Quality Manager

Department: Quality
Reporting to: General Manager

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Quality Manager to lead and continuously improve our site-wide Quality Management System within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will take overall responsibility for the effectiveness of the Quality Management System, ensuring compliance with ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, customer-specific requirements and applicable standards.

This is a leadership-focused role, responsible for driving quality performance across Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality Assurance, Metrology and Calibration, and Quality Inspection where applicable. You will lead through clear direction, accountability, performance management and effective escalation, empowering specialist teams to deliver operational excellence.

You will act as the key escalation point for significant customer and supplier quality concerns, ensuring timely containment, robust root cause analysis, effective corrective action and clear communication. You will also have the authority to stop production or shipment where product quality, conformity, safety or customer requirements are at risk.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Management System Leadership

• Own, maintain and continually improve the site's Quality Management System in line with ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949:2016.

• Ensure quality processes are integrated, controlled and aligned with customer-specific requirements.

• Lead management review preparation and ensure actions are completed within agreed timescales.

• Promote a culture of accountability, risk-based thinking and prevention-focused quality management.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead and develop teams across Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality Assurance, Metrology and Calibration, and Quality Inspection where applicable.

• Establish priorities, allocate resources and define clear escalation processes.

• Monitor departmental performance against agreed KPIs and ensure functional leaders are accountable for results.

• Develop team capability, maintain competence and training standards, and support succession planning.

Customer Quality Management

• Oversee the effective management of customer complaints, returns, enquiries and quality escalations.

• Ensure customer responses and corrective actions are completed accurately and on time.

• Review and approve responses to critical or high-risk quality issues.

• Monitor customer scorecards, identify trends and drive resolution of recurring issues.

• Ensure Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions are managed through an effective review and approval process.

Supplier Quality Management

• Oversee supplier quality performance, containment activities and corrective action processes.

• Ensure supplier quality risks are identified, monitored and escalated appropriately.

• Review supplier PPAP submissions through the established approval process.

• Support supplier nomination and qualification activities.

• Drive improvement where suppliers fail to meet quality, delivery or customer requirements.

Quality Engineering and Process Control

• Ensure effective maintenance of PFMEAs, control plans and inspection strategies.

• Support Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) activities.

• Ensure process changes are assessed for quality risk and customer impact.

• Oversee measurement system analysis (MSA) and process validation activities where applicable.

• Ensure effective engineering containment and verification of corrective actions.

Metrology, Calibration and Nonconformance Management

• Maintain the integrity, accuracy and traceability of calibration and measurement systems.

• Ensure measurement equipment is suitable for its intended use and meets applicable requirements.

• Oversee measurement system studies, including Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility (GR&R), where applicable.

• Ensure nonconforming products are identified, contained, documented and dispositioned appropriately.

• Maintain robust quarantine and traceability processes, with clear escalation and decision-making controls.

Corrective Action and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, are applied effectively.

• Verify root cause analysis and corrective action effectiveness.

• Identify recurring and systemic quality issues and ensure lessons learned are embedded into prevention systems.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across all quality functions.

• Ensure PFMEAs, control plans and related quality documentation are updated following significant issues or process changes.

Quality Performance and Reporting

• Define, monitor and report quality KPIs across all relevant functions.

• Analyse internal defect rates, supplier performance, customer complaints and process capability trends.

• Identify emerging risks and communicate significant performance concerns to senior management.

• Use data-driven insights to prioritise improvement activities and strengthen operational performance.

Health, Safety and Compliance

• Promote compliance with relevant health and safety policies, procedures and regulations.

• Ensure quality activities are conducted safely and in accordance with applicable requirements.

• Exercise appropriate authority to prevent the release or production of potentially nonconforming or unsafe products.

About You

You are an accomplished quality professional with strong leadership capabilities, a structured approach to problem-solving and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. You can balance strategic quality management with operational priorities, develop high-performing teams and drive sustainable improvements in a demanding manufacturing environment.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of five years' experience in a quality-related role.

• Essential experience with ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems.

• Strong knowledge of quality systems, process control, nonconformance management and corrective action methodologies.

• Experience managing priorities, resources and competing business requirements.

• Proven problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify root causes and implement effective, sustainable solutions.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across all organisational levels and within a multicultural environment.

• Demonstrated leadership capability, including team development, performance management and accountability.

• Good computer literacy and the ability to interpret and report quality data.

• Proficiency in written and spoken English.

Experience with IATF 16949:2016, automotive manufacturing, customer-specific requirements, PPAP, PFMEA, control plans, MSA and 8D problem-solving will be highly advantageous.

Key Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Commitment to Excellence: Sets high standards and consistently drives quality improvement.

• Accountability and Results Orientation: Takes ownership of performance and delivers against objectives.

• Resilience and Adaptability: Responds effectively to challenges and changing business priorities.

• Communication and Collaboration: Communicates clearly, builds consensus and works effectively across teams.

• Leadership and Talent Development: Motivates others, develops capability and builds accountability.

• Critical Thinking and Decision-Making: Uses sound judgement, data and structured analysis to make effective decisions.

Working Environment

This role combines office-based responsibilities with regular engagement in the manufacturing environment. Travel to customer sites and other production locations may be required.

When working in production areas, the role may involve exposure to machinery, moving equipment and materials, moderate noise, airborne particles, fumes and varying temperatures.