Quality Manager

leonardo company; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 62,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job description

Are you passionate about quality and ready to lead in a world-class aerospace and defense environment? Leonardo are seeking an experienced Quality Manager to join our dynamic team in Luton to work on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). This is an exciting opportunity to play a critical role in ensuring excellence in the design and development of innovative, cutting-edge defense technologies.

Salary Range: £62,000 to £75,000 per year.

In this pivotal role, you will collaborate with leading UK partners, including MBDA, Rolls Royce, and BAE Systems, as well as international partners in Japan and Italy. Your expertise in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and quality assurance will drive the program’s success, helping to maintain the highest quality standards across all stages of the product lifecycle.

What you’ll do as a Quality Manager:

• Lead Early-Stage Quality Assurance: Be the quality leader during early-stage Life Cycle Management (LCM) gates, ensuring that all deliverables meet the required quality standards before progression.
• Deploy APQP Processes: Spearhead the implementation of APQP across design and development stages, guiding the team to follow best practices and meet stringent quality criteria.
• Collaborate with UK Partners: Work closely with UK industry giants like MBDA, Rolls Royce, and BAE Systems to harmonize quality processes, ensuring the highest standards are integrated into the design and development phases.
• Engage with International Partners: Collaborate with domain partners in Japan and Italy, ensuring seamless quality management practices and sharing best practices for continuous improvement.
• Facilitate Workshops and Meetings: Organize and lead regular discussions with partners to address quality challenges, monitor progress, and identify areas for enhancement.
• Conduct Quality Audits: Carry out regular audits to evaluate adherence to quality standards and uncover opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Monitor Key Quality Metrics: Track and report on critical quality metrics, offering insights and actionable recommendations to optimize quality performance and drive innovation.
• Implement Innovative Solutions: Introduce cutting-edge quality management solutions and best practices to elevate the program’s overall quality performance.
• Mentor and Develop Talent: Provide guidance to junior quality specialists, helping to develop a high-performing, capable quality management team.
• Stay at the Forefront of Quality Trends: Continuously monitor the latest trends, technologies, and advancements in quality management, integrating relevant innovations into the GCAP.

What We Need From You:

Essential Qualifications:

• Proven success in a senior quality management role with a strong foundation in APQP.
• Significant experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders, both in the UK and internationally.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex quality issues to stakeholders at all levels.
• Willingness and flexibility to travel domestically and internationally to engage with partners and stakeholders.

Desirable Qualifications:

• A degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or a related field; advanced certifications in quality management (e.g., Six Sigma, CQI) would be a plus.
• Expertise in quality assurance methodologies and best practices, particularly in the design and development stages.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing quality challenges.

With a company funded benefits package, a commitment to learning and development, and a flexible approach to working hours focused on the needs of both our employees and customers, a career with Leonardo has never offered as many opportunities or been more accessible to as many people.

Flexible Working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part-time opportunities, please talk to us.

Company funded flexible benefits: We offer an award-winning flexible benefits plan, having won the Best Flexible Working Policy Award, Best Flexible Benefits Strategy, and Best Flexible Benefits Plan in 2023. These include; access to private healthcare, dental schemes, Workplace ISA, Go Green Car Scheme, technology and lifestyle options (£500 annual allowance).

Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays, option to buy/sell leave and to accrue up to 12 additional flexi leave days per year.

Pension: Award-winning pension scheme (up to 15% employer contribution).

Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, access to Mental Health support, Financial wellbeing support, network groups (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Reservists, Carers).

Lifestyle: Discounted Gym membership, Cycle to work scheme.

Training: Free access to more than 4000 online courses via Coursera.

Referral Incentive: You can earn a reward for successfully referring a friend or family member.

Bonus: Scheme in place for all employees at management level and below.

For a full list of our Company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global high-tech company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo has over 45,000 employees, of which 7,000 are based in the UK.

At Leonardo UK, we believe that a diverse and inclusive work environment unlocks our people’s full potential and drives innovation and creativity. We work hard to offer a welcoming, accessible and inclusive place to work for all of our people, creating a culture where everyone can thrive, feel safe and have a sense of belonging and connection.

This is a great opportunity to bring your talents and form an integral part of Leonardo’s future. We can help you develop your skills and offer great opportunities to develop and grow, so why not join us?