Supplier Quality Engineer Team Leader

Job Description Supplier Quality Assurance Team Lead

Location: Onsite in Cirencester

Are you an experienced Supplier Quality professional looking for an opportunity to lead a high-performing team and drive supplier excellence within a highly regulated manufacturing environment?

We are seeking a Supplier Quality Assurance Team Lead to take ownership of supplier quality performance, ensuring that products and materials supplied meet manufacturing specifications, regulatory requirements, and company standards. Working cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Quality Control, Operations, and key suppliers, you will play a critical role in reducing quality issues, improving supplier performance, and ensuring robust controls are maintained throughout the supply chain.

As Supplier Quality Assurance Team Lead, you will be responsible for leading a team of Supplier Quality professionals while driving supplier quality improvement initiatives across the business. You will work closely with strategic suppliers to promote best practices, minimise defects, and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions are implemented.

This is an excellent opportunity for a quality leader who enjoys combining technical expertise, supplier engagement, and people leadership to deliver measurable quality improvements.

• Lead and develop the Supplier Quality Assurance team, providing day-to-day direction, coaching, and performance management.
• Partner with suppliers to develop and implement best practices focused on defect prevention and process improvement.
• Use supplier performance metrics and inspection data to support risk-based decisions regarding incoming inspection requirements.
• Drive supplier quality improvement programmes, focusing on suppliers presenting the highest quality or supply risks.
• Ensure supplier non-conformances are investigated and progressed effectively through the Quality Management System (QMS).
• Review supplier root cause analyses and corrective actions to ensure issues are fully addressed and recurrence risk is minimised.
• Collaborate closely with Quality Control teams to identify recurring supplier-related issues and trends and elevate supplier quality concerns that could impact production continuity or product availability.
• Lead supplier quality review meetings and provide updates to senior management.
• Establish and monitor supplier improvement plans where performance falls below required standards.
• Plan and conduct supplier audits aligned to supplier risk and performance profiles.
• Support supplier selection, qualification, approval, and change management activities.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities by ensuring supplier capability and quality controls are established prior to production.
• Maintain compliance with ISO 13485 requirements and applicable regulatory standards.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Degree in Engineering, Science, with significant Quality Engineering experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Previous Supplier Quality Engineering and supplier development experience.
• Proven experience conducting supplier audits and leading supplier improvement activities.
• Strong understanding of quality management systems and quality assurance principles.
• Demonstrated expertise in root cause analysis, problem solving, and corrective action management.
• Experience using supplier performance data to drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple suppliers, projects, and quality issues simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence engaging senior supplier representatives.
• Experience with in the Medical Device industry or another highly regulated sector.
• Good working knowledge of ISO 13485 and medical device regulatory requirements.
• Previous people management or team leadership experience.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a significant impact on supplier quality performance while leading a dedicated team in a collaborative and innovative environment. You'll have the opportunity to influence supplier strategy, drive continuous improvement, and contribute directly to the…