Lead Quality Auditor

Lead Quality Auditor

Full Time | Permanent | Up to £36,000 + Benefits

Matlock - DE4 5A

Are you passionate about building a “quality first” culture? Do you thrive on turning systems and standards into real-world results? If you’re ready to lead, influence, and make a lasting impact on a heritage British brand, this is your opportunity.

At John Smedley
, we’re renowned for craftsmanship, consistency, and care. As we move towards ISO
9001 accreditation, we’re looking for a Lead Quality Auditor to take ownership of our quality framework — ensuring every product, process, and person reflects our uncompromising standards.

This is a hybrid role that blends strategic thinking with hands‑on leadership. You’ll shape our systems, mentor our people, and keep us audit-ready — every single day. From coaching production teams to leading internal audits and customer assurance reviews, you’ll be the guardian of quality and the driver of improvement.

• Lead and develop the Quality function, embedding best practice across all areas.
• Drive our ISO
  9001 journey — from preparation through to certification and beyond.
• Conduct internal audits and champion a culture of compliance, consistency, and improvement.
• Partner with design, production, and customers to ensure every product meets our high standards.
• Use data and insight to identify issues, reduce waste, and improve performance.
• Be a visible, hands‑on leader — challenging, coaching, and inspiring others to deliver excellence.

• Experience in quality management systems (ideally ISO
  9001).
• Proven auditing and process improvement expertise.
• A collaborative leadership style — confident, clear, and customer-focused.
• The ability to balance detail with the bigger picture, influencing stakeholders at every level.
• A genuine passion for craftsmanship, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

We’re Britain’s oldest manufacturing brand — proudly crafting premium knitwear in Derbyshire since 1784.

Our commitment to quality runs deep: from the finest materials and meticulous processes to the people who make it happen. You’ll join a close‑knit team where tradition meets transformation, and where your expertise will shape the next chapter of our story.

If you’re ready to lead quality from the front — and make a real difference in a heritage business with a modern mindset — we’d love to hear from you.