Quality Assurance Leader

Blue Octopus Recruitment Limited; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace forging company in Sheffield seeks a committed Quality Assurance Leader to oversee the Quality Management System. This role involves leading quality assurance programs, managing audits, and ensuring compliance with standards like AS 9100 and ISO 9001. The ideal candidate will have a background in aerospace quality management, strong leadership abilities, and excellent communication skills. The company values employee development and offers a comprehensive benefits package, including holidays, pension contributions, and a bonus scheme.

Benefits

33 days holiday including bank holidays

5% pension contribution

Work hours 8.15am - 4.30pm

Bonus scheme tied to performance

Health cash plan

Access to fitness resources

Free work wear and PPE

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in quality management within Aerospace.
• Strong knowledge of QMS standards such as AS 9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015.
• Experience with auditing and control plans.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and develop the company's Quality Management System.
• Lead internal and external quality audits.
• Act as a key contact for customer quality issues.
• Oversee documentation and control plan verification.
• Lead corrective and preventive action management.
• Support supplier assessments and performance monitoring.
• Mentor a team of Quality Engineers and Officers.
• Develop and deliver training on quality processes.

Skills

Quality management in Aerospace

QMS standards knowledge

Root cause analysis

Statistical methods

Leadership skills

Education

Quality Management qualification

Tools

SPC

MSA

PPAP

PFMEA

APQP

Job description

Independent Forgings and Alloys have an exciting opportunity for a committed, and driven Quality Assurance Leader to join our journey to become the number one forging company in the world.

Over the last few years Independent Forgings and Alloys Ltd (IFA) have invested in the business and have successfully doubled our turnover and are continuing on this path.

Main Purpose of the Role

The Quality Assurance Leader is responsible for ensuring that the company’s Quality Management System and its accreditation is effectively implemented, maintained, and continuously improved across a large metal forging operation. This role leads quality assurance programs covering compliance, audits, process documentation, customer quality requirements, and systemic quality performance.

Main Duties Include

• Quality Management System (QMS) - Maintain and develop the company’s QMS AS 9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015, NADCAP, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 AS/EN9100). Lead the development, revision, and approval of procedures, work instructions, and policies.
• Internal & External Audits - Plan and conduct internal audits across all operational areas, assessing compliance with process standards.
• Customer Quality Assurance - Act as a key point of contact for customer quality expectations, documentation, and compliance issues. Prepare and manage customer‑required quality submissions.
• Process Assurance & Documentation - Ensure all manufacturing and inspection processes are properly documented and controlled. Lead control plan development and verification in cooperation with production and engineering. Oversee document control, traceability systems, and version management.
• Corrective & Preventive Action Management - Lead root‑cause analysis and ensure robust corrective actions are implemented. Track effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions across the company.
• Supplier Quality Assurance - Support supplier assessments, audits, and incoming quality assurance programs. Monitor supplier performance and participate in decisions to approve, develop, or disqualify suppliers.
• Team leadership - Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Quality Engineers, Customer Quality Officers, Certification Officers. Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across all levels of the organisation.
• Training & Quality Culture - Develop and deliver training on quality processes, standards, and documentation requirements. Coordinate quality awareness initiatives to strengthen discipline and adherence to procedures.
• Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement - Track and analyse quality metrics (NCRs, audit results, customer complaints, scrap/rework trends). Prepare regular reports for leadership, highlighting risks, systemic issues, and improvement actions.

Background and Experience

• Experience in quality management within Aerospace.
• Quality Management qualification or related field.
• Strong knowledge of QMS standards (AS 9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015, NADCAP, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 AS/EN9100).
• Ideally with experience of forging, machining, or metallurgical operations.
• Experience with auditing the above accreditation (internal or external), control plans, PPAP, and customer compliance.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis, statistical methods, and quality tools (SPC, MSA, PPAP, PFMEA, APQP).
• Excellent communications and leadership skills.

About Independent Forgings

Independent Forgings and Alloys (IFA) is one of Britain’s leading independent aerospace and industrial forgers. The unique feature about IFA is the combination of open and closed‑die forging while also undertaking the whole production process from raw material to the finished product in one location. Operating from a 680 000ft² facility in Sheffield, we manufacture high‑integrity, open‑die and closed‑die forged components in nickel alloy, titanium, stainless steel and carbon alloys for customers and tier‑one suppliers within the aerospace, nuclear, power generation, marine as well as oil and gas sector.

Why work for us?

At IFA we pride ourselves on being a great place to work. As one of the UK’s leading forge manufacturing company we want to ensure that we attract, motivate and retain the best people who can deliver the best service to the company and our customers.

We offer you:

• Holidays – you will have 33 days holiday, including bank holidays.
• Pension scheme – IFA wants to provide its employees a good foundation for the life after work and hence offers a 5% contribution.
• Working hours 8.15am - 4.30pm Monday to Thursday with 4pm finish on Friday.
• Bonus scheme – this is linked to team and company performance.
• Westfield cash plan – IFA provides level 1 health cash plan which comes along with numerous discounts and special offers, including gym discounts, online, high street and grocery retailers and many more.
• Wellhub – access to various fitness apps and gyms in the local area.
• Free work wear and PPE.
• Development – we offer genuine development opportunities to progress your career.