Senior Quality Manager

Overview

Warrington fire, part of Element, is seeking an experienced Senior Quality Manager to lead quality assurance across our test laboratories in the UK and Europe, including our flagship Fire Resistance testing facility in Birchwood, Warrington. This role is pivotal in ensuring compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 and other applicable standards, driving quality improvements, and embedding a culture of operational excellence across multiple sites.

The successful candidate will champion a zero‑tolerance approach to non‑adherence, implement robust quality systems, and harmonise processes across laboratories. You will influence senior stakeholders, mentor teams, and ensure consistent, reliable, and high‑performance testing operations. This role will also focus on implementing a unified Quality Management System (QMS) across all sites, ensuring standardised systems and tools are in place to deliver consistency and harmonisation across UK and European laboratories.

This is a role for an experienced, decisive quality leader who thrives in environments that demand strict compliance and operational discipline. The successful candidate will be instrumental in transforming the quality culture, driving adherence to the highest standards, and ensuring the long‑term integrity of the division’s testing operations.

• Implement and maintain a unified QMS across all sites, ensuring compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 and relevant regulatory requirements, and using standardised systems and tools for consistency.
• Promote a proactive quality culture, uphold Element Quality Commitments, and promote collaborative relationships internally and externally.
• Ensure operational compliance by monitoring daily laboratory activities, calibration procedures, and adherence to systems and testing protocols.
• Lead quality assurance programmes, including QA/QC initiatives, internal audits, and UKAS/regulatory assessments, ensuring timely resolution of findings.
• Manage risk and performance, identifying potential compliance risks, tracking KPIs, and reporting to senior leadership.
• Investigate and resolve issues, including complaints and nonconformances, through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Provide training and guidance to teams, enabling achievement of quality standards and continuous improvement.
• Stay up to date with industry best practice and regulatory changes, advising leadership and implementing necessary updates.

• Setting clear objectives and priorities aligned with organisational goals and quality standards.
• Conducting regular performance reviews, providing constructive feedback, and identifying development needs.
• Mentoring and coaching team members to enhance technical expertise and leadership capability.
• Supporting professional development through training plans, career progression opportunities, and succession planning.
• Promoting collaboration and engagement within the team and across sites to ensure consistent quality practices.
• Managing workload and resource allocation to optimise efficiency and maintain compliance across all laboratories.
• Driving accountability and ownership within the team to deliver high standards of performance and continuous improvement.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Quality Management, Engineering, Chemistry, or related disciplines), or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in quality management, with extensive experience in ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and multi‑site quality oversight.
• Strong ability to lead and influence without direct line management authority, driving strict adherence to quality standards across multiple laboratories.
• Expertise in quality improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, CAPA, RCA), with a focus on maintaining strict compliance while driving operational excellence.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leadership, regulatory bodies, and operational teams to maintain accountability and consistency.
• Analytical problem‑solving skills with experience in driving corrective actions and implementing preventive measures in high‑stake testing…