This is a hands-on leadership position with responsibility for the site's Quality Management System (QMS), audit programme, corrective actions, supplier quality and continuous improvement activities. The successful individual will work closely with Operations, Engineering and Supply Chain while acting as a key quality contact for customers and external stakeholders.
The role would suit an established Quality Manager who enjoys being close to manufacturing operations and can combine strong technical quality knowledge with effective team leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Take ownership of the site's Quality Management System, ensuring processes remain compliant with internal standards, customer specifications and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Develop, maintain and continuously improve quality procedures, processes and documentation.
- Plan and conduct internal quality audits while coordinating and supporting external, customer, supplier and certification audits.
- Ensure quality procedures, work instructions and manufacturing records remain accurate, controlled and consistently followed.
- Establish and monitor quality standards throughout manufacturing and inspection activities.
- Lead investigations into quality issues, non-conformances and process failures.
- Manage root cause analysis, corrective actions and preventive actions (CAPA) through to successful resolution.
- Work closely with Operations to identify and address the causes of scrap, rework, defects and customer escapes.
- Use quality data and performance metrics to identify trends and drive measurable improvements.
- Introduce preventative and risk-based approaches to quality rather than relying solely on reactive corrective measures.
- Act as a senior point of contact for customers regarding product quality, investigations and audit requirements.
- Partner with Supply Chain and Procurement teams to strengthen supplier quality performance.
- Support supplier selection and qualification through assessments, audits and quality reviews.
- Lead supplier corrective action activities and work with vendors to resolve recurring quality concerns.
- Manage, coach and develop members of the site Quality team.
- Provide quality training and guidance across Manufacturing, Operations and other relevant departments.
- Promote consistent quality standards and accountability throughout the facility.
- Help establish a culture where quality, safety and continuous improvement are embedded within everyday operations.
Experience & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
- Minimum 5 years of progressive quality experience within a manufacturing environment, including experience operating at management or leadership level.
- Strong working knowledge of Quality Management Systems (QMS) and manufacturing quality processes.
- Practical experience managing internal and external audits.
- Demonstrable experience with CAPA, root cause analysis and structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Experience investigating manufacturing defects, non-conformances and customer quality concerns.
- Understanding of supplier quality management, including supplier audits, corrective actions and performance monitoring.
- Proven experience managing, mentoring or developing Quality Engineers, Inspectors or other quality personnel.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret quality and manufacturing performance data.
- Confident communicator capable of working effectively with customers, suppliers, senior management and cross-functional teams.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple quality priorities within a fast-paced manufacturing operation.