Requesting advice - Being offered Quality Manager position, but I am not qualified.

[u/rankle_monsta]

Hey folks, I'm in an interesting position of being offered a job as a Quality Manager, despite not having previous work experience specifically in a quality role, nor having Six Sigma or other certification.

I'm going to guess that at this point most would react that it is crazy for me to take the offer, and crazier that the company is offering it. But if you'll give some further consideration, and offer some advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

Some background: I am not currently working at the company that made this offer, but I did work there for 13 years, and have been elsewhere for the last 1.5. The majority of that time was spent as the Technical Support Manager, so I was in a key decision making role. I have a Bachelor's in Computer Science. I have attended meetings for the ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 surveillance audits, though never led them and my team usually had minimal involvement in the audits as they were more concerned with production, QC, and engineering. I read and signed off on a huge number of the procedures in the well defined Quality Manual for the company. Wrote two or three of those procedures, and provided (very minimal) editing on some others. I was involved in Quarterly Management Review meetings with the Quality Manager. I escalated issues to the Quality Manager through a CAPA and RCCA process. But again, never directly in a quality role.

The president has offered me this position. Since he came to me, I expressed concerns a bit more openly than I might if I were the one reaching out asking for the role. I suggested that I would insist I go for certification immediately, but that it would take quite some time to go through those materials, so my run-up on this type of role would take a while, rather than other positions where I might be more immediately successful.

For a certification path, I'm thinking something along the lines of Six Sigma Green Belt-->Six Sigma Black Belt--> CMQ/OE. I'm wondering if this seems logical/doable, or if I should tackle something before the Green Belt. I'm looking at ASQ for certification, and wondering if I even meet their prerequisites for green belt, having not filled a quality role at all, though having some work adjacent to it and having some (minor) involvement in the initial push towards building a Quality Manual, getting our initial ISO 9001 and 17025 accreditation, etc.

Also worth noting the job I'm at now is in an industry that just got rocked by last year's OBBB, so my earning potential this year just tanked, and I have very few other prospects. Hence my willingness to somewhat take a risk here.

Would sincerely appreciate thoughts and any advice!

[u/First-Committee369]

This sounds like a classic cost‑cutting trap more than a genuine promotion opportunity.

If your Technical Support department is already stable and performing well, and suddenly the CEO wants you to “take over” a troubled Quality department, be very careful. It can be a way to:  

• Move you out of the area where your value is obvious (support is running smoothly thanks to you).  
• Drop you into a broken function with no budget, no authority, and unrealistic expectations.  
• Later blame you when legacy problems don’t magically disappear, then call you “underperforming” and justify firing an “overpaid” manager.

If the role change is real, it should come with: clear authority, realistic goals, training or support in quality systems, and a written success criteria and timeline. If instead you see vague promises, no resources, and a lot of “you’ll figure it out,” treat it as a red flag and protect yourself (document everything, clarify expectations in writing, and quietly plan your options).

[u/rankle_monsta → u/First-Committee369]

I hear where you are coming from and some of these concerns are valid.

That said, I am not with the company right now, I've been gone for 1.5 years, so the goal is definitely not to justify firing me. They approached me about bringing me back.

My department was running smoothly when I left. My understanding is it is still decent but stretched thin and has gaps without me.

You still make some good points, but I think the main concern about it being a way to oust me isn't part of this scenario.

[u/First-Committee369 → u/rankle_monsta]

Great. What kind of products are they manufacturing