Transportation & Energy / Aerospace & Defense Vertical Quality Director 

Collaborate with Innovative 3Mers Around the World  

Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the company that you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a wide variety of people, global locations, technologies and products, 3M is a place where you can collaborate with other curious, creative 3Mers.  

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career.  

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role  

As a Quality Director, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative people around the world. Here, you will make an impact by:  

• Leads long‑term quality strategy for the Transportation & Energy / Aerospace & Defense Verticals by partnering with TEBG and ESC leadership, interpreting industry and customer trends, and setting cross‑business quality guidelines and improvement initiatives. 

• Oversees functional strategic planning, including budgeting, resource allocation, and approval of budget deviations, ensuring the organization is positioned to meet business objectives. 

• Directs multiple quality functions-such as customer quality, product quality control, incoming inspection, and warranty analysis-by setting priorities, assigning resources, monitoring customer health metrics, and ensuring high‑quality operational execution. 

• Provides leadership to managers and teams through coaching, performance management, conflict resolution, and development, while fostering a strong “Quality Is My Job” culture. 

• Solves highly complex quality challenges requiring cross‑functional collaboration, innovation, and advanced analytical skills, making decisions with long‑term impact across multiple regions and business groups. 

• Represents the Quality function with senior executives and external stakeholders, providing strategic recommendations, leading QMS activities (including ISO audits and reviews), and ensuring alignment with corporate programs, policies, and 3M values. 

Your Skills and Expertise   

To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start).  

• Twelve (12) years of experience in a quality or manufacturing setting in a private, public, government or military environment.  

• Five (5) years of experience in a Quality or Manufacturing leadership position in a private, public, government or military environment.

Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:  

• Master's degree or higher from an accredited institution  

• Advanced expertise across multiple quality disciplines, such as quality assurance, product quality control, incoming inspection, Six Sigma, ISO standards, and warranty analysis.  

• Experience administering and maintaining ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.  

• Strong project management capabilities, with a track record of leading complex, cross‑functional initiatives.  

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively engage senior leadership, peers, teams, customers, and regulatory stakeholders.  

• Proficiency with corporate systems and digital tools commonly used in Quality functions, along with strong English verbal and written communication skills.  

• Experience with Statistical Process Control and other advanced analytical methods used to manage and improve quality performance.  

Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).  

Work location: This role follows an on-site working model, requiring the employee to work at least four days a week at the 3M Center in Maplewood, MN or Detroit, MI area in close proximity to customers.  

Travel: May include up to 25% domestic/international  

Relocation Assistance: May be authorized  

Supporting Your Well-being  

3M offers many programs to help you live your best life – both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, 3M regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope.  

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