Title:  Manager - SQ&D China

Mission:

As the Site Manager for Supplier Quality and Development at UD, you are responsible for ensuring the quality of supplier-delivered parts from your site to UD manufacturing plants. Your primary accountability is to manage and drive the performance of suppliers located at your site, based on the QDCF-TSR framework — Quality, Delivery, Cost, Features, Technology, Sustainability, and Risk.

In this role, you lead a team of Supplier Quality and Development Engineers and work in close collaboration with cross-functional counterparts, including colleagues from Purchasing, Design Engineering, Plant Quality, and Field Quality functions. Additionally, you are responsible for coordinating project-related activities with your suppliers, ensuring that all supplied products are properly validated and meet UD's quality standards throughout the project lifecycle.

Reporting To:

Senior Manager SQ&D International

Location: 

Shanghai, China

Main Responsibilities

• Act as the delegated representative from UD Trucks' main production sites in Japan and Thailand to lead supplier quality and development activities at the local site.
• Drive departmental initiatives aligned with strategic direction and business objectives.
• Drive and lead Supplier Quality & Development (SQ&D) activities at supplier sites to meet defined strategies and performance targets.
• Ensure close interaction with suppliers, actively driving and communicating a unified supplier development strategy in collaboration with internal stakeholders
• Secure clear and effective cross-functional communication with Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Field Quality teams.
• Ensure achievement of key quality performance indicators (KPIs) for UD Trucks, including defect rate, supplier on-time delivery, and PPAP performance.
• Collaborate with Buyers and the Technology & Supplier Evaluation team to ensure optimal supplier selection based on quality, capability, and strategic fit.
• Manage APQP and PPAP activities for new projects and ongoing product maintenance to ensure timely, compliant product launches and change management.
• Proactively address supplier-related critical issues that may impact BKK and KD plant production; act as the first line of escalation to prevent disruptions.
• Develop and implement supplier development plans aligned with QDCF-TSR targets, including improvement roadmaps and risk mitigation.
• Ensure active supplier participation in project activities, from concept through production.
• Support external/internal audits, including ISO certification audits and Conformity of Production (CoP) audits.
• Act as co-owner of SQE knowledge, promoting best practices and facilitating knowledge sharing across geographic regions.
• Lead and develop the team, providing coaching, performance feedback, and career development guidance to SQE engineers.
• Manage department resources, ensuring adequate staffing, skill development, and succession planning.
• Operate in alignment with UD Trucks’ internal processes, Code of Conduct, and Core Values.

Qualifications and Experience

• Drive department activities towards wanted position
• Secure needed communication with cross functional teams
• Develop suppliers according to QDCF-TSR ambitions
• Secure supplier involvement in project activities
• Manage the development of staff
• Secure and managing resources
• Work in accordance with the UDT processes, the Code of Conduct and the UDT Values.

Qualifications and Experience

• University degree in Engineering, Technology, or a related field – with the proven ability to understand and manage technical complexity.
• Fluency in both English and the local site language is mandatory, with excellent written and verbal communication skills to engage effectively across global teams and with external suppliers.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in Purchasing, Manufacturing, Product Development, or Quality Assurance, including leadership experience in managing teams or cross-functional projects.
• Demonstrated strong leadership capabilities, with the ability to build, develop, and lead a high-performing team aligned to shared goals, fostering high morale and collaborative spirit.
• Proven experience in developing and maintaining productive relationships with suppliers, including international supplier networks.
• Strong decision-making skills based on data analysis, risk assessment, and stakeholder collaboration.
• A proactive and committed customer-focused mindset, with a strong drive for zero-defect quality and continuous improvement.
• A solution-oriented and collaborative approach, with the ability to effectively manage challenges, influence stakeholders, and deliver results under pressure.