and data analysis, driving corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational excellence. Quality Manager also serves as a key customer interface for quality matters, managing customer feedback, reviewing quality performance with customers, and building strong relationships to improve customer satisfaction and trust.

• Improve and maintain the Transit and Components business Quality Management System (QMS) ;

• Ensure compliance with applicable statutory, regulatory, customer, and contractual quality requirements across all business activities;

• Facilitate consultation with relevant stakeholders regarding product and process Quality issues;

• Develop and maintain internal & supplier quality performance programs, including supplier qualification, performance monitoring/audits, risk assessment, and improvement initiatives;

• Support strategic suppliers in resolving quality issues and improving product and service quality;

• Facilitate quality risk assessments for products, services, operational processes, and projects;

• Lead problem investigations using Root Cause Analysis and 8D report using suitable tools;

• Align all stakeholders on the corrective actions, monitor implementation and effectiveness of the actions taken, and reduce recurrence of quality issues;

• Take relevant action on incidents and non-conformance, this includes containment, investigation, corrective action, alerts, lessons learned and reporting;

• Facilitate Training and Awareness on Quality scope of all Operations team members;

• Provide advice and guidance to stakeholders on Quality related topics based on standards, regulatory requirements, code of practices, guidelines and technical requirements;

• Quality KPIs reporting to local management, group, and corporate levels on Quality performance, trends and significant issues;

• Work within Corporate and Group guidelines and tools (Gensuite, WIMS etc) and ensure escalation process and review is adhered to;

• Be responsible for ISO9001 surveillance audits and recertification audits;

• Champion a culture of quality throughout the organization, fostering accountability, ownership, and proactive quality management at all levels;

• Lead and promote continuous improvement initiatives using methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or equivalent improvement tools;

• Coordinate management review activities and provide strategic recommendations based on quality performance, trends, risks, audit outcomes, customer feedback, and business objectives;

• Support the development and deployment of annual quality objectives and improvement plans;

• Act as the primary point of contact for customers on quality-related matters, including quality reviews, complaint management, audits, corrective actions, and performance discussions;

• Ensure customer quality requirements are understood, communicated, and embedded into operational processes; and

• Monitor customer satisfaction trends and drive improvement actions based on customer feedback.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess strong quality management expertise, practical experience in ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems, auditing, supplier quality, customer quality management, and continuous improvement. They will demonstrate excellent leadership, stakeholder engagement, and problem solving skills, with the ability to drive a culture of quality and operational excellence across the businesses.

The essential formal qualifications and experience required for this position are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial or Electrical specialization), Quality Management, Manufacturing, Operations Management or a related discipline;

• Minimum of 5-10years’ experience working in Quality Management preferably within rail, transit, manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, or industrial service environments;

• Demonstrated experience managing and improving Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001) - lead auditor qualification in ISO 9001 would be a plus;

• Certification in Quality Management disciplines such as: ASQ Certified Quality Manager (CMQ/OE), ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, Lean Practitioner certification;

• Proficiency in quality tools and methodologies such as: Root Cause Analysis, 8D, FMEA, CAPA and Risk Management methodologies;

• Understanding of safety-critical operations and regulated industries;

• Experience leading internal, supplier, and external customer audits;

• Experience managing supplier quality performance and supplier development programs;

• Proven experience investigating quality incidents, non-conformances, customer complaints, and implementing corrective actions;

• Experience in customer-facing quality roles, including managing customer audits, quality reviews, and complaint resolution;

• Strong customer relationship management skills with the ability to manage sensitive customer quality matters professionally;

• Ability to build collaborative relationships with ability to influence across all levels with suppliers, operations teams, customers, and management;

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams in resolving quality issues;

• Understanding of regulatory, contractual, and customer quality requirements;

• Strong data analysis and KPI reporting capabilities and experience preparing and presenting quality performance reports to senior management.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills,

• Requires strong planning, analytical, communications, presentation, procedure writing skills;

• Good proficiency in Excel, Power Point, SharePoint, PowerPoint.

Personal Attributes and Competencies
The essential skills required for this position are:

• Ability to visibly display and promote Wabtec Values, to create an environment where employees can develop trust in each other through consistent behaviors and professional conduct;

• Strong commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement;

• Analytical thinker with excellent problem-solving abilities;

• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills;

• Results-oriented with the ability to manage multiple priorities;

• Proactive and self-motivated with a continuous improvement mindset;

• Ability to make sound decisions based on data and risk assessment;

• Demonstrated integrity, accountability, and professionalism;

• Resilient and able to work effectively in a fast-paced operational environment.

Special Requirements

• Flexibility to take part in online meetings that fall outside of normal office hours;

• Local and overseas travel may be required; and

• Valid Driver’s license.

Additional Information

Successful candidates will be required to complete background and criminal history check.

We thank all applicants for their interest; each application will receive a response.

We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.
 

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We’re lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.