Quality Improvement Manager - Interim

Saffil Limited; Widnes; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Alkegen is seeking a Quality Manager to lead the site Quality function at Widnes on a 6‑month interim contract. You will drive QMS, audits, and continuous improvement while aligning with corporate strategy and customer expectations.

Responsibilities include leading the Quality team, managing deviations, and embedding Lean/Six Sigma methods. A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 5+ years in quality leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 5 years in a Quality leadership role within manufacturing or chemical industry.
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher (Black Belt preferred).
• Strong knowledge of ISO9001, and customer-specific requirements.
• Experience with statistical analysis tools (e.g., Minitab) and quality systems (e.g., CEBOS).
• Proven ability to lead teams, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and manage change.

Responsibilities

• Quality Management: lead and manage site’s Quality function and audits.
• Define, develop and deploy Quality and Continuous Improvement (Q&CI) strategies.
• Own and manage the site’s Quality Management System (QMS).
• Ensure compliance with testing requirements, standards, and ISO9001.
• Lead the Quality team and oversee daily operations, coaching, and development.
• Drive reduction in external complaints and embed a Stop Work quality culture.
• Train site team in Lean and Six Sigma methods to embed tools.
• Lead deployment of WCM initiatives across the organisation.

Skills

Leadership

Quality management

Cross-functional collaboration

Audits

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related field

Tools

Minitab

CEBOS

Job description

Job Requirements Quality Manager - Widnes Interim

This role is a 6 month fixed term contract to cover the existing quality managers role.

Why work for us?

Alkegen brings together two of the world’s leading specialty materials companies to create one new, innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation and sealing materials. Through global reach and breakthrough inventions, we’re delivering products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. With over 50 manufacturing facilities with a global workforce of over 9,000 of the industry’s most experienced talent, including insulation and filtration experts, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways. Alkegen offers a range of dynamic career opportunities with globe-spanning reach. From production operators to engineers, technicians to specialists, sales to leadership, we’re always looking for top talent ready to bring their best.

Come grow with us!

Job Requirements

Reporting to the Senior Plant Manager, the Quality Manager will lead and manage the site’s Quality function, ensuring compliance with ISO9001 standards and driving customer satisfaction. This role is pivotal in aligning product quality with customer expectations while optimizing internal processes and performance.

Responsibilities

• Quality Management
• Define, develop and deploy Quality and Continuous Improvement (Q&CI) strategies in line with site & company strategy.
• Own and manage the site’s Quality Management System (QMS), including document control and audit readiness.
• Ensure compliance with all testing requirements, standards, and ISO9001 certification.
• Lead the Quality team, overseeing daily operations, coaching, and development.
• Administer and lead internal and external audits (ISO9001).
• Develop and maintain Control Plans, PFMEAs, and validation protocols.
• Resolve customer complaints within 30 days and proactively improve customer relationships coordinating with sales, purchasing, engineering and production.
• Monitor and report key Quality KPIs (e.g., complaint rate, product variation).
• Drive reduction in external complaints and embed a “Stop Work” quality culture across the site.
• Be the subject matter expert (SME) on site for continuous improvement methodologies and guide / train members of the site team in Lean and Six Sigma methods to ensure tools are embedded into the organisation.
• Lead the deployment of WCM initiatives across the organisation including value stream mapping, improved flow, 5S, visual factory, SMED, TPM , Autonomous Maintenance, OEE and other Lean tools and principles in order to impact the customer and business metrics.
• Work directly on focused improvement projects that are critical for the site, prioritising projects that will deliver best possible financial impacts and provide timely and accurate input to annual budgets and forecasts.
• Train employees in basic WCM skills and act as a change agent to instil WCM culture throughout the organization.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 5 years in a Quality leadership role within manufacturing or chemical industry.
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher (Black Belt preferred).
• Strong knowledge of ISO9001, and customer-specific requirements.
• Experience with statistical analysis tools (e.g., Minitab) and quality systems (e.g., CEBOS).
• Proven ability to lead teams, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and manage change.

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Results-driven with a focus on measurable performance improvement.
• High integrity, resilience, and a proactive leadership style.
• Ability to travel occasionally for customer and supplier engagement.
• Able to problem solve complex processing challenges to improve manufacturing processes (Essential)
• Demonstrate a commercial aptitude and the proficiency to engineer solutions for innovation and emerging new technologies (Essential)

If you are interested in being part of a world class Manufacturing team here at Alkegen then we would love to hear from you.

At Alkegen, we strive every day to help people – ALL PEOPLE – breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before.

We believe that diversity and inclusion is central to this mission and to our impact. Our diverse and inclusive culture drives our growth & innovation, and we nurture it by actively embracing our differences and using our varied perspectives to solve the complex challenges facing our changing and diverse world.

Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, nation of origin, religion, color, gender identity and expression, age, disability, education, opinions, culture, languages spoken, veteran’s status, or any other protected class.

Alkegen is a specialty materials leader serving mission-critical systems that the world is focused on for the future, including: battery technologies, electric vehicles, filtration media, and specialty insulation materials that enable customers to reduce fossil fuel consumption, save energy, and live greener. We help people breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before.

Our experience speaks for itself. We are a vertically integrated manufacturer with the global reach and talent to solve your most demanding applications. With 60 manufacturing facilities and 9,000+ highly skilled employees located around the world, we can solve any challenge. Dedicated to sustainability and human health, we are uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways.