What are the responsibilities and job description for the Field Investigator position at Subaru?

Job Description

COMPANY BACKGROUND

Love. It's what makes Subaru, Subaru®. As a leading auto brand in the US, we strive to be More Than a Car Company®. Subaru believes in being a positive force in the communities in which we live and work, not just with donations but with actions that set an example for others to follow. That's what we call our Subaru Love Promise®.

Subaru is a globally renowned automobile manufacturer known for its commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability. With a rich history dating back to 1953, Subaru has consistently pushed the boundaries of automotive engineering to deliver vehicles that offer not only exceptional performance but also a unique blend of utility and adventure.

Subaru's company culture is built on collaboration, diversity, and a shared passion for our product. We foster an inclusive environment that encourages employees to bring their unique perspectives and talents to the table. Our team members are driven by a common goal : to create exceptional vehicles that inspire and delight our customers.

SUMMARY

This position is the highly experienced product incident investigator among the Field Investigation Team Staff of Subaru of American Subaru, Inc. (SOA). This position supports the Field Quality Assurance Department, Senior Field Investigator, and Field Investigation Manager. In addition to the actual investigations, they work with the Sr. Field Investigator and / or Field Investigation Manager with implementing Quick Response Activity (QRA) and other product quality initiatives.

This position performs investigations of instances of vehicle fire, accident or other safety reports where the vehicle is allegedly at fault. The position also investigates incidents of product quality deficiencies.

The incumbent is responsible for independently maintaining an investigation schedule and uses their training, skills, and tools to identify the actual source of the incident for the purpose of assigning liability and further investigation of the root cause. The incumbent will be the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for legal proceedings involving Subaru vehicle incidents and can also testify as an expert witness in legal proceedings.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Determines how, where and why the incident occurred by examining the vehicle, the location of the incident and other physical evidence, and taking and cataloguing photos and physical evidence as necessary, either alone or in conjunction with Subaru Corporation (SBR) and / or a District Service Quality Manager (DSQM). Investigations will be performed with independent oversight.
Maintains responsibility for completing all assigned investigations and reports, mainly for fire and accident incidents, and has managerial authority of the data and documents from investigations performed. Advise outcome and assign responsibility for next action step needed.
Review Quick Response Activity (QRA) requests and coordinates all aspects of scheduling and completing the inspection.
Communicates with various teams to review product quality matters and trends.
Guides retailers and DSQMs through complex diagnoses and uses ability to explain detailed technical issues to non-technical individuals.
Interfaces and communicates with distributor or outside legal counsel as needed to support pre-litigation preparation and / or deposition / trial proceedings. Attends proceedings as requested by legal counsel.
Participates in sensitive data collection as a representative of SOA legal.
Identifies new investigative procedures based on new technology or industry practices and works with the Senior Field Investigator, FIT Manager, and the Team to implement these strategic changes. Monitors the success of the changes and identifies areas of further improvement.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Reviews investigation methods and QRA reports and identifies areas of needed investigative and reporting skill improvements for the Field Investigation Specialists.

In conjunction with the FIT Manager and / or Senior Field Investigator, develops training to address the needed skill improvements.

Special Projects Lead including New Model Learning, SSM updates, and Tool Inventory.

Works with FIT Manager and / or Senior Field Investigator to develop and create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the investigation and reporting processes.

Is responsible for a minimum of one overall Team activity such as Team training, Inspection List updates, etc.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Automotive Technology (AS) Degree preferred.

Subaru Senior Master Certification or similar certification from other Original Equipment (OE) Manufacturers.

If a candidate does not already have these required certifications listed below, if hired they must obtain them within approximately twelve (12) months of starting in the Field Investigator role :

o Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master Technician Status and ASE L1, L3, and L4 Advanced Diagnostic Certifications. xEV Level 1 and 2 Certifications.

If a candidate does not already have these required certifications listed below, if hired they must start the training process within twelve (12) months of starting the Field Investigator role :

o Fire Investigation Certification and Motor Vehicle Fire Endorsement.

Comprehensive understanding of vehicle systems, including mechanical, electrical and electronics, including CAN BUS, etc.

Comprehensive knowledge of fire, accident, and safety-related incident investigation procedures.

Skilled in working across multiple cultures, and across management levels as well as across diverse job responsibilities.

Strong written and verbal communication skills as well as strong presentation skills.

Comprehensive problem-solving and root cause investigation skills.

Strong PC skills (Microsoft Office); able to create reports.

General knowledge of vehicle design, and crash Dynamics.

General knowledge of Quality Improvement disciplines such as Deming, Juran, etc.

Japanese language skills or the willingness to learn.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS : 2-year degree (AA / AS) and 4 / 6 years of related experience.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Required Travel : 70% (short notice travel which may include weekends and occasional overseas travel.

Can be located anywhere (Would prefer Coppell, TX or Camden, NJ areas)

Able to drive Manual transmission vehicles.

Can perform light mechanical duties similar to an automotives technician.

May be required to lift moderately heavy automotive components up to 50lbs.

High pressure and deadline-oriented projects.

Frequent shifting priorities according to new "hot" technical topics during any given period of time.

COMPENSATION : The recruiting base salary range for this full-time position is $92,100- $131,500 / year. Within the range, individual pay is determined by factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. (Internal Job Grade : M1) In addition to competitive salary, Subaru offers an amazing benefits package that includes :

Medical, Dental, Vision Plans

Pension, Profit Sharing, and 401K Match Offerings

15 Vacation days, 9 Company Holidays, 5 Floating Holidays, and 5 Sick days.

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Vehicle Discount Programs

See our Careers landing page for additional information about our compensation and benefit programs.

Salary : $92,100 - $131,500

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