Head of Compliance

Questech Recruitment Ltd; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Head of Compliance to oversee compliance and risk governance in a manufacturing setting. This executive role requires significant experience with ISO standards, strong leadership, and a proactive approach to compliance and safety. The position is based in Bradford and offers a salary sacrifice pension scheme and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Salary sacrifice company pension scheme

Annual leave 25 days, plus bank holidays and birthday off

Laptop and flexible working where appropriate

Professional development and membership support

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing integrated ISO management systems.
• Strong understanding of data protection and IT risk governance.
• Practical experience implementing ISO standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of compliance frameworks and audits.
• Oversee GDPR and DUAA compliance for data protection.
• Drive a culture of safety and sustainability across teams.

Skills

ISO management systems

Leadership

Risk governance

Data protection

ISO standards implementation

Education

Lead Auditor qualification (ISO 9001 or equivalent)

NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent)

Tools

ISO 9001

ISO 14001

ISO 45001

ISO 27001

ISO 44001

Job description

Our client is a well established and successful manufacturer. They are looking for a Head of Compliance to join them on a permanent basis. This senior leadership role carries executive responsibility for ensuring the company remains compliant, audit–ready, and resilient in a fast–changing regulatory and operational landscape. The role will be office based in Bradford.

The Head of Compliance is the organisation s primary custodian of compliance and risk governance, overseeing existing certifications (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001) and leading the implementation of new standards (ISO 27001, 42001, 22301, 44001, 20400).

Operating across both manufacturing and construction environments, the role provides visible leadership to ensure management systems not only achieve compliance but actively support safe project delivery, sustainable procurement, operational efficiency, and customer confidence.

PLEASE ONLY APPLY IF:

• You are able to start with very short notice / immediately.
• You have previous experience as a Head of Compliance / Senior Compliance Manager for a manufacturing / construction business.

Key Responsibilities:

Standards & Certification:

Maintain and continually improve compliance frameworks for ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001, ensuring alignment with both factory–based operations and construction site activities.

Lead the implementation of ISO 22301 (Business Continuity) and support IT in embedding ISO 27001 (Information Security) and ISO 42001 (AI Management).

Collaborate with the Head of Procurement to embed ISO 44001 (Collaborative Business Relationships) and ISO 20400 (Sustainable Procurement), ensuring supply chain governance balances compliance, sustainability, and commercial needs.

Act as the company lead for certification and surveillance audits, ensuring full readiness for external assessments.

Represent the company during client audits, pre–qualification processes, and regulatory inspections for both manufacturing and construction projects.

Act as a trusted point of contact for clients on compliance and assurance matters, providing accurate information and confidence in project delivery capability.

Strengthen external relationships with auditors, certification bodies, and key supply chain partners.

Governance & Risk:

Maintain an enterprise–wide risk register and lead regular reviews with the SLT.

Ensure risks associated with both workshop operations and on–site installation activities are identified, evaluated, and effectively mitigated.

Oversee GDPR and DUAA compliance, including lawful use of data, privacy protections, and ethical AI practices.

Health, Safety & Environment:

Ensure compliance with ISO 45001, ISO 14001, and all UK HSE legislation, relevant to both factory and site–based environments.

Lead investigations into incidents and non–conformances, implementing corrective actions and preventative improvements.

Drive a proactive safety and sustainability culture across employees, contractors, and supply chain partners.

Oversee the creation, approval, and management of Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs) for both in–house projects and subcontracted works, ensuring alignment with client requirements, ISO standards, and regulatory frameworks.

Support Procurement in strengthening supplier and subcontractor assurance processes, particularly in construction project delivery.

Lead due diligence and monitoring to ensure supply chain partners meet regulatory, sustainability, and ethical standards.

Promote collaborative working principles (ISO 44001) and sustainable procurement practices (ISO 20400) to build resilient long–term partnerships.

Leadership & Training:

Foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement across manufacturing and construction teams.

Deliver targeted training on compliance, auditing, health & safety, data protection, and risk awareness to staff at all levels.

Line manage the QESH Assistant and H&S Advisor, supporting professional development and team capability.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

• Significant experience managing integrated ISO management systems in a manufacturing and/or construction environment.
• Lead Auditor qualification (ISO 9001 or equivalent).
• NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of data protection, cyber security, and IT risk governance.
• Practical experience implementing ISO standards, ideally including ISO 27001, ISO 42001, and ISO 22301.
• Proven ability to lead client audits and liaise effectively with customers and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of CE marking, supplier assurance, UK trade regulations, and sustainable procurement practices.
• Strong leadership, documentation, and audit readiness skills.
• Experience supporting procurement with supplier and subcontractor assurance in construction/ manufacturing projects.
• Familiarity with ISO 44001 (Collaborative Business Relationships) and ISO 20400 (Sustainable Procurement).
• Experience with Constructionline, CHAS, and SafeContractor.
• Knowledge of DPIA and broader data governance processes.
• Understanding of AI governance frameworks (DUAA, AI standards).
• Salary sacrifice company pension scheme
• Annual leave 25 days, Bank holidays + birthday day off
• Laptop and flexible working where appropriate
• Professional development and membership support

This job would suit someone with previous experience as a Compliance Manager / Compliance Supervisor / Head of Quality and Compliance / Compliance Lead / Quality Manager /