Quality Assurance Lead

Quality Assurance Lead

Location: West Yorkshire
Salary: £45,000 + Benefits
Recruitment Partner: Aqumen Recruitment

The Company

Aqumen Recruitment is delighted to be partnering with a large, fast-paced manufacturing business to recruit an experienced Quality Assurance Lead.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established manufacturer that supplies products to a diverse customer base across the UK and Europe. The business is committed to delivering high-quality products, driving continuous improvement and building long-term customer relationships through exceptional service and technical expertise.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced Quality professional who enjoys balancing hands-on quality leadership with customer engagement.

Whilst the role shares many of the responsibilities of a traditional Quality Manager, it offers something a little different. Alongside leading the site’s Quality Management System, you’ll regularly visit customer sites to investigate quality concerns, discuss findings, build strong relationships and agree practical solutions that deliver the best possible outcome for both the customer and the business.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is equally comfortable on the manufacturing floor as they are representing the business in front of customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, maintain and continually improve the site’s Quality Management System.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001 and all relevant quality standards.
• Champion a culture of quality and continuous improvement throughout the business.
• Lead internal and external audits.
• Manage customer complaints through investigation, root cause analysis and successful resolution.
• Implement effective Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPA).
• Analyse quality performance data, identify trends and implement improvement initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with Production, Engineering and Supply Chain teams to reduce defects and improve manufacturing performance.
• Ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain quality procedures, documentation and standards.
• Coach and support colleagues to promote best practice across the business.

Customer-Facing Responsibilities

A key part of this role is acting as the technical quality representative for the business.

You’ll be expected to:

• Visit customer sites to investigate quality concerns and product performance issues.
• Build strong relationships with customers through professional and effective communication.
• Lead discussions around quality issues, investigations and agreed corrective actions.
• Present technical findings in a clear, confident and customer-focused manner.
• Work collaboratively with customers to identify practical, long-term solutions.
• Represent the business professionally, helping to maintain its reputation for quality and service.

About You

We’re looking for someone with a strong technical background who also has the confidence and communication skills to work directly with customers.

You’ll ideally have:

• Previous experience as a Quality Manager, Quality Assurance Manager, Senior Quality Engineer or Quality Lead within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working within a fast-paced manufacturing business.
• Excellent knowledge of ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems.
• Experience using quality tools including:
• Root Cause Analysis
• 8D Problem Solving
• CAPA
• FMEA
• SPC
• Lean Manufacturing
• Continuous Improvement methodologies
• Internal or Lead Auditor experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The confidence to represent the business at customer sites and build trusted relationships.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to customer locations when required.

What’s Different About This Role?

This isn’t just a site-based Quality Management role.

You’ll play a key role in strengthening customer relationships by acting as the face of quality for the business. You’ll work closely with customers to investigate issues, identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions, making a real impact on customer satisfaction and long-term business success.

If you enjoy combining technical expertise with relationship management and want a varied role where no two days are the same, this could be the perfect opportunity.

What’s on Offer?

• Salary of £45,000.
• Opportunity to join a large, fast-paced manufacturing business.
• A varied role with a mix of site-based quality leadership and customer engagement.
• The chance to influence quality standards, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.
• A supportive environment where your ideas and expertise will make a genuine difference.

Apply Now

Aqumen Recruitment is managing this vacancy on behalf of our client.

If you’re an experienced Quality professional looking to take the next step in your career and enjoy working closely with customers to deliver quality excellence, we’d love to hear from you.