QBI Manager

Chemring Energetics UK Ltd; Stevenston; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Bupa healthcare

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle2Work

Employee discounts

Job summary

Chemring Energetics UK Ltd (CEUK) invites applications for a senior Quality & Business Improvement Manager. You will lead the QBI and Proof teams, overseeing quality assurance, product verification, and release processes to maintain ISO 9001 accreditation.

You will champion continuous improvement, coach teams, and drive cross-functional quality initiatives across CEUK’s manufacturing units. The role demands a mechanical or electrical engineering background, CQI status or equivalent, and

Qualifications

• Engineering degree in a mechanical or electrical discipline.
• Diploma in Quality Management.
• Lean Six Sigma qualification or equivalent training.
• At least two years’ experience in a Quality Management role within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with Quality Management System implementation, maintenance and auditing.
• Strong problem-solving and Root Cause Analysis skills.
• Experience leading improvement projects, incl. DMAIC.
• Strong report writing and presentation skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills and experience with business management systems.
• Strong communication, influencing and leadership skills across functions.
• Chartered status with CQI or equivalent.
• Technical understanding of energetic materials or energetic products.
• Experience in regulated or high-hazard manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with HS&E legislation and company procedures.
• Promote safety culture and Near Miss reporting.
• Maintain product verification, proof and release processes with CoC accuracy.
• Develop and maintain ISO 9001; support QA across units.
• Lead root cause investigations and drive corrective actions.
• Mentor QA engineers and support audits and inspections.
• Drive continuous improvement projects and Lean Six Sigma initiatives.
• Manage audit programmes and project boards across units.

Skills

Quality management

Lean Six Sigma

Root Cause Analysis

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory affairs

CQI status

Energetic materials knowledge

Education

Engineering degree (mechanical/electrical)

Diploma in Quality Management

Lean Six Sigma certification

Job description

Chemring Energetics UK (CEUK) is a global business providing a range of equipment based on energetic materials for defence, civil defence and key commercial customers.

It’s an exciting time to join CEUK. The business has experienced significant growth, creating new opportunities to develop, improve and shape how we work. As we continue this journey, we are looking for talented people to join us and play an important role in our ongoing success.

This is a key leadership role: Quality & Business Improvement Manager to join our QBI and Proof function. This is a key leadership role responsible for maintaining and continually improving CEUK’s Quality Management System, while leading and coordinating quality assurance, proof and business improvement activities across the business.

The successful candidate will provide assurance to customers and regulatory bodies that the quality of CEUK’s products and services meets the required standards and requirements. You will act as a champion for innovation and continuous improvement, challenging existing processes and supporting Business Units to deliver measurable improvements.

You will have line management responsibility for the QBI and Proof teams, as well as functional responsibility for Quality Assurance Engineers across our Business Units. You will support the development of team capability, provide leadership on quality and improvement initiatives, and ensure the integrity of our product verification, proof and release processes.

Key Accountabilities & Duties

• Ensure all activities within your area of responsibility are undertaken in full compliance with HS&E legislation and company and local procedures and policies.
• Promote a strong safety culture and report unsafe acts and conditions through the appropriate Near Miss reporting system.
• Uphold the integrity of the product verification, proof and release processes, ensuring all relevant measurements, inspections and tests are completed to the required standards and satisfactory results obtained before products are issued with a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) and released to customers.
• Maintain and continually improve the Quality Management System, ensuring quality engineering, assurance and control activities meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders and support the maintenance of ISO 9001 accreditation.
• Ensure the effective management and delivery of proof activities, maintaining the required standards, controls, records and processes.
• Educate and support employees across CEUK in understanding and applying the Quality Management System and associated quality processes.
• Work with the QBI and Proof teams and Business Unit Quality Assurance Engineers to develop and manage an effective audit programme, monitoring the effectiveness of and compliance with business and manufacturing processes and procedures.
• Lead and support effective Root Cause Analysis and resolution of non-conformances from all sources, with a focus on identifying trends and reducing the cost of non-conformance year on year.
• Lead investigations into significant or cross-business quality issues and ensure appropriate corrective and preventative actions are implemented.
• Mentor and support Business Unit Quality Assurance Engineers with customer engagement, product and process audits, inspections and other quality-related activities.
• Work collaboratively with managers across the business to identify, prioritise and facilitate business improvement projects, ensuring the improvement pipeline, prioritisation matrix and project boards are maintained and regularly reviewed.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement through education and training in Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques, supported by standardised processes, templates and effective project management.
• Scrutinise and challenge projects and programmes across the Business Units to ensure continuous improvement is embedded as a key driver and that measurable outcomes are achieved.
• Provide leadership, coaching and development to the QBI and Proof teams, ensuring effective delivery of quality, proof and business improvement activities while building capability across the function.
• Ensure appropriate resources, skills and training are in place within the QBI and Proof teams to meet current and future business requirements.

About You

We are looking for an experienced quality professional with a strong background in manufacturing, quality management and continuous improvement. You will be confident working across functions, challenging existing practices and engaging with colleagues at all levels to drive improvements.

• Engineering degree in a mechanical or electrical discipline.
• Diploma in Quality Management.
• Lean Six Sigma qualification or equivalent training.
• At least two years’ experience in a Quality Management role within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience of Quality Management System implementation, maintenance and auditing.
• Strong problem-solving and Root Cause Analysis skills.
• Experience of leading successful improvement projects, including DMAIC reviews.
• Strong technical report writing and presentation skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills and experience of working with business management systems.
• Strong communication, influencing and leadership skills, with the ability to work effectively across different functions and levels of an organisation.
• Chartered status with the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) or equivalent.
• Technical understanding or experience of energetic materials and/or energetic products.
• Experience of working within a regulated or high-hazard manufacturing environment.

What We Offer

In return, we offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including pension, Bupa healthcare, an Employee Assistance Programme and a range of flexible benefits, including Cycle2Work and access to a variety of local and national employee discounts.

Join CEUK

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in quality, proof and business improvement within a growing manufacturing business, working alongside colleagues across CEUK to maintain high standards while identifying new ways to improve how we work.

If you have the skills, experience and ambition to lead our QBI and Proof teams and make a meaningful contribution to our continued growth and success, we would love to hear from you.