Head of Quality – Energy Systems

Join the world leader in advanced energy storage solutions and be part of the success story of VARTA®!

The Head of Quality – Energy Systems is a senior leadership role with end-to-end accountability for product, process, system, and manufacturing quality across the Energy Systems Business Unit. The role covers low voltage systems, batteries, supercapacitors, electronics, and Battery Management Systems (BMS), spanning development centers, suppliers, and multiple production plants. The position combines strategic BU-level quality governance with hands‑on product, plant, and customer quality execution, ensuring full compliance with automotive standards (IATF 16949, ASPICE, VDA 6.3, ISO 26262) and meeting the highest OEM expectations for safety, reliability, and series production performance.

The role will be based in our Plymouth location.

• Establish, govern, and continuously improve a robust Quality Management System across all Energy Systems plants and development organizations.
• Ensure flawless industrialization, launches, and series production quality for automotive battery and energy storage products.
• Achieve and sustain required quality maturity levels (ASPICE, customer-specific requirements, certifications).
• Prevent quality escapes and drive zero‑defect manufacturing performance.
• Embed a strong, prevention‑first quality culture across engineering, plants, and suppliers.

• Quality Strategy & Governance:
  Define and deploy the BU Quality vision, strategy, and governance model aligned with corporate standards. Serve as Quality leader within the BU leadership team and represent Quality in enterprise‑level decisions.
• Quality Management System & Standards:
  Own and maintain an IATF 16949‑compliant QMS across all manufacturing sites. Ensure deployment and consistent use of APQP, DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, PPAP, SPC, and MSA. Lead internal, customer, and certification audits.
• Development & ASPICE Quality:
  Build and sustain ASPICE capability across system, software, and hardware development. Ensure full traceability from requirements to validation, manufacturing, and test. Drive quality gates from development through SOP.
• Manufacturing & Plant Quality:
  Define plant quality strategies and governance aligned with OEM and BU requirements. Own plant‑level quality KPIs (PPM, FPY, scrap, rework, COPQ). Lead launch quality, layered process audits, and management reviews.
• Product & Customer Quality:
  Act as primary quality interface for OEM and Tier‑1 customers. Lead customer audits, quality escalations, and structured problem‑solving (8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa). Ensure compliance with product safety and regulatory requirements (UN 38.3, IEC 62660, ECE R100, EU Battery Regulation).
• Supplier Quality:
  Define supplier quality requirements and approval criteria. Ensure APQP/PPAP deployment and supplier audits (VDA 6.3). Drive supplier development and escalation management.
• Organization & Leadership:
  Build, lead, and develop a strong Quality organization across plants and regions. Develop quality leaders and product‑specific expertise within the team. Promote a data‑driven, continuous improvement culture (Lean, Six Sigma).

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or comparable technical discipline.
• 10+ years of automotive quality experience, including manufacturing and product quality leadership.
• Strong expertise in IATF 16949, ASPICE, VDA 6.3, and automotive core quality tools.
• Deep understanding of low voltage systems, electronics, BMS, and manufacturing processes.
• Proven experience managing OEM customer interfaces and multi‑site quality organizations.
• Strategic and operational leadership credibility.
• Strong customer orientation and communication skills.
• Structured,…