Who We Are
Integrity. Quality. Commitment and Innovation.
These are our values and not only what we stand by but what we stand for. We believe in empowering people. We create and deliver solutions. We give back to community. We think differently and we do it better. Our innovative spirit has driven us to continually evolve and deliver solutions to our dealers and our community and made us a business that our people are proud of and proud to work for.
Waratah NZ Limited (a John Deere Company) has proudly served the global forestry industry for more than 50 years, pioneering mechanized harvesting with first-class products of distinct quality, durability, and reliability paired with unparalleled customer support.
With John Deere, we run so life can leap forward. This powerful purpose is our promise to humankind that we will dream, design, and deliver breakthrough products that sustain our world for generations to come. The world is counting on us to feed billions of people and build vital infrastructures in villages, towns and megacities. And we live up to the legacy our founder forged in a one-room blacksmith's shop nearly two centuries ago by creating a culture that brings out the best in all of us. A culture where great ideas thrive because every voice is heard.
Title: Quality Manager
Primary Location: New Zealand- Tokoroa
Job Grade: 8
Hiring Manager: Ben MacLachlan
The Opportunity
Leading a team of Quality Engineers, Analysts & Inspectors, this role is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the Quality strategy through technical tasks, processes and initiatives that deliver exceptional operational & product performance whilst growing the Waratah product portfolio.
What you will be responsible for
- Ensures sufficient Quality build and system support is available for daily production operations.
- Executes the quality planning for both Product Delivery Process (PDP) and Order Fulfillment Process (OFP) activities for the unit's programs.
- Manages and reports on customer satisfaction (distinctive product quality) & factory quality (product/process first pass yield, defects per machine) metrics to promote customer driven continuous improvement projects and initiatives.
- Monitors progress to achieve unit quality objectives and aligns processes, projects and resources to obtain the expected outcome. Tracks various events related to product and process quality. Applies quality tools, statistical techniques, inspections, audits and analyses to plan, control, and improve product, process, and service quality.
- Manages & leads quality engineering staff, creating a culture that promotes and sustains a high performing diverse and inclusive team, whilst developing and empowering staff to contribute to their full ability.
- Responsible for establishing ETEC projects, resource, and budgets in alignment with Waratah projects, budgets & timelines.
- Supports the development & execution of operational and capital expense budget for area of responsibility.
- Supports the investigations into unit quality related issues and concerns related to product and processes. Gathers and analyzes data, resolves/facilitates resolution and implements corrective action.
Some of the Skills you will need
Specialized skills, knowledge and abilities needed to perform the essential functions of the job.
- Understanding various processes such as supply management, process engineering, quality engineering, customer support, etc. - Has a general understanding of the principles and uses the knowledge with assistance.
- Understanding of quality management principles, tools and processes. - Has a good understanding of the principles and can independently use the knowledge.
- Knowledge of process management principles, tools and integration. - Has a good understanding of the principles and can independently use the knowledge.
- Knowledge of International Standards Organization (ISO) requirements. - Has a general understanding of the principles and uses the knowledge with assistance.
- Knowledge of enterprise processes to include enterprise product delivery process (EPDP), enterprise order fulfillment process (EOFP), enterprise customer acquisition process (ECAP) and customer support process (CSP). - Has a good understanding of the principles and can independently use the knowledge.
- Knowledge of advanced quality tools such as Design of experiments and regression analysis. - Has a good understanding of the principles and can independently use the knowledge.
Education / Experience
Formal education or training required to perform the essential functions of the job. Includes degrees, certifications, licenses and/or registration requirements.
Type and amount of experience necessary to perform the essential functions of the job. May include specific roles and/or an understanding of a particular function, organization, industry or product line.
- Experience in one or more related engineering areas: industrial, production, methods, quality, reliability, design, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. 3+ years
- Demonstrated team leadership and mentoring experience. 3+ years
- Experience with engineering tools, systems and databases. 3+ years
- Experience in quality management. 3+ years
What will make stand out
- You will be a high-performing quality manager in a factory environment demonstrating strong leadership, keen attention to detail, and a deep understanding of our products, manufacturing processes and quality standards. You will use our core values to drive your decisions in alignment with our strategies. You are a proactive problem-solver who uses data-driven approaches to identify root causes and implement effective corrective actions. Excellent communication skills enable you to collaborate across departments and with customers, ensuring that quality objectives align with production goals. You are also committed to continuous improvement, fostering a culture of accountability, excellence and development while staying current with company policies and best practices.
Applications for this position will close at COB 11th July 2025.
Note: Appropriate work authorisations are required in this country prior to application.
The information contained herein is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of individuals performing the job. The qualifications detailed in this job description are not considered the minimum requirements necessary to perform the job, but rather as guidelines.
Waratah believes in the power of diversity in the workforce and we and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Waratah. Built to Produce. Built to Last. Built to Work.
