Quality Assurance Team Lead

We are looking for an experienced Quality Assurance Team Lead to join our client’s team in Dunstable.

This is a key leadership position responsible for managing and developing a team of Quality Engineers across NPI, Supplier, Production and Customer Quality. You will provide technical and operational leadership while working closely with Engineering, Production, Sales, Purchasing and Supply Chain.

• Lead, manage and develop a team of Quality Engineers across NPI, Supplier, Production and Customer Quality.
• Set clear objectives, priorities and performance expectations aligned with wider business goals.
• Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, appraisals and development reviews.
• Coach and mentor team members, supporting their technical and leadership development.
• Manage departmental workload and resource allocation to meet operational and programme requirements.
• Act as Deputy to the Quality Manager when required.
• Ensure the effective deployment of APQP, PPAP and risk management methodologies.
• Lead supplier approval, qualification and performance management activities, including supplier audits and capability assessments.
• Monitor supplier performance against agreed quality metrics and KPIs.
• Work closely with Purchasing and Supply Chain to identify and manage quality risks across the supply base.
• Support production teams in achieving operational and quality objectives.
• Act as the primary quality interface for customer issues, concerns and escalations.
• Lead investigations and responses to customer complaints and quality escapes.
• Support customer audits, assessments and surveillance activities.

We are looking for an experienced quality professional with strong leadership, analytical and problem-solving skills.

Ideally, you will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Engineering, or an equivalent relevant qualification or experience.
• Experience in a Quality Management or Team Lead role within an industrial manufacturing and product development environment.
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001 and other relevant regulated quality standards.
• Experience across areas such as NPI, supplier, production and/or customer quality.
• Proven experience leading and developing a team of Quality Engineers.
• Strong knowledge of quality planning, risk management and structured root cause analysis.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Quality professional to take ownership of a broad Quality Assurance function, lead a multi-disciplinary team and make a tangible impact on quality performance, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.