Director, Methods and Quality – Soucy Baron

Our Client

Soucy is a privately held corporation founded by Mr. Gilles Soucy in 1967. With more than 1,700 employees across 12 facilities located in North America and Asia, Soucy designs and manufactures a wide range of components for major manufacturers of powersports, industrial, agricultural, and defense vehicles. Soucy Baron, a subsidiary of Soucy, has become over the years the manufacturing benchmark in the development and integration of elastomer solutions. Soucy Baron is an innovative company operating in an agile mode, with 200+ employees, an international reach, and manufacturing plants in Saint-Jérôme (QC) and Shanghai (China). The company continues to grow after more than 50 years.

Role Purpose

The Director of Methods and Quality will be a member of Soucy Baron’s leadership team. You will oversee the following functions: methods, continuous improvement, and the environmental management component. In a context of growth and investments in new technologies, you will have the opportunity to lead teams in implementing processes and quality/methods programs while ensuring alignment across different structures and/or departments.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in identifying and prioritizing strategic improvement initiatives for the management system across all functions, value chains, and business processes of the organization.
• Work closely with all stakeholders involved in product development and operations to achieve organizational objectives.
• Engage teams to contribute to achieving the company’s strategic goals related to performance improvement and quality, within the context of Lean implementation and ISO certification.
• Recommend strategies and tactics to Leadership to develop and maintain, over time, a global culture of Lean and ISO at all levels.
• Monitor the progress of identified process improvement initiatives based on measurable objectives and support functional leaders according to priorities.
• Ensure strong interconnections between processes.
• Manage resources within the methods, process improvement, and quality departments.
• Manage the budget for the quality/improvement/methods division.
• Provide necessary training to staff on Lean manufacturing and process improvement.
• Review the evolution of corrective and preventive action requests and coordinate responses to customers.
• Conduct regular management reviews to evaluate improvement opportunities and the need to modify the Quality Management System (QMS), including the quality policy and objectives.
• Implement recommendations from management reviews to improve QMS and product effectiveness in relation to customer requirements and other regulations (e.g., Emissions Regulations, REACH, ROHS, Conflict Minerals, California Proposition 65, CM-SCIP-Prop 65).
• Verify, monitor, and measure processes and products against policies, objectives, and product requirements.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Automated Production, or another relevant field (e.g., Chemistry).
• Membership in the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (asset).
• 10 years of plant experience, ideally in an assembly environment.
• At least 5 years of experience in managing and mobilizing high-performing teams.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence colleagues across all functions.
• High level of comfort working in a highly collaborative, customer-focused environment.
• Strong technical knowledge in industrialization and lean manufacturing.
• Ability to prepare and represent stakeholders during internal and external audits.
• A recognized leader with a solid track record of proven results.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations (discrete production).
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and mobilize teams.
• Team-oriented with excellent influential leadership.
• Ability to work under pressure, in a team, and within tight deadlines.
• Ability to mobilize teams and colleagues during change management initiatives.
• Essential bilingualism (French/English), particularly for meetings with international clients.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 standards or equivalent.

Role Challenges

• Implementation of a new PDM platform.
• Updating regulatory standards related to each OEM’s requirements.
• Mobilizing and engaging the team throughout upcoming departmental changes.
• Managing a fast-paced work environment.

Desired Behavioral Competencies

• Advisory mindset
• Observation/Active listening
• Agility
• Customer orientation
• Conflict management
• Emotional intelligence
• Coaching
• Problem-solving
• Influence

Proposed Interview Process

1. First interview with the consulting firm Glasford International Canada.
2. Second interview with the Human Resources Director and the Director.
3. Third interview with the General Manager and other members of the leadership committee, along with a plant tour with a leadership committee member.