Quality and Technical Manager

Halfords; Redditch; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company is seeking a Quality and Technical Manager in Redditch to lead quality management and product development initiatives. This role involves ensuring compliance with quality standards, managing a team, and driving continuous improvements. The ideal candidate is experienced in technical quality management and passionate about enhancing product performance. This position offers a competitive salary, hybrid working options, and a commitment to personal development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual discretionary bonus

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Employee discounts

Wellbeing and inclusion support

Qualifications

• Qualified to degree-level in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience.
• Established experience in technical/quality/supply-chain sourcing.
• Knowledge of quality assurance and quality management systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of product-specific standards and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure new product quality performance KPIs are met.
• Develop and influence strategic decisions within the Quality team.

Skills

Technical quality management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

People leadership

Customer-focused solutions

Education

Degree in engineering/science/technology/quality-management

Tools

Quality management systems

Manufacturing technology knowledge

Job description

Join our Halfords team as a Quality and Technical Manager during an exciting phase of growth! This is a fantastic opportunity for someone ambitious and committed to building a long-term career with us. With an exciting portfolio of pipelined projects, you'll play a central role in shaping the future of our product offering while inspiring and supporting a talented motoring quality team. As the technical authority in motoring quality management, you'll drive continuous improvement, champion innovation, and influence key strategic decisions. If you're looking for a rewarding role where your expertise will make a real impact, this is your chance to take the lead and grow with a business that values your expertise and ambition.

• Assessment and development of new products and supplier partnerships.
• Assuring that customer product performance feedback is used in new product development, range reviews, and re-sourcing plans.
• Lead the Motoring product-specific standards and regulatory compliance development.
• Review standards and Regulations, providing training and support to Teams to enhance quality awareness and ensure compliance.
• Responsible for ensuring new and ongoing product quality performance KPI's (returns-rates, customer reviews, refunds-rates, customer complaints) are met, continuously improved through customer feedback, and the quality of work in the Cycling Category and Concept Groups, indirectly through the Quality Engineers.
• Responsible for product-related technical service to other business areas - Buyers, GFR, Digital, Customer-Team, Customer Support, Returns, ESG, Packaging. Including Group Performance Cycling where required.
• Represent Halfords at appropriate external technical, associations and in relation to Motoring products. E.g. BSI Standards Committees. Etc
• Be part of the Quality Leadership Group, with input into Strategy and role-model for Halfords Values and Leadership Behaviours.
• Support and influence across the Quality team on technical development.
• Support Head of Quality in areas of developing and setting policy - Regulation, Technology, Data, Processes and Systems.
• Leading and developing a team of up to five direct reports, fostering a culture of collaboration and high performance.
  Qualified to degree-level in an engineering/science/technology/quality-management discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Established experience in technical/quality/supply-chain sourcing, in the retail sector.
• Knowledge of manufacturing technology, manufacturing processes and supplier management.
• Knowledge of quality assurance, quality tools and quality management systems.
• Passionate about products, testing, and assessment, with a focus on translating these into solutions that meet customer needs.
• Strong communication and presentation skills to exchange complex information and tailor to the audience.
• Understand how teams collaborate across the business, the objectives of the Quality Team, and how one's own area contributes to these.
• Making evaluative judgments based on data and facts, resolving problems through technical expertise, experience, and creative thinking.
• Experience in people leadership, building high-performing teams, and managing change.
  At Halfords, our mission is to inspire and support a lifetime of motoring and cycling. As a specialist retailer, we lead the market through customer-driven innovation and a distinct product range. We are dedicated to providing our customers with an integrated, unique, and convenient service experience-from e-bike and electric vehicle servicing to on-demand solutions. Our commitment is to foster customer loyalty by offering compelling reasons to keep coming back to our stores, ensuring a lifetime of motoring and cycling enjoyment.

The teams at our Redditch Support Centre work with every other area of our business, putting them at the heart of the action and playing a key role in our success and growth. Everyone brings their individual knowledge and experience to work every day, working as one team to keep things moving smoothly.

• A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave.
• Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations.
• We offer hybrid working in our Support Centre, you will be based at our Support Centre 3 days a week with an optional 2 days working from home.
• You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services.
• Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords.