Head of Quality
hace 7 días
Newcastle upon Tyne
Our team members are passionate, driven and up for a challenge. If you have ambition to make a difference, then please read on. Newcastle Operations Director The Head of Quality is accountable for defining, leading and embedding a robust quality strategy across the business, ensuring all fire detection and alarm products meet regulatory, customer and certification requirements. The role champions a culture of right‑first‑time, continuous improvement and compliance, protecting product integrity, business reputation and customer safety. This is a senior leadership role with end to end responsibility for Quality Management Systems, product compliance, audit readiness and continuous improvement across design, manufacturing, suppliers and product performance. • Define and deliver the Quality strategy aligned to business growth, regulatory requirements and customer expectations., • Act as the senior Quality authority, providing credible challenge and guidance to the leadership team., • Embed a strong quality culture across engineering, manufacturing and supply chain functions., • Lead, develop and performance‑manage the Quality team., • Own and continually improve the Quality Management System (ISO 9001), ensuring effective implementation across all functions., • Ensure document control, change management, corrective and preventive action (CAPA), and management review processes are robust and effective., • Drive risk‑based thinking and preventative quality approaches., • Ensure full compliance with applicable standards and regulations, including (but not limited to):, • EN 54 series, • BS 5839 (relevant interfaces and system considerations), • UKCA / CE marking, • LPCB approvals (and/or UL where applicable), • Oversee product approval, re‑certification and technical file integrity., • Ensure effective quality controls across manufacturing, test and inspection processes., • Lead supplier quality assurance, including supplier audits, performance monitoring and corrective actions., • Support new product introduction (NPI) processes to ensure quality is designed in from concept through to production., • Lead internal and external audits, including certification, customer and regulatory audits., • Ensure timely and effective closure of audit findings and continuous improvement actions., • Prepare the organisation for growth‑related audit complexity (new markets, products, customers)., • Use data, KPIs and root‑cause analysis to drive measurable quality improvement., • Reduce cost of poor quality, rework, scrap and field issues., • Support operational excellence and lean initiatives where appropriate., • Senior Quality leadership experience within electronic, electrical or safety‑critical manufacturing., • Strong working knowledge of fire detection and alarm standards (EN 54 essential)., • Proven experience owning ISO 9001 systems and leading external audits., • Strong understanding of product compliance, certification and regulatory frameworks., • Ability to influence at senior and board level with confidence and credibility., • Experience leading and developing technical Quality teams., • Experience within fire safety, life‑safety or regulated product environments., • Exposure to LPCB, UL or multi‑territory product approvals., • Experience supporting business growth, new markets or product expansion., • Lean / Six Sigma or Continuous Improvement qualifications., • Calm, credible and decisive under pressure, • Detail‑focused with strong commercial awareness, • Confident challenger with a collaborative leadership style, • Values‑led and committed to product safety and integrity #J-18808-Ljbffr