Quality Assurance Director - Textiles

Career Guide
Leads quality strategy for textile and apparel products from raw materials through finished goods. Sets standards, oversees testing and supplier audits, and drives corrective actions to ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and brand specifications.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design and maintain ISO 9001-aligned QMS across mills, dye houses, and factories
  • Set AATCC/ASTM testing protocols; qualify and monitor internal/external labs
  • Lead supplier quality audits and corrective action programs (CAPA)
  • Analyze defects and PPM; implement SPC dashboards and root-cause analysis
  • Ensure compliance with CPSIA, 16 CFR flammability, FTC labeling, and Prop 65
  • Partner with sourcing, product development, and logistics on quality gates
  • Manage quality teams, budgets, KPIs, and vendor scorecards

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Senior Director of Quality
Vice President of Quality
Head of Product Integrity & Compliance
Vice President of Operations
Transition Opportunities
Director of Product Compliance & Safety
Director of Sourcing/Vendor Management
Plant Manager
Director of Continuous Improvement (Lean)

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
AATCC/ASTM textile testing expertiseCPSIA and 16 CFR flammability complianceSupplier quality auditing and vendor developmentISO 9001 QMS design and deploymentSPC and data-driven quality metrics (e.g., PPM, Cpk)
Development SuggestionsComplete AATCC textile testing and ISO 9001 Lead Auditor courses; lead a pilot CAPA/SPC project on a live product line with a supplier.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level$110,000-$130,000
Mid Level$135,000-$165,000
Senior Level$170,000-$220,000
Growth Trend
stable — Compliance needs steady despite offshoring and automation

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
NikeVF CorporationHanesBrands
Industry Sectors
Apparel & FootwearTextiles & Materials ManufacturingRetail & E-commerce

Recommended Next Steps

1
Earn ASQ CMQ/OE or CQE and complete ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor training to validate QMS leadership.
2
Take AATCC short courses on textile testing and set up a small lab verification study using AATCC/ASTM methods.
3
Build a supplier audit and CAPA program for one category (e.g., knits), track SPC metrics in Minitab, and present results to leadership.