Quality Program Manager

Be yourself at Protolabs  Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.  We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a diverse team that feels they are valued in the workplace.  So do you feel you do not meet every single requirement but still intrigued? We encourage you to still apply!  You can help make our company even better.  We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability, or any way you represent yourself.  We strongly believe diversity makes for more successful teams.    Why Protolabs?  We are the leaders in digital manufacturing.  We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds.  We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do.  It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home.  Join our team as a Quality Program Manager! This is an onsite role in Plymouth, MN Monday - Friday. At Protolabs, the Quality Program Manager plays a critical role in advancing our Quality Management System (QMS) and enabling world-class quality performance across the organization. This role is responsible for driving continuous improvement of the processes, tools, and information systems that support our quality ecosystem, ensuring they are scalable, effective, and user-friendly. As a strategic partner to cross-functional teams, the Quality Program Manager leads initiatives that enhance the usability, adoption, and effectiveness of quality systems, helping employees work more efficiently while strengthening compliance and operational excellence. This position offers the opportunity to influence enterprise-wide quality practices, solve complex challenges, and deliver meaningful improvements that support Protolabs' growth and commitment to customer satisfaction. In this role, you will collaborate with teams across the business to: Drive improvements to the Document Management System, enhancing functionality, user experience, and overall effectiveness. Identify and implement opportunities to optimize QMS processes, tools, and information systems, increasing efficiency, adoption, and value for users. Lead cross-functional quality improvement initiatives that strengthen system performance, streamline workflows, and support continuous improvement across the organization. Champion best practices in quality systems management, helping Protolabs scale its quality capabilities while maintaining a culture of excellence and innovation. What You Will Do:

• Support cross-functional projects that improve the effectiveness, usability, scalability, and adoption of Quality Management System (QMS) and Document Management System (DMS) processes and tools.
• Maintain, improve, and create workflows and configurations for the organization’s Document Management System.
• Collaborate with Quality Systems leadership, IT, business systems, and other stakeholders to implement new QMS/DMS tools and enhance existing systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve quality-related workflows, automation, reporting, and system integration in support of business needs and operational excellence.
• Utilize dashboards, reports, and visualizations that support decision-making, risk management, and performance monitoring.
• Monitor and analyze, in conjunction with the Quality Systems Engineer, key QMS performance indicators to assess system effectiveness and highlight opportunities for improvement.
• Support the standardization of quality system processes and tools to improve consistency across teams and regions.
• Support improvement programs and projects that address business risks, process weaknesses, compliance needs, and strategic priorities.
• Partner with the Quality Systems Manager and broader quality organization to identify process gaps and implement sustainable solutions.
• Support the establishment, maintenance, and continuous improvement of company quality certifications such as ISO 9001 and AS9100 through data analysis, system enhancement, and project execution.
• Drive process and tool changes that improve user adoption, reduce administrative burden, and increase the efficiency of quality system execution.
• Document project requirements, business processes, recommendations, and outcomes to support effective implementation and change management.
• Communicate project status, risks, performance trends, and improvement opportunities to quality leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Comply with all company quality and safety standards.
• Adhere to all company policies and operational procedures.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What It Takes:

BS degree in one of the following:  Business, Quality Management, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or similar

Related work experience in a Quality Systems environment

7+ years or a minimum of 4 years relevant Protolabs experience

Working knowledge of ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, and AS9100D

Understanding of Quality systems and practices

Able to analyze quality and manufacturing data and solve problems using statistical techniquesAbility to work across various functions and with various levels of the organization to drive change and provide usable solutions

Leader who is approachable and willing to accept good ideas from anywhere and anyone

Good written and oral communication skills: able to prepare and communicate complex information to all levels of the organization

Able to strive in a fast paced environment as a team player with the ability to quickly adapt to changing demands

Strong willingness to learn and to train others.

Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative, attention to detail, and follow thorough.

Continuous improvement mindset

Curious, self-motivated learner

Positive change agent

Proficient in Excel

What Makes You Stand Out

• Experience in a Quality Leadership role promoting Quality and continuous improvement
• Proficiency with other quality systems standards, such as ISO13485
• Experience interfacing with customers and suppliers

What's In It For You:

We offer a competitive salary and Total Rewards program.

We offer amazing benefits including but not limited to:

Health Insurance: Traditional OR High Deductible plan

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Savings Account (including employer contributions)

Dental and Vision

Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

Paid caregiver leave

You will receive at least 3 weeks of PTO + Wellness Hours + Holiday Pay + Volunteer Hours

401k with company match and immediate vest

Employee Stock Purchase Program at a discounted rate

Matching grants through Protolabs foundation

And More!

Proto Labs maintains ITAR-compliant operations in all of our United States based facilities.  Due to ITAR regulations, this role is only open to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) or foreign nationals granted refugee or asylee status.  Individuals with temporary visas (e.g. E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, TN or OPT) are not eligible for hire in this role.

Proto Labs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Physical Demands:

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use a computer keyboard, monitor and mouse, telephone and printer; reach with hands, and arms, talk, see and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop or kneel and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment:

Indoors (A/C); nonsmoking; the majority of this job function is performed in an office setting requiring normal safety precautions. However, there may be job duties that require the employee to spend time in the manufacturing areas exposed to machinery and noise; eye protection occasionally required. Occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.