Quality Manager in Walsall, West Midlands (County)

Quality Manager

Location: Walsall, West Midlands
Salary: £45,000–£50,000 per annum, depending on experience
Employment: Full-time, permanent

An established specialist manufacturing business is seeking an experienced, hands-on Quality Manager to lead its quality function, strengthen manufacturing standards and introduce practical improvements across the operation.

Taking ownership of the Quality Management System and overseeing a small team of inspectors, you will combine day-to-day involvement on the shop floor with responsibility for ISO 9001 compliance, audit preparation and the ongoing development of quality procedures.

This position would suit an established quality professional who enjoys getting involved, takes pride in seeing improvements through and is looking for a long-term opportunity to make a lasting contribution.

The Role

Working closely with production and senior management, you will ensure quality systems support consistent manufacturing performance. You will bring fresh ideas, challenge ineffective methods and turn improvement opportunities into workable processes that colleagues understand and follow.

With a small inspection team, you will remain actively involved in resolving production issues, supporting inspection activities and ensuring corrective actions deliver lasting results.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, maintaining and improving policies, procedures, records and document control.

• Plan and lead internal audits, coordinate customer and certification audits, and take responsibility for closing findings and verifying corrective actions.

• Lead, support and develop a small team of quality inspectors, providing clear priorities and practical guidance.

• Maintain a visible presence on the shop floor, working with production to resolve quality concerns and uphold product standards.

• Oversee incoming materials, in-process and final inspection, contributing directly to inspection activities when required.

• Investigate non-conformances, customer complaints and supplier issues, identifying root causes and implementing effective corrective actions.

• Introduce new ideas, inspection methods and process improvements that reduce defects, rework and waste.

• Maintain effective product traceability, inspection records and calibration controls.

• Monitor quality performance, report trends and improvement priorities, and follow actions through to completion.

• Liaise confidently with customers, suppliers and auditors on quality requirements and technical issues.

• Support employee training and build consistent ownership of quality throughout the business.

About You

You will have:

• Substantial quality experience within manufacturing, gained as a Quality Manager, Quality Lead or an established Senior Quality Engineer with relevant leadership and systems responsibility.

• Strong practical knowledge of ISO 9001, including direct responsibility for maintaining a Quality Management System and taking it through external audits.

• A hands-on approach to operational quality, with the confidence to investigate issues at source and work alongside production colleagues.

• Experience supervising inspectors or coordinating the work of a small quality team.

• Evidence of introducing improvements and sustaining them over time.

• A thorough understanding of inspection processes, technical specifications, root cause analysis and corrective action.

• The organisation and discipline to maintain robust systems while responding effectively to daily production demands.

• Clear communication skills and the confidence to challenge constructively, gain cooperation and follow through on decisions.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate sustained contribution and progression within previous businesses, alongside a desire to commit to their next role for the long term.

Experience in metal processing, component manufacture or a comparable industrial production environment would be advantageous. Relevant engineering or quality qualifications and internal or lead auditor training would also be beneficial.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to take real ownership of quality within an established manufacturing business. You will have scope to contribute ideas, develop a small team and deliver improvements whose impact can be seen across production and customer performance.

If you bring strong manufacturing quality experience, practical leadership and the commitment to build lasting improvements, we would welcome your application.