Quality Manager

An experienced and influential Quality Manager is required to lead and enhance the company's Quality Management System (QMS) across multiple UK sites. The role focuses on ISO 9001:2025 compliance, customer assurance, supplier quality, and driving a strong quality culture within a defence manufacturing environment.

You will own the quality strategy, lead a team of ~10 across 3 sites, and ensure products meet stringent regulatory, contractual, and customer standards.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead and optimise the Quality Management System (BS EN ISO 9001:2025 compliant)
• Develop customer-focused Quality Management Plans
• Oversee QA & QC activities across full product lifecycle
• Manage NCRs, root cause analysis, corrective & preventive actions
• Drive supplier quality performance & resolve non-conformances
• Enforce configuration control, product identification & traceability
• Lead internal audit programme & supplier assessments
• Review customer contracts to ensure quality obligations are met
• Conduct fault analysis & produce RMA reports
• Approve finished goods & sign off Certificates of Conformance (CoC)
• Represent the company during formal customer acceptance testing
• Direct management of Quality team (~10 people, 3 sites)

Essential Experience & Skills

• Senior-level Quality Management experience within complex engineering/manufacturing
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001:2025 (implementation & transition experience essential)
• Background in regulated sectors (Defence, Aerospace, Automotive preferred)
• Engineering degree or equivalent technical qualification (desirable but strongly preferred)
• Proven experience in risk-based quality management and lifecycle processes
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management & supplier engagement capability
• Excellent communication skills - customer-facing & internal influence

Quality Methods & Tools (Required Capability)

Core Methodologies

• PDCA
• Root Cause Analysis (5 Whys, Fishbone)
• Lean Principles
• Six Sigma (DMAIC)
• Risk-Based Thinking (ISO 9001 aligned)

Quality Tools

• FMEA (Design & Process)
• 8D Problem Solving
• Process Capability (Cp/Cpk)
• SIPOC Mapping
• Configuration Management
• First Article Inspection (AS9102)
• Special Process Control (welding, heat treatment, surface finishing)
• Supplier Quality Assurance (including traceability & export control)

Personal Profile

• Strategic, disciplined, and detail-focused
• Strong independent decision-maker
• Resilient in high-pressure environments
• Drives accountability and "right first time" culture
• Demonstrates teamwork, integrity, excellence & courage

Working Pattern & Benefits

Work-Life Balance
37.5 hour week
Early finish Fridays
Hybrid/flexible working
28 days holiday + Christmas closure
Holiday purchase scheme

Benefits Package
5% matched pension
Income protection
Life assurance
Employee Assistance Programme (GP, mental health, physio, second opinion)
Share incentive & SAYE scheme
EV salary sacrifice scheme
Health Cash Plan
Wellbeing initiatives & sports/social activities
L&D opportunities
Referral bonus scheme