Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager

Company: Allbirds, Inc.
Location: San Francisco
Posted on: February 18, 2025

Job Description:

Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager - San Francisco, CA - Supply Chain Team - Reports to VP Supply ChainWho is Allbirds?At Allbirds, we believe in using business as a force for good. We're a global footwear and apparel brand with roots in New Zealand and headquarters in San Francisco. Since 2016, we've been on a mission to prove that comfort, design, and sustainability aren't mutually exclusive. Our commitment to creating better things in a better way is fueled by a belief that the fashion industry needs to focus less on flash and more on thoughtfulness. We're a certified B Corporation, meaning we meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.What does the job entail?We are looking for a proactive, collaborative, and detail-oriented professional to lead our Quality Assurance (QA) and Compliance initiatives at Allbirds. In this key role, you will oversee the QA process, working closely with our HQ-based Design, Product Development, Customer Service, Retail and Warehousing teams, as well as our Regional Office (RO) Quality Control and Production teams in Asia. Additionally, you will spearhead compliance efforts to ensure our products and manufacturing partners adhere to existing and new market regulatory standards as well as social compliance requirements, while ensuring all import documentation and labeling meet global regulations.What You'll Do:Quality Assurance:

• Develop and implement QA processes across the product lifecycle, collaborating with our HQ Design and Product Development teams as well as Regional Office (RO) Quality Control, and Production teams to ensure quality, resolve defects, mitigate risks, and drive continuous improvement for optimal product performance and customer satisfaction.
• Analyze and resolve post-production quality issues by identifying root causes and working collaboratively with RO Quality and Production teams to implement corrective action plans into the production base.
• Utilize data from digital and retail channels, customer experience (CX), and third-party (3P) partners to establish a strong feedback loop with internal teams, fostering continuous improvement and elevating product quality.
• Analyze returns to identify trends, improve durability, and enhance customer satisfaction. Implement real-time defect tracking to support timely product claims.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (design, product development, quality control, production, logistics, retail, customer experience etc.) to ensure quality objectives are integrated into each phase of our product lifecycle.
• Provide program management support and leadership for resolution of critical quality issues, including oversight and guidance of the preparation of impact assessments.
• Report on key QA metrics and present findings and recommendations to senior leadership.Compliance:
  • Establish, maintain and implement quality standards for all products to ensure compliance with industry regulations, Allbirds internal standards, and global labeling requirements.
  • Lead market compliance research efforts and analysis on international regulations to identify any new compliance constraints for the import and commercialization of products for DTC and 3P markets.
  • Leverage external experts, international business groups and 3rd party labs to monitor regulatory changes and communicate new requirements to the team.
  • Lead social compliance efforts to ensure all manufacturing partners adhere to ethical labor practices and meet environmental and safety standards.
  • Ensure all documentation is up to date for regulatory Market compliance, import/export requirements, and global product labeling for all DTC and 3P markets.What are we looking for?
    • Bachelor of Science degree and 5-7+ years of relevant experience within the Quality Assurance, Compliance or Product Development space; footwear industry experience highly desirable.
    • Deep knowledge of QA methodologies, tools, and best practices, with a proven track record of implementing and managing QA programs at a footwear brand.
    • Strong understanding of footwear product development processes and workflows.
    • Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to handle complex issues and make data-driven decisions.
    • Strong self-motivation and initiative to prioritize and complete tasks with minimal supervision.
    • Skilled in building and maintaining relationships across multiple departments, with strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
    • Exceptional attention to detail combined with the capability to prioritize and manage multiple concurrent tasks and deadlines.
    • Strong communication skills, both oral and written; ability to provide guidance and advice within area of expertise.
    • Skilled in data analysis using Excel and Google Sheets, with general proficiency across Microsoft Office and Google Workspace applications.Work takes place in an office setting. This job may require working more than 8 hours per day and/or 40 hours a week. It requires the ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods of time and communicate effectively with a diverse audience in person, by phone and by computer.What do we offer?In Office: The pay range for this role is: $118,000 - $130,000 and must be performed in our San Francisco, CA corporate office. This role does not offer relocation assistance.Allbirds routinely evaluates pay rates, and the ranges are subject to change based on market rates and other considerations. We factor in a number of components when determining starting pay, including the job and level you are hired into, location, skillset, experience and peer compensation.Benefits Overview:
      • Health benefits include Medical, Dental, and Vision plans for employees and eligible dependents.
      • Financial benefits include: company equity for eligible roles, 401(k) with employer matching contribution, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, company-paid life insurance for full time roles, short-term and long-term disability, pre-tax savings programs for eligible healthcare, childcare and commuter expenses.
      • Unlimited PTO for full-time corporate roles, sick and vacation time for other roles, plus parental leave, volunteering, medical & family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting.
      • Support benefits through Modern Health, Employee Assistance Program and more.
      • Other Perks include: the company discount on most Allbirds products, reimbursement on eligible wellness expenses and cellphone for certain eligible roles.DiversityAllbirds is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit.Apply for this job* indicates a required fieldFirst Name *Last Name *Email *Phone *Location (City)Resume/CV *LinkedIn ProfileDo you now, or will you in the future, require sponsorship for employment visa status? * Select...Are you able to commute to our San Francisco office or willing to relocate? (This role does not offer relocation assistance.) * Select...Do you have experience managing quality assurance across the entire footwear product lifecycle? * Select...Are you familiar with footwear market regulatory requirements? * Select...Do you have more than 5-7 years of experience in the footwear industry? * Select...Have you previously been employed by Allbirds? * Select...Were you referred to this job by a current employee? * Select...If you answered yes to being a referral, please enter the full name of the employee who referred you to this role.
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Keywords: Allbirds, Inc., San Francisco , Quality Assurance & Compliance Manager, Executive , San Francisco, California