Quality Manager

Job Title:

Quality Manager

Location:

Blackburn, Lancashire

Industry: Manufacturing - Automotive / Aerospace

Employment Type:

Full-time-Permanent

Salary: £65k plus benefits

Reports to:

General Manager

Working hours:

Monday to Thursday 8:30am
-5pm and Friday 8:30am-4pm (site based)

Our client is seeking a proactive and experienced Quality Manager to lead the quality function within an extremely high-performance manufacturing organisation. We are looking for a candidate with a background ideally specialising in either the automotive or aerospace industry. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that all products meet internal and external quality standards, while driving continuous improvement across the business.

This is a key leadership role that will play a critical part in maintaining the company’s reputation for excellence and ensuring compliance with industry regulations and customer requirements.

• Develop, implement, and maintain the company's Quality Management System (QMS) in accordance with ISO 9001, IATF 16949 (automotive), or AS9100 (aerospace) standards.
• Lead quality audits (internal and external), and manage accreditation and compliance requirements.
• Act as the primary point of contact for quality-related matters internally with customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.
• Investigate non-conformances, customer complaints, and internal quality issues using root cause analysis tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, and Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and promote a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organisation.
• Develop and monitor key quality metrics, producing regular reports for senior management.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to ensure quality is built into all processes from the outset.
• Manage supplier quality and conduct supplier audits where necessary.

Essential:

• Proven experience as a Quality Manager or Senior Quality Engineer in a manufacturing environment – ideally within the automotive or aerospace sectors.
• In‑depth knowledge of ISO 9001 and sector‑specific standards such as IATF 16949 or AS9100.
• Strong understanding of quality tools and methodologies (e.g. FMEA, PPAP, SPC, MSA, APQP).
• Experience with internal and external audits.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to influence across departments and work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams.

Desirable not essential:

• Degree or HNC/HND in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related discipline.
• Lead Auditor qualification.
• Experience with lean manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Familiarity with customer‑specific requirements from OEMs or Tier 1 suppliers.

• A dynamic and innovative working environment dealing with components for blue‑chip organisations
• Opportunities for career development and progression.
• Competitive salary and great working environment
• Commitment to training and continuous professional development.