Director of Quality and Business Change (Principal Scientific Officer)

NICS; Carrickfergus; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental agency in Northern Ireland is seeking a Director of Quality and Business Change. The candidate will lead efforts to ensure compliance with quality standards and drive improvements within the organization. This permanent position requires substantial experience in quality assurance, management of audit programs, and the ability to enhance scientific processes. The role is based in Carrickfergus and offers a competitive salary package.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience leading quality assurance within ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
• At least 2 years managing internal audit programs and proficiency testing.
• Proven capability in planning and managing scientific process enhancements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the delivery of quality services to stakeholders.
• Lead development of quality management systems.
• Ensure compliance with procedures and relevant standards.
• Drive improvements against quality metrics.
• Coordinate agency-wide responses to major quality issues.

Skills

Quality assurance leadership

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 compliance

Internal audit management

Proficiency testing management

Scientific process improvement

Education

Honours degree in a scientific discipline

Job description

Director of Quality and Business Change (Principal Scientific Officer)

FSNI is an Executive Agency within the Department of Justice, employing approximately 200 staff, and providing a wide range of scientific services and expertise to assist in the investigation of crime and the presentation of scientific evidence in court. The Agency is an independent organisation providing a service to its main customers, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, the NI State Pathologist as well as a number of other customers in NI and further afield.FSNI is currently accredited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for a range of testing and calibration activities. The current schedules of accreditation can be located on the UKAS website:https://www.ukas.com/download-schedule/1497/Testinghttps://www.ukas.com/download-schedule/0524/CalibrationFSNI is also assessed for compliance with ILAC G19:06/2022 Modules in a Forensic Science Process and relevant UKAS documents e.g., LAB 32 for supply of profiles to the Forensic Information Database Service (FINDS), LAB 51 for the analysis of samples for toxicology analysis and LAB 13 for opinion and interpretation.The Agency is also developing accreditation to BS EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012 for scene going activities.The Forensic Science Regulator’s Act covering England and Wales and the development of the Forensic Science Regulator’s Statutory Code for E&W will influence the further development of FSNI’s Quality Management System.

Responsibilities

• Managing the Quality & Business Change Teams to oversee, direct and optimize the management of the delivery of quality and innovative services to internal and external customers
• Leading the development of the quality and Business Change Systems, ensuring compliance with all procedures, policies and applicable standards
• Providing advice and guidance to staff to ensure the validation of scientific processes is fit for purpose and complies with relevant standards
• Providing input to the review of validation plans and reports to ensure all scientific processes within scope of accreditation are fit for purpose
• Leading the surveillance, re-assessment and any other visits of the accreditation body, United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)
• Ensuring and driving delivery of improvements against all key quality and process improvement metrics
• Continually reviewing trend analyses and ensuring appropriate corrective actions are taken
• Ensuring the QMS continues to meet the standards required to maintain ISO17025
• Driving the simplification of the QMS and ensure it remains fit for purposeProviding assurance to the LB regarding the effectiveness of the Quality and Business Change Systems
• Assessing and reporting on FSNI’s performance against internal quality and product integrity, and business change strategies and plans
• Providing advice, guidance and support to all Directorates with regard to Quality and Business Change matters
• Coordinating agency-wide responses to major quality issues, ensuring that key stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System are appropriately briefed regarding significant quality issues
• Liaising with forensic science partner organisations in UK, Ireland and Europe regarding the sharing of best practice in quality management and the carrying out of collaborative quality trails
• Directing and developing the Business Change function leading on the continuing transformation function for the Agency through a process of business analysis and evaluation
• business improvement projects, benefits realisation and product development
• Leading on the development of MI/BI needs to meet internal and external customer requirements
• Responsible for provision of business support function in support of key Agency projectsRepresenting the Agency at the following groups:
• Forensic Science Regulator’s Quality Standards Specialist Group (FSR QSSG)The Association of Forensic Science Quality Standards Group (AFSP QSG)
• European Network of Forensic Science Quality and Competence Liaison Group (ENFSI QCLG)Chair of the FSNI PSNI Quality Improvement Board

Skills and Qualifications

• Applicants must, by the closing date for applications, have the following:
• An honours level degree or equivalent in a scientific discipline relevant to the casework of the laboratory, such as chemistry, biology or engineering.
• At least 3 years’ experience of leading quality assurance in a quality management system to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, within the last 5 years.
• At least 2 years experience of managing and production of an internal audit programme within the last 7 years.
• At least 2 years experience of leading internal and external proficiency testing and quality assurance trials.
• At least 2 years’ experience of effectively planning and managing the delivery of enhanced processes within a scientific organisation using techniques appropriate to the challenges faced.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 16th January 2026 at 12 noon.Applications from Protestants, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post.The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer.ALL APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT ARE CONSIDERED STRICTLY ON THE BASIS OF MERIT.

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC319164)

Vacancy ID 1751967 Job ref. IRC319164 Job Sector Public Sector,Business, Policy and Projects,Pharmaceutical and Science Area Co Antrim Location FSNI, Seapark, 151 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus Salary £61,673 to £64,469 per annum No. vacancies 1 Contract Type Permanent Weekly hours 37 Published date 05/01/2026 Closing date 23/01/2026 Worktime Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

Area: All of Northern Ireland
Closing date: 09 Jan 2026

Area: All of Northern Ireland
Closing date: 16 Jan 2026