Supplier Quality & Development Manager

Supplier Quality and Development Manager

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet.

With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

Join us as a key driver of supplier excellence!

As the Supplier Quality and Development Manager you’ll be responsible for supporting the Operational Procurement and Supplier Quality teams through targeted Supplier Development and Quality enhancement initiatives assigned to the Defence business line, to improve Supplier Quality and Delivery performance, supporting both reactive and proactive actions.

You’ll lead on behalf of GKN Aerospace, supplier recovery activities with poor performing suppliers with delivery or quality issues, to ensure full recovery and the implementation of corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence. To lead proactive supplier development activities such as rate readiness reviews, quality tool deployment and lean improvements with prioritised suppliers.

You will support the development of a highly skilled Supplier Quality and development organisation within GKN Aerospace that supports the development of the capability in the business line sites, as well as supporting suppliers’ capability development. The Supplier Quality and Development Manager is responsible for leading the focused Supplier development activities in their region driving performance improvement in quality, delivery and cost across all sites in close cooperation with the Operational Procurement and Global Commodity Management teams to achieve a highly capable supplier base.

Additionally support the Zero Defect deployment, culture and mindset within Procurement and supply base.

Responsible to monitor supplier performance as reported by the sites and use this data and other insights to agree improvement opportunities internally through collaboration with Operational Procurement, Supplier Quality, Engineering, Quality and Design.

Reporting to the Supplier Quality & Development Director based in the U.S., this is a remote role offering the flexibility to work from home. You’ll need to be flexible for regular UK and international travel to supplier locations and our manufacturing sites in Luton, Cowes (Isle of Wight), and Hoogeveen.

• Provide robust practical problem solving to supplier issues, obstacles, and complex issues causing disruption within the business line
• Lead supplier development activities in assigned area including reactive and proactive supplier improvement projects
• Supporting the deployment of new Quality assurance processes and compliance in the business line focused on supplier Quality and Development
• Support the development of the SQE personnel in the business line in terms of competency and capability
• Lead Supplier Evaluations, rate readiness assessments and supplier assessments
• Supports the Zero Defect deployment in the supplier base as well as ZD culture and mindset within Procurement
• Creating a “Great place to work” and championing the GKN Aerospace culture principles

To help us make a difference, you’ll bring your passion and talent for what you do along with the following skills, experience, qualifications and attributes:

• Bachelor Degree, or recognised certification in Quality, Supplier Quality, or Auditing principles in Engineering or Quality related discipline
• Experience in Quality/Supplier Quality/Engineering roles
• Experience in procurement and interacting with suppliers on-site and virtually to support key initiatives and business line processes
• Experience in Quality or Engineering leadership in cooperation with…