Job Description

Quality Shift Leader

Role Summary

The Quality Shift Leader is responsible for leading all quality operations to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient production that meets General Motors’ standards for Safety, People, Quality, Responsiveness, Cost, and Environment (SPQRCE). This role provides on-floor leadership for quality team members, drives daily problem solving, manages quality reactions, and ensures robust execution of standardized work and BIQ/GMS systems during the assigned shift.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety & Compliance

Model and enforce all GM and plant safety policies, including PPE, ergonomics, and safe response to quality issues.

• Ensure quality activities comply with Global Quality Manual, BIQ, and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Support/lead safety incident reporting and follow-up.

• Quality Operations Leadership

Communicate with Customers and/or Product Engineering on status of quality issues, containments, and concerns.

• Lead on-shift quality team members and/or group leaders to ensure effective execution of inspection, verification, and containment activities.

• Monitor and react to key quality systems (e.g., PPM/IPPM, GSIP, quality alerts, QFCs), ensuring timely response and closure.

• Confirm adherence to Process Control Plans, Product Quality Standards, JES/SOS/TIS, and other standardized work.

• Initiate and reconcile holds and containment as required to protect the customer.

• Coordinate and communicate quality status at shift start-up, throughout the shift, and at shift handoff.

• Daily Management & Communication

Conduct pre‑shift huddles and shift quality meetings with production and quality leaders to review safety, quality, manpower, and performance to targets.

• Provide clear communication of quality issues, priorities, and reaction plans to operations, engineering, and leadership.

• Complete required reports, scorecards, and boards (e.g., DRR, layered audits, BPD boards, QFCs) accurately and on time.

• Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

Lead or participate in problem-solving activities for quality issues (e.g., 5-Why, 7‑Diamond, Red X, BPD problem sheets).

• Drive robust containment, root cause, corrective action, and verification of effectiveness for concerns.

• Identify trends and systemic issues using available data; escalate and champion improvements to processes, standards, and training.

• System & Standardized Work Execution

Ensure on-shift execution of BIQ/GMS requirements (e.g., layered audits, JES/SOS/TIS adherence, torque process compliance).

• Confirm quality-related startup/shutdown, model change, and special build procedures are followed.

• Support implementation and sustainability of new or revised quality standards, TIS, control plans, and inspection methods.

• People Leadership & Development

Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, and feedback to quality team members and/or group leaders.

• Support training and qualification for critical operations, torque checks, inspection points, and quality systems.

• Reinforce a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement aligned with GM values.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related field, or equivalent experience.

• 3+ years of automotive or high-volume manufacturing quality experience.

• Demonstrated experience in manufacturing quality (e.g., assembly, stamping, casting, components, or similar environment).

• Proven leadership experience (team leader, group leader, or equivalent), with ability to lead hourly and/or salaried employees.

• Working knowledge of:

SPQRCE framework and GMS/BIQ principles

• Basic problem-solving tools and quality methodologies

• Core quality tools (e.g., control plans, PFMEA, layered audits, containment).

• Strong communication, organization, and prioritization skills in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to work required shift schedule, including overtime, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of automotive or high-volume manufacturing quality experience.

• Experience with GM systems (e.g., GSIP, QFC, Flex Net).

• Formal training in BIQ, problem-solving (Red X, 7‑Diamond, Six Sigma), or GMS.

• Experience leading cross-functional teams through containment and corrective action.

Work Environment

• Onsite, plant-based role supporting a specific production shift.

• Requires regular presence on the production floor, including interaction with production, maintenance, engineering, and leadership.

• May require rotation between shifts and flexibility to support business needs.

GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc).

This role is categorized as onsite. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location on a full-time basis.

This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

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Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

Accommodations

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