Quality and Compliance Officer

Are you passionate about quality, environmental responsibility and continuous improvement, and keen to make a practical difference across a growing business?

Scientific Laboratory Supplies (SLS) is the UK's largest independent supplier of laboratory equipment, chemicals and consumables. We are looking for a proactive Quality and Compliance Officer to support the effective operation of our Quality and Environmental Management Systems and help ensure we continue to meet the requirements of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

This is a varied role where you will work with colleagues across the business to support audit activity, maintain management-system documentation, monitor compliance requirements and identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce risk and strengthen performance.

Reporting to the Operations Director, you will support the maintenance and continual improvement of SLS's Integrated Management System for quality and environmental management.

You will work closely with process owners and colleagues across the organisation to support ISO certification requirements, coordinate internal and external audit activity, maintain accurate compliance records and help embed quality, environmental performance and continual improvement into day-to-day ways of working.

• Support the maintenance and continual improvement of the Integrated Management System in line with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 requirements.
• Coordinate preparations for external surveillance and recertification audits, ensuring relevant documentation, evidence and actions are available and up to date.
• Support the delivery of the internal audit programme, including scheduling audits, completing audit activity, recording findings and following actions through to completion.
• Assist with management reviews by gathering performance information, preparing reports and tracking agreed actions.
• Monitor and report against quality and environmental objectives, KPIs and improvement plans.
• Help identify applicable quality and environmental compliance requirements and support the business in responding to changes.
• Maintain environmental aspects and impacts information and support improvement activity relating to areas such as waste, energy, water, packaging, transport and pollution prevention.
• Support investigations into nonconformities, complaints, audit findings and process failures, helping teams identify root causes and implement effective corrective actions.
• Work with colleagues to identify opportunities to improve customer service, operational efficiency, product conformity, compliance and environmental performance.
• Support process-mapping and improvement activity, helping teams simplify processes and maintain appropriate controls.
• Work collaboratively with process owners to promote awareness and accountability for quality, environmental performance and continual improvement.
• Maintain accurate and controlled management-system documentation, including procedures, registers, audit records, training records and performance information.
• Support the delivery of training and awareness sessions relating to management systems, ISO requirements, audit readiness and continuous improvement.
• Work professionally with colleagues, external auditors and other stakeholders, maintaining appropriate confidentiality and judgement.
• Support responses to customer requests, tenders and requests for quotation where quality, environmental or compliance information is required.
• Provide wider support to the Operations team, Facilities team and SLS Group where this aligns with the responsibilities of the role.

We are looking for someone who is organised, proactive and comfortable working with colleagues across different areas of the business.

• Experience of working with or supporting a Quality Management System, Environmental Management System or Integrated Management System.
• Knowledge or practical experience of ISO 9001 and/or ISO 14001.
• Experience of internal audits, compliance activity, quality assurance or a related area.
• An understanding of continuous improvement, root-cause analysis or structured problem solving.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage priorities, maintain accurate records and follow actions through to completion.
• Good analytical skills and confidence working with data, reports and performance information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to work with colleagues at different levels across the organisation.
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