Quality Assurance Leader

Position: Quality Assurance Leader (Permanent)
Location: Orchard Square

Independent Forgings and Alloys have an exciting opportunity for a committed, and driven Quality Assurance Leader to join our journey to become the number one forging company in the world.
Over the last few years Independent Forgings and Alloys Ltd (IFA) have invested in the business and have successfully doubled our turnover and are continuing on this path.
Main Purpose of the Role
The Quality Assurance Leader is responsible for ensuring that the company’s Quality Management System and it’s accreditation is effectively implemented, maintained, and continuously improved across a large metal forging operation. This role leads quality assurance programs covering compliance, audits, process documentation, customer quality requirements, and systemic quality performance.
Main duties include:

* Quality Management System (QMS) - Maintain and develop the company’s QMS AS 9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015, NADCAP, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 AS/EN9100). Lead the development, revision, and approval of procedures, work instructions, and policies.

* Internal & External Audits
-Plan and conduct internal audits across all operational areas, assessing compliance with process standards.

* Customer Quality Assurance - Act as a key point of contact for customer quality expectations, documentation, and compliance issues. Prepare and manage customer-required quality submissions.

* Process Assurance & Documentation - Ensure all manufacturing and inspection processes are properly documented and controlled. Lead control plan development and verification in cooperation with production and engineering. Oversee document control, traceability systems, and version management.

* Corrective & Preventive Action Management - Lead root-cause analysis and ensure robust corrective actions are implemented. Track effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions across the company.

* Supplier Quality Assurance - Support supplier assessments, audits, and incoming quality assurance programs. Monitor supplier performance and participate in decisions to approve, develop, or disqualify suppliers.

* Team leadership - Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Quality Engineers, Customer Quality Officers, Certification Officers. Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across all levels of the organisation.

* Training & Quality Culture - Develop and deliver training on quality processes, standards, and documentation requirements. Coordinate quality awareness initiatives to strengthen discipline and adherence to procedures.

* Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement - Track and analyse quality metrics (NCRs, audit results, customer complaints, scrap/rework trends). Prepare regular reports for leadership, highlighting risks, systemic issues, and improvement actions.
Background and experience

* Experience in quality management within Aerospace.

* Quality Management qualification or related field.

* Strong knowledge of QMS standards (AS 9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015, NADCAP, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 AS/EN9100)).

* Ideally with experience of forging, machining, or metallurgical operations.

* Experience with auditing the above accreditation (internal or external), control plans, PPAP, and customer compliance.

* Proficiency in root cause analysis, statistical methods, and quality tools (SPC, MSA, PPAP, PFMEA,APQP).

* Excellent communications and leadership skills.
About Independent Forgings
Independent Forgings and Alloys (IFA) is one of Britain’s leading independent aerospace and industrial forgers. The unique feature about IFA is the combination of open and closed-die forging while also undertaking the whole production process from raw material to the finished product in one location. Operating from a (Apply online only) ft2 facility in Sheffield, we manufacture high-integrity, open-die and closed-die forged components in nickel alloy, titanium, stainless steel and carbon alloys for customers and tier-one suppliers within the aerospace, nuclear, power generation, marine as well as oil and gas sector.
Why work for us?
At IFA we pride ourselves on being a great place to work. As one of the UK’s leading forge manufacturing company we want to ensure that we attract,…