Head of Quality - Nuclear Island

Location: Bristol / London / Sizewell C
Salary: Competitive + benefits
Sector: Nuclear / Major Projects
Contract: Permanent

Westlakes Recruit is supporting a major UK nuclear programme with the appointment of an experienced Head of Quality - Nuclear Island.
This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for leading the quality function across a significant Nuclear Island programme, ensuring delivery is safe, compliant, efficient and right first time.
You will operate within a complex, matrix-led programme environment, working closely with senior programme leadership, quality functions, delivery teams, suppliers and wider stakeholders to ensure quality requirements are embedded throughout the project lifecycle.
The role will provide significant leadership responsibility, with the Quality Delivery team expected to grow to approximately 25-30 FTE at peak.

As Head of Quality - Nuclear Island, you will provide strategic and functional leadership across the Nuclear Island Quality Delivery function.
You will be responsible for ensuring the supply chain and programme work scopes are delivered in accordance with the project's quality requirements, applicable standards and nuclear safety expectations.
Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and managing the Nuclear Island Quality Delivery function.
• Providing strategic quality leadership across major nuclear construction and delivery activities.
• Managing and developing a team of Quality Delivery Managers, Quality Management Leads and wider quality specialists.
• Defining and implementing effective quality processes across the Nuclear Island programme.
• Ensuring delivery is compliant with project quality requirements, ISO 9001 and ISO 19443, while maintaining a strong focus on nuclear safety.
• Identifying, assessing and mitigating programme-level quality risks.
• Providing independent quality escalation and expert advice to senior programme leadership.
• Monitoring quality performance and providing regular reporting to the Quality Director and programme leadership.
• Working closely with engineering, construction, commercial, procurement, supplier quality and document control functions.
• Managing and influencing third-party suppliers and the wider supply chain.
• Supporting quality input into contracts, procurement strategies and scopes of work.
• Establishing and chairing quality assurance and governance reviews.
• Supporting the effective implementation of quality arrangements across major work packages.
• Developing and mentoring the quality team, including succession planning and future capability.
• Working collaboratively with wider nuclear programmes and delivery partners to share best practice and drive continuous improvement.

We are looking for an established senior Quality leader with significant experience delivering quality across major projects, ideally within a highly regulated or nuclear environment.
You will have the credibility to operate at senior programme level and the leadership capability to manage large, multidisciplinary quality teams.
Ideally, you will bring:

• Proven experience as a Head of Quality, Quality Director, Senior Quality Manager or equivalent.
• Significant experience leading quality functions across major engineering, construction or infrastructure programmes.
• Strong experience within the nuclear sector, particularly nuclear new build or Nuclear Island construction.
• A strong understanding of quality delivery within complex, multidisciplinary project environments.
• Detailed knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and ideally ISO 19443:2018.
• Understanding of CFSI (Counterfeit, Fraudulent and Suspect Items) risk and its management within a nuclear environment.
• Experience working with major suppliers and complex nuclear supply chains.
• Knowledge of nuclear site licence conditions and the requirements associated with regulated nuclear delivery.
• Experience managing and developing sizeable quality teams.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence programme directors, functional leaders, suppliers and senior stakeholders.
• A proven track record of driving quality improvement and delivering projects safely, efficiently and right first time.

The successful candidate will ideally hold:

• Degree or Diploma-level qualification in Quality Management or a related discipline.
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor qualification.
• Chartered membership of an appropriate professional body, preferably CQI.
• Additional qualifications or experience in risk management would be advantageous.

This is an opportunity to take a senior leadership position within one of the UK's most significant nuclear infrastructure programmes.
You will have the opportunity to:

• Lead a large and growing Nuclear Island quality function.
• Influence quality strategy across a major nuclear new build programme.
• Work alongside senior programme and functional leadership.
• Engage with major UK and international supply chain partners.
• Play a key role in maintaining the highest standards of nuclear safety and quality.
• Shape the development of a high-performing quality team.
• Contribute to the successful delivery of a nationally significant infrastructure programme.