Free director of quality job description templates: manufacturing, medical device, food, and quality manager versions, with ISO, FDA, and FSMA guidance.
6 free templates across manufacturing, medical device, and food, plus a quality manager version for smaller companies, with the ISO 9001, FDA QMSR, and FSMA regulatory context the generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
A director of quality job description has one decision the generic template farms skip, and it determines the whole hire: do you actually need a director, or a quality manager? A Director of Quality is a senior, well-paid role concentrated in larger and regulated companies. Most small and mid-size companies, even regulated ones, really need a quality manager, the hands-on owner of the quality system who often serves as the management representative or PCQI without a director title.
These six templates cover the role by industry and seniority: a general director version, manufacturing, medical device, and food and beverage variants tied to their specific regulations, a quality manager version for smaller companies, and a VP tier, each scoped honestly. For the fundamentals of structuring any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion.
TL;DR
A director of quality owns the quality management system: strategy, audits, CAPA, the team, and product-release authority. It is a senior, exempt role concentrated in regulated and larger companies, with pay often around $200,000. Most small and mid-size companies actually need a quality manager instead, the hands-on first quality hire and de facto management representative or PCQI, at a far lower salary. The right standard (ISO 9001, FDA QMSR, FSMA) depends on your industry. Download six templates as DOCX.
What a Director of Quality Does
A director of quality owns the quality management system end to end: setting quality strategy and policy, leading the quality team, managing audits and regulatory compliance, driving corrective action and continuous improvement, managing supplier quality, and holding final authority over product release. It is a senior, exempt leadership role.
There is no dedicated federal occupation code for the title. The closest match is 11-3051.01 Quality Control Systems Managers, a detailed occupation that groups quality directors and quality managers together, listing Quality Assurance Director, Quality Director, and Quality Manager among its reported job titles.
Manager, Director, or VP of Quality?
Quality leadership comes in rungs, and picking the right one is the most important decision before you post, because the seniority, scope, and pay differ sharply.
Quality Manager
Hands-on, often first hire
Runs the quality system day to day. The realistic hire for most small and mid-size companies, and often the de facto management representative or PCQI.
Director of Quality
Owns the function, leads a team
Owns quality strategy and the QMS, leads the quality team, and holds final authority over product release. A senior, single-site or company-level role.
VP / Senior Director
Enterprise, multi-site
Leads quality across multiple sites or business units with full strategic and budget accountability. The executive tier above a Director of Quality.
Most Smaller Companies Need a Manager, Not a Director
If you are a small or mid-size company, even a regulated one, the realistic hire is usually a quality manager: the hands-on owner of the quality system and often your first dedicated quality hire, who can serve as the management representative or PCQI. A director-level role makes sense once you have a quality team to lead and the budget for a senior, six-figure executive.
Director of Quality Duties and Responsibilities
A director of quality's duties cluster into four areas: quality system and strategy, audits and compliance, CAPA and improvement, and team and suppliers. The specifics vary by industry, but these areas hold across the role.
What usually creates the need for a quality leader is a standard or regulation, not company size. Here is the standard and the required quality role by industry, which should shape the job description you write.
Industry
Standard / regulation
Required quality role
General manufacturing
ISO 9001:2015
Defined QMS roles (clause 5.3); de facto management representative
Automotive
IATF 16949
QMS plus automotive-specific requirements
Aerospace / defense
AS9100
QMS plus aerospace requirements
Medical device
FDA QMSR (21 CFR 820 / ISO 13485)
Designated management representative (820.20(b))
Pharmaceutical
21 CFR 210/211 (cGMP)
Independent quality unit
Food & beverage
FSMA (21 CFR Part 117)
Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI)
Naming the specific standard your role owns, rather than listing generic duties, is the single most useful thing the posting can do: it attracts candidates who actually fit your regulatory context.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by industry and seniority. Use this guide to choose the closest fit, then adjust the duties, pay, and requirements to match.
Director of Quality (General)
Any industry
The universal version: owns the QMS, leads the team, and holds product-release authority, adaptable to any standard.
Manufacturing
ISO 9001, IATF 16949
For a production operation: ISO 9001, automotive IATF 16949, supplier quality, SPC, and continuous improvement.
Medical Device
FDA QMSR, ISO 13485
For device manufacturers under the FDA QMSR (21 CFR Part 820 / ISO 13485:2016): design controls, CAPA, FDA audits.
Food & Beverage
FSMA, HACCP, SQF
For food producers: FSMA preventive controls, PCQI, HACCP, and GFSI schemes like SQF or BRCGS.
Quality Manager (SMB)
Smaller companies
The hands-on, often-first quality hire most small and mid-size companies actually need instead of a director.
VP / Senior Director
Multi-site, enterprise
The executive tier: enterprise quality strategy and leadership across multiple sites or business units.
Match the Template to the Hire
Any industry: General. A production plant: Manufacturing. A device maker: Medical Device. A food producer: Food & Beverage. A smaller company making its first quality hire: Quality Manager. A multi-site enterprise: VP / Senior Director. When in doubt at a smaller company, start with the Quality Manager template.
6 Free Director of Quality Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company and position summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, a compliance note tied to the relevant standard, and how to apply, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General, manufacturing, medical device, food and beverage, quality manager, and VP. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Director of Quality (General)
The universal version: owns the QMS, leads the team, and holds product-release authority, adaptable to any standard.
Director of Quality Job Description (General)
DIRECTOR OF QUALITY JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [VP Operations / COO / President]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (executive or administrative)
Compensation: $_____ per year
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[Company Name] is a [industry] company in [City, State]. We are hiring a Director
of Quality to own our quality management system, lead the quality team, and ensure
our products and processes meet customer, regulatory, and standard requirements.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of Quality owns the quality management system end to end: setting
quality strategy and policy, leading the quality team, managing audits and
compliance, driving corrective action and continuous improvement, and holding
final authority over product release. This is a senior, exempt leadership role.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Own and continuously improve the quality management system (QMS)
•Set quality strategy, policy, and objectives
•Lead, hire, and develop the quality team
•Manage internal and external audits and regulatory inspections
•Own corrective and preventive action (CAPA) and root-cause analysis
•Manage supplier quality and customer complaint resolution
•Hold authority over product release and quality decisions
•Report quality metrics and risk to leadership
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or a related field
•[7+] years of quality experience with team leadership
•Deep knowledge of QMS standards and regulatory requirements
•Experience with audits, CAPA, and continuous improvement
•ASQ certification (CQM/OE, CMQ, or CQE) a plus
COMPLIANCE NOTE (read before posting)
A Director of Quality is an exempt role (executive or administrative) under the
FLSA, well above the $684 per week salary threshold. The specific standards and
regulations the role owns depend on your industry: ISO 9001 for general
manufacturing, FDA QMSR and ISO 13485 for medical devices, FSMA for food, IATF
16949 for automotive, or AS9100 for aerospace. Tailor this template to your
regulatory context. This is general information, not legal advice.
EEO STATEMENT
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable
accommodations for the essential functions of this role.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ per year
To apply, email __ with your resume.
Template 2: Director of Quality (Manufacturing)
For a production operation: ISO 9001, automotive IATF 16949, supplier quality, SPC, and continuous improvement.
Director of Quality Job Description (Manufacturing)
DIRECTOR OF QUALITY JOB DESCRIPTION (MANUFACTURING)
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [VP Operations / Plant Manager / COO]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (executive or administrative)
Compensation: $_____ per year
ABOUT THIS ROLE
A manufacturing Director of Quality owns the QMS for a production operation,
typically built on ISO 9001 and, for automotive, IATF 16949. The role drives
quality across production, suppliers, and continuous improvement.
POSITION SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Director of Quality to own our manufacturing quality
system. You will maintain ISO 9001 (and IATF 16949 where applicable), lead the
quality team, manage audits and supplier quality, own CAPA and SPC, and drive
continuous improvement across the plant.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Own the ISO 9001 (and IATF 16949 where applicable) quality system
•Serve as or appoint the management representative for the QMS
•Lead the quality team and quality engineering
•Manage internal, customer, and certification-body audits
•Own CAPA, root-cause analysis, and statistical process control
•Manage supplier quality, PPAP, and incoming inspection
•Drive continuous improvement (Lean, Six Sigma) initiatives
•Hold authority over product release and nonconformance
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's in engineering or a related field
•[7+] years of manufacturing quality experience with leadership
•Deep knowledge of ISO 9001 (IATF 16949 a plus)
•Experience with CAPA, SPC, PPAP, and supplier quality
•ASQ CQM/OE, CMQ, or Six Sigma certification a plus
COMPLIANCE NOTE
ISO 9001:2015 (clause 5.3) requires defined roles and responsibilities for the
QMS, and many manufacturers keep a management representative even though the
standard no longer mandates the title. Automotive suppliers follow IATF 16949.
This is an exempt role above the FLSA salary threshold. This is general
information, not legal advice.
EEO STATEMENT
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable
accommodations for the essential functions of this role.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ per year
To apply, email __ with your resume.
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The executive tier: enterprise quality strategy and leadership across multiple sites or business units.
VP / Senior Director of Quality Job Description
VP / SENIOR DIRECTOR OF QUALITY JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [COO / President / CEO]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Exempt (executive)
Compensation: $_____ per year
ABOUT THIS ROLE
A VP or Senior Director of Quality leads quality at the enterprise level: across
multiple sites or business units, with full strategic and budget accountability.
It is a senior executive role above a single-site Director of Quality.
POSITION SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a VP / Senior Director of Quality to lead quality across
our organization. You will set enterprise quality strategy, lead site quality
leaders, own multi-site compliance and audits, manage the quality budget, and
serve as the executive voice of quality to the leadership team and board.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Set and own enterprise quality strategy and culture
•Lead site quality directors and managers across locations
•Own multi-site regulatory compliance and audit readiness
•Manage the quality budget and resource allocation
•Drive enterprise CAPA, risk, and continuous improvement
•Represent quality to executive leadership and the board
•Own supplier quality strategy across the supply base
•Set quality metrics and accountability across sites
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Bachelor's required; advanced degree a plus
•[10+] years of quality leadership, including multi-site
•Deep regulatory and QMS expertise for your industry
•Proven executive leadership and budget management
•Senior ASQ certification (CMQ/OE) or equivalent a plus
COMPLIANCE NOTE
A VP or Senior Director of Quality is an exempt executive role well above the FLSA
salary threshold. The regulatory scope mirrors the Director role but spans
multiple sites or business units. This is general information, not legal advice.
EEO STATEMENT
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable
accommodations for the essential functions of this role.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Compensation: $_____ per year
To apply, email __ with your resume.
Title, Regulation, and FLSA
This is the part the generic templates skip: choosing the right rung, tying the role to a specific regulation, and getting the classification right. These shape who you attract and what you pay.
Manager or director: which does your company actually need?
The most useful thing to settle before posting is whether you need a director or a manager, because the two are different hires at very different pay. A Director of Quality owns the quality strategy, leads a team, and holds final product-release authority, a senior role concentrated in larger and regulated mid-market or enterprise companies, with pay that runs well into six figures. A Quality Manager runs the quality system hands-on, often as the first dedicated quality hire, and is the realistic role for most small and mid-size companies, including small regulated manufacturers, at a notably lower salary. Regulation often forces even a small company to name someone responsible for quality, but in a smaller business that person is usually a quality manager, management representative, or PCQI, not a director. Match the title to your size and budget. This is general information, not legal advice.
Regulation, not headcount, is what creates the role
What drives the need for a dedicated quality leader is usually a standard or regulation, not company size. ISO 9001:2015 requires defined QMS roles and responsibilities (clause 5.3); it dropped the mandatory management representative title, but most companies still keep the function. The FDA Quality Management System Regulation, effective February 2, 2026, amends 21 CFR Part 820 to incorporate ISO 13485:2016 by reference and requires a designated management representative for medical device makers. FSMA preventive controls require a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual at registered food facilities. Automotive uses IATF 16949, aerospace uses AS9100, and pharma uses cGMP quality units. Naming the specific standard your role owns, rather than listing generic duties, attracts candidates who fit and signals the regulatory context. This is general information, not legal advice.
FLSA: a quality director or manager is almost always exempt
Both a Director of Quality and a Quality Manager are almost always exempt from overtime under the FLSA. The director qualifies under the executive exemption (leading a department and a team with hiring authority) or the administrative exemption, and the FLSA regulations specifically name quality control among administrative functions. A quality manager who runs the function with real discretion typically qualifies as well. Pay for both is comfortably above the federal salary threshold of $684 per week ($35,568 a year), the level in effect after the 2024 increase was vacated, so exempt status does not turn on the threshold. The classification rests on the duties test. Confirm by the actual duties, and check any higher state threshold. This is general information, not legal advice.
The role owns the QMS, but a JD is not a QMS
A quality leader owns the quality management system, but the job description and onboarding are a different thing from the QMS itself. The compliance-heavy parts of the role, CAPA, design controls, audit trails, validated records, electronic signatures under 21 CFR Part 11, live in a dedicated electronic quality management system, not in an HR tool. Where an HR and onboarding platform fits is the people side: getting the quality hire onboarded, delivering ISO, FSMA, or QMSR awareness training, storing signed policies and training records, and tracking certifications. Keep that distinction clear in how you scope and support the role: the quality leader runs the QMS in purpose-built software, while HR tooling handles hiring, onboarding, and training documentation around it. This is general information, not legal advice.
The Medical Device Rule Changed in 2026
The FDA Quality Management System Regulation (QMSR) became effective February 2, 2026, amending 21 CFR Part 820 to incorporate ISO 13485:2016 by reference, and food facilities under FSMA preventive controls require a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual. Tie your job description to the standard that applies to you.
For the classification question, the exempt versus non-exempt guide explains why a director or manager of quality is exempt and how to confirm it by the duties.
Skills and Qualifications
Quality leadership roles start from a technical degree, years of quality experience, and deep knowledge of the relevant standard, with certifications a plus. Scale the requirements to the title and industry.
Requirement
What to look for
Education
Bachelor's in engineering or science; advanced degree for VP
Experience
3 to 5+ years for a manager; 7+ for a director; 10+ for a VP
Standard
Deep knowledge of the relevant standard (ISO 9001, QMSR, FSMA)
ASQ (CQM/OE, CQE, CQA), Six Sigma; PCQI/HACCP for food
Classification
Exempt (executive or administrative); confirm by duties
Keep the posting neutral and inclusive, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
Director of Quality Pay
A director of quality is a well-paid senior role, and the right benchmark depends heavily on whether you mean a director or a manager.
Director Around $200K; Manager Closer to $90K
The closest federal proxy, industrial production managers (grouped with quality control systems managers), had a median wage of $121,440 a year as of May 2024, with the top 10 percent over about $197,310 (BLS). National compensation surveys for the director of quality title specifically report higher, commonly around $200,000, while the adjacent quality manager role typically pays closer to $90,000.
The highest pay clusters in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and automotive at larger employers. The proxy occupation is projected to grow about 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 17,100 openings a year. For a posting, benchmark to your industry, region, company size, and the specific level, and provide a good-faith range where pay transparency rules apply.
Hire and Onboard a Quality Leader
Getting this hire right is mostly about choosing the right rung for your size and regulation, then onboarding the person around the quality system they will run. Here is how that plays out.
A Director of Quality is usually a regulated mid-market or enterprise role
It helps to be honest about who hires a Director of Quality. The title concentrates in regulated and larger manufacturers, automotive, aerospace and defense, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage, where compensation surveys put the role well into six figures, often above $200,000 at the top of the range. These are companies with the scale and budget to fund a senior quality executive and, frequently, a dedicated HR department. A genuine five-to-fifty-employee business rarely creates a director-level quality position. If you are a smaller company writing this posting, it is worth confirming whether you truly need a director or whether a quality manager is the better-scoped, more affordable hire that does the same essential work.
For most small and mid-size companies, the right hire is a quality manager
The role most small and mid-size companies actually need, even regulated ones, is a Quality Manager, not a Director of Quality. A small medical device startup, a food and beverage plant with a few dozen employees, or a defense subcontractor still has to meet ISO 9001, FDA QMSR, FSMA, or IATF requirements, and regulation often forces them to name someone responsible for quality. But that person is typically the first dedicated quality hire, runs the system hands-on, and serves as the management representative or PCQI without a director title, at a salary closer to the low six figures or below. The Quality Manager template here is written for exactly this case, and it is usually the right starting point for a growing company before a director-level role makes sense.
Onboarding a quality hire is HR work that complements, not replaces, your eQMS
Whichever title you hire, the compliance system the role runs, CAPA, design controls, audit trails, validated records, lives in a dedicated electronic quality management system such as the platforms built for ISO 13485 or FSMA. That is not what an HR tool does, and FirstHR does not try to be a QMS. Where FirstHR fits is the people side around the hire: e-signature for the offer letter and signed quality and confidentiality policies, training modules to deliver ISO 9001, FSMA, or QMSR awareness training as part of onboarding, document management for signed policies and training records, an AI onboarding wizard and task workflows to launch the new quality leader quickly, and a simple HRIS for a small team. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is not a quality management system and does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with your eQMS and payroll providers. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
Once someone accepts, onboarding centers on the offer letter, the new hire paperwork, signed quality and confidentiality policies, and the ISO, FSMA, or QMSR awareness training that gets a quality leader productive, all of which sits alongside the dedicated quality system they will operate.
FirstHR fits this people side for a smaller company: e-signature for the offer letter and signed policies, training modules to deliver standards-awareness training as part of onboarding, document management for signed policies and training records, an AI onboarding wizard and task workflows to launch the new hire quickly, and a simple HRIS for a small team. FirstHR is not a quality management system, so pair it with your eQMS, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
A director of quality owns the quality management system: strategy, audits, CAPA, the team, and product-release authority.
Most small and mid-size companies, even regulated ones, actually need a quality manager: the hands-on first quality hire and de facto management representative or PCQI.
What creates the role is usually a regulation, not headcount: ISO 9001, FDA QMSR, FSMA, IATF 16949, or AS9100. Name the standard in the posting.
Both director and manager are almost always exempt under the FLSA executive or administrative exemption; confirm by duties.
A director of quality often pays around $200,000 at regulated employers; a quality manager is closer to $90,000.
FirstHR handles the onboarding and training side, not the QMS itself; pair it with a dedicated eQMS for CAPA and audit trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a director of quality do?
A director of quality owns an organization's quality management system end to end. The duties cluster into four areas: quality system and strategy (owning and improving the QMS, setting quality policy and objectives, and holding authority over product release), audits and compliance (managing internal and external audits, ensuring regulatory and standard compliance, and keeping audit-ready records), CAPA and improvement (owning corrective and preventive action, leading root-cause analysis, and driving continuous improvement), and team and suppliers (leading the quality team, managing supplier quality, and resolving customer complaints). It is a senior leadership role, distinct from a hands-on quality manager below it and a VP of quality above it. The specific standards it owns depend on industry, from ISO 9001 to FDA QMSR to FSMA. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a quality manager and a director of quality?
They sit at different rungs, and the difference matters for hiring and budget. A quality manager runs the quality system hands-on, day to day, and is often the first dedicated quality hire, common in small and mid-size companies and frequently serving as the management representative or PCQI without a director title. A director of quality owns the quality strategy, leads a quality team, and holds final authority over product release, a senior role concentrated in larger and regulated companies with pay well into six figures. Above the director sits a VP or senior director of quality, who leads quality across multiple sites or business units at the executive level. For most small and mid-size companies, even regulated ones, the realistic and better-scoped hire is a quality manager, not a director. Match the title to your size and budget. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does a small company need a director of quality?
Usually not as a dedicated hire. A director of quality is a senior, well-paid role concentrated in larger and regulated mid-market or enterprise companies, and a genuine small business rarely funds a director-level quality position. What a small company often does need, especially a regulated one like a medical device startup, a food and beverage plant, or a defense subcontractor, is a quality manager: the hands-on owner of the quality system, often the first dedicated quality hire, who serves as the management representative or PCQI at a more affordable salary. Regulation frequently forces even a small company to name someone responsible for quality, but that person is a manager or designated representative, not a director. Start with a quality manager and move to a director-level role as the company grows. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is a director of quality exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
A director of quality is almost always exempt from overtime. The role qualifies under the FLSA executive exemption, because it leads a department and a team and typically has authority over hiring and firing, or the administrative exemption, since the FLSA regulations specifically name quality control among administrative functions. Pay is well above the federal salary threshold of $684 per week ($35,568 a year), the level in effect after the 2024 increase was vacated, so exempt status does not depend on the threshold. The same generally holds for a quality manager who runs the function with real discretion. Classification rests on the duties test rather than the title alone, so confirm by the actual responsibilities, and note that some states set higher salary thresholds. This is general information, not legal advice.
What regulations or standards does a director of quality own?
It depends entirely on the industry, which is why naming the standard in the posting matters. General manufacturers run an ISO 9001:2015 quality system, whose clause 5.3 requires defined QMS roles and responsibilities. Automotive suppliers add IATF 16949, and aerospace and defense use AS9100. Medical device makers fall under the FDA Quality Management System Regulation, effective February 2, 2026, which amends 21 CFR Part 820 to incorporate ISO 13485:2016 by reference and requires a designated management representative. Pharmaceutical companies follow 21 CFR Parts 210 and 211 cGMP with an independent quality unit. Food and beverage producers follow FSMA preventive controls (21 CFR Part 117), which require a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, often alongside HACCP and a GFSI scheme such as SQF or BRCGS. Tailor the job description to your regulatory context. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should a director of quality job description include?
A strong director of quality job description includes a short company summary, a position summary that makes the scope and seniority clear, and responsibilities grouped into quality system and strategy, audits and compliance, CAPA and improvement, and team and suppliers. It should name the specific standard or regulation the role owns (ISO 9001, FDA QMSR, FSMA, IATF 16949, or AS9100), list real qualifications (a technical degree, years of quality leadership experience, and relevant certifications such as ASQ CQM/OE or CQE), state the FLSA exempt classification, and provide a good-faith pay range where required, plus an EEO statement and a clear way to apply. The most useful additions that generic templates skip are connecting the role to a specific regulatory trigger and clarifying whether you actually need a director or a quality manager. This is general information, not legal advice.
What certifications should a director of quality have?
Certifications are usually preferred rather than strictly required, and the relevant ones depend on industry. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) offers the most widely recognized credentials: the Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) for leadership roles, the Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), and the Certified Quality Auditor (CQA). Lean Six Sigma certifications (Green Belt, Black Belt) are valued in manufacturing for continuous improvement. In regulated industries, look for domain-specific knowledge: ISO 13485 lead auditor training and regulatory affairs (RAC) for medical devices, PCQI and HACCP certification for food and beverage, and ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 auditor training for general and automotive manufacturing. A technical bachelor's degree plus several years of progressive quality experience is the typical baseline, with certifications strengthening a candidate rather than gating the role. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a director of quality make?
A director of quality is a well-paid senior role. There is no dedicated federal occupation code, but the closest proxy, industrial production managers (which the Bureau of Labor Statistics groups with quality control systems managers), had a median wage of $121,440 a year as of May 2024, with the highest 10 percent over about $197,310. National compensation surveys focused on the director of quality title specifically report higher figures, commonly around $200,000 a year and ranging well above it at large regulated employers in pharma, medical devices, and automotive. By contrast, the adjacent quality manager role, the realistic hire for most small and mid-size companies, typically pays closer to the low six figures or below, often around $90,000. For a posting, benchmark to your industry, region, company size, and the specific level, and provide a good-faith range where pay transparency rules apply. This is general information, not legal advice.
