Quality Manager

COMPANY DESCRIPTION, PROFILE AND SCOPE OF ROLE:

Quality Manager

Our client is a world-class, award-winning, long-established global manufacturing business with strong, sustained investment in capital, plant technology, and people. Operating advanced continuous production lines, they serve demanding high-spec international sectors, including automotive Tier-1 supply chains.

Due to organisational succession planning, they are seeking an experienced Quality Manager to lead daily site Quality Control operations, manage the laboratory function, and drive continuous improvement and compliance across their Quality Management Systems.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting directly to the Quality Director, the Quality Manager will play a pivotal hands-on leadership role across the site, ensuring full site compliance and global quality standardisation.

Core Leadership & Management:

• Daily Lab Management: Oversee the daily operations of the QC Laboratory, line-managing the QC Co-ordinator and Laboratory Technicians (appraisals, training checklists, and capability development).
• Audit Oversight: Lead and manage site external IATF 16949 and customer audits, including pre-audit checklists and corrective actions.
• QMS & SOP Administration: Maintain and evolve the site Quality Management System (policy, scope, procedures) and site SOPs.
• Statistical Systems & Integrity: Manage Gage R&R, Measurement System Analysis (MSA) studies, Round Robin testing, calibration, and overall testing system integrity.
• Customer & Supplier Quality: Act as the technical point of contact for customer quality communications, customer site visits, supplier audits, and vendor re-approvals.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead QC High Performance Team projects, drive 5S within the laboratory, and manage data analysis and conclusions from trial runs.

Global Strategy & Executive Reporting:

• Collaborate with the Global Quality Director to align local procedures with the global quality strategy.
• Prepare quarterly capability reports and monthly quality metrics.
• Present technical data and quality performance during strategic business reviews and lead quality reviews for the VP of Operations.

• Maintain QC laboratory risk assessments and administer product documentation/codes.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:

ESSENTIAL:

• IATF 16949 Lead Auditor qualification.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified with proven application in a high-volume/continuous manufacturing environment.
• Fully competent in modern quality management practices (Quality Assurance & Quality Control).
• Strong technical background in 8D Problem Solving, Control Plans, and Calibration.
• Exceptional ability to communicate complex data using statistical methodology and technical terminology.
• IT Literate: High proficiency in Minitab, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

DESIRABLE:

• VDA 6.3 Lead Auditor certification.
• Proven track record in automotive manufacturing or high-precision continuous process industries (e.g., extrusion, polymers, chemicals).
• Deep understanding of PPAP, MSA, FMEA, Process Capability (Cpk/Ppk), and Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Membership in the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI).

• Experience implementing Lean tools (5S, TPM, Standard Work).

DETAILS OF SALARY / PACKAGE:

Base Salary: £56,000 to £66,000 per annum (Depending on Experience) / Bonus: Company & Personal Performance Bonus Scheme / Pension: Generous employer contribution up to 7% (with 2% employee contribution) / Holidays: 25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays / Hours: 08:00 – 17:00 (Monday to Friday)