Quality Assurance Lead

Why Austal Austal is Australia’s global shipbuilder, Defence prime contractor and maritime technology partner of choice, designing, constructing, and supporting defence and commercial vessels for the world’s leading operators. The company operates in Australia, the USA, Philippines, and Vietnam. Austal Australia is delivering multiple naval shipbuilding and sustainment programs for the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Border Force, and the Department of Defence, employing approximately 1,000 people in facilities in located Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory.

About the Opportunity Austal and the Commonwealth of Australia have signed a Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement (SSA) that supports the Commonwealths Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Enterprise Programs through delivering multiple new defence force shipbuilding projects, such as Landing Craft-Medium and Landing Craft-Heavy for the Australian Army.

The SSA will drive significant growth across our industry and workforce, as we deliver both existing and new programs under a long-term partnership. It will also enable the design and construction of vessels at our Henderson shipyard and marks a major step forward in establishing enduring shipbuilding capability within the Henderson Defence Precinct and across Western Australia. To achieve this, we are building a highly skilled team, to engage with local industry and supply chains, and work on complex, large-scale projects that reflect Austal’s proven capabilities and trusted performance.

Reporting to the Austal Defence Quality Manager this role leads the delivery of Quality Assurance activities on Programs of work. As a key member of the Quality team the Program Quality Assurance Lead is responsible for assurance activities that provide confidence that Subcontractors are delivering Program Delivery Quality objectives in accordance with the relevant Quality Plans. This role requires an experienced, qualified and highly motivated individual with demonstrated skills in leading teams on complex projects.

The role is key to facilitating positive relationships between Austal Defence and the Quality Organisations of Suppliers to the SSA.What’s Involved Lead Quality Assurance activities on a major shipbuilding Program.

Develop, implement, and maintain Program specific Quality Assurance plans. Lead a team of Quality Advisors.

Work closely with other Austal Defence Engineering and Trade Lead specialist to establish a framework of inter-related assurance activities.  Lead the delivery of the Program Delivery Audit Schedule.

Ensure Austal Defence Program quality documentation is up-to-date and accessible within preferred systems of record.

Monitor and assess the Objective Quality Evidence provided by Subcontractors for compliance to stated Quality requirements.

Provide regular reporting on Program quality performance and ensure quality objectives are consistently met.

Identify, assess, and mitigate Program quality risks, ensuring proactive management and resolution.

Lead the management of Austal Defence raised non-conformance issues.

Lead and drive the continuous improvement process to identify initiatives that enhance Capability including product quality and operational efficiency.

Support and guide Program and Quality teams to deliver quality outcomes through communication and awareness of good practice.

Maintain and improve QMS documentation to meet both the Program and broader Austal Defence business needs.

You’ll Need Diploma or higher qualification in a Quality Assurance, Project Management, Engineering or other related discipline

Minimum 5 years’ experience in a trade-based Quality role and/or demonstrated experience of working in the Production environment of a Shipbuilding or Engineering organisation.

Demonstrated experience in leading teams of Advisors or Inspectors.

Lead auditor training (Nationally Accredited)
Strong track record of implementing sustainable improvements in Quality processes.

Proven Project Management experience and or Project Management Qualification Qualification in Lean Manufacturing/TQM or Six Sigma Recognised training qualification in root cause…