Quality Manager

An experienced and influential Quality Manager is required to lead and enhance the company's Quality Management System (QMS) across multiple UK sites. The role focuses on ISO 9001:2025 compliance, customer assurance, supplier quality, and driving a strong quality culture within a defence manufacturing environment.

You will own the quality strategy, lead a team of ~10 across 3 sites, and ensure products meet stringent regulatory, contractual, and customer standards.

Core Responsibilities

Lead and optimise the Quality Management System (BS EN ISO 9001:2025 compliant)
Develop customer-focused Quality Management Plans
Oversee QA & QC activities across full product lifecycle
Manage NCRs, root cause analysis, corrective & preventive actions
Drive supplier quality performance & resolve non-conformances
Enforce configuration control, product identification & traceability
Lead internal audit programme & supplier assessments
Review customer contracts to ensure quality obligations are met
Conduct fault analysis & produce RMA reports
Approve finished goods & sign off Certificates of Conformance (CoC)
Represent the company during formal customer acceptance testing
Direct management of Quality team (~10 people, 3 sites)
Essential Experience & Skills

Senior-level Quality Management experience within complex engineering/manufacturing
Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001:2025 (implementation & transition experience essential)
Background in regulated sectors (Defence, Aerospace, Automotive preferred)
Engineering degree or equivalent technical qualification (desirable but strongly preferred)
Proven experience in risk-based quality management and lifecycle processes
Strong leadership, stakeholder management & supplier engagement capability
Excellent communication skills - customer-facing & internal influence
Quality Methods & Tools (Required Capability)

Core Methodologies

PDCA
Root Cause Analysis (5 Whys, Fishbone)
Lean Principles
Six Sigma (DMAIC)
Risk-Based Thinking (ISO 9001 aligned)
Quality Tools

FMEA (Design & Process)
8D Problem Solving
Process Capability (Cp/Cpk)
SIPOC Mapping
Configuration Management
First Article Inspection (AS9102)
Special Process Control (welding, heat treatment, surface finishing)
Supplier Quality Assurance (including traceability & export control)
Personal Profile

Strategic, disciplined, and detail-focused
Strong independent decision-maker
Resilient in high-pressure environments
Drives accountability and "right first time" culture
Demonstrates teamwork, integrity, excellence & courage
Working Pattern & Benefits

Work-Life Balance
37.5 hour week
Early finish Fridays
Hybrid/flexible working
28 days holiday + Christmas closure
Holiday purchase scheme

Benefits Package
5% matched pension
Income protection
Life assurance
Employee Assistance Programme (GP, mental health, physio, second opinion)
Share incentive & SAYE scheme
EV salary sacrifice scheme
Health Cash Plan
Wellbeing initiatives & sports/social activities
L&D opportunities
Referral bonus scheme