Quality Manager

Nicholas Associates Group; South Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

25 days leave + bank holidays

5% contributory pension

Healthcare and benefits scheme

Death in Service life insurance

Cycle to Work Scheme

Subsidised refreshments

Excellent working conditions

Job summary

Nicholas Associates Group is recruiting a Quality Manager to lead the quality function across a growing manufacturing operation in South Yorkshire. You will drive prevention, develop people and embed robust processes from design through delivery.

You will direct a team of Quality Engineers and Technicians, collaborating with Production, Engineering, Design and Procurement to deliver measurable improvements and sustain a right-first-time culture.

Qualifications

• Relevant Level 4+ Quality/Engineering qualification.
• Proven experience leading a Quality function within manufacturing.
• Experience in automotive/aerospace or similarly technically demanding manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Kaizen and Six Sigma.
• Experience with 8D, root cause analysis and structured problem solving.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP and DMAIC.
• Experience using SPC, CpK/Ppk and process capability.
• ISO 9001 knowledge and internal auditing.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder influence.
• Hands-on leadership with drive for continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Quality Engineering and Technician teams.
• Drive right-first-time and no-fault-forward culture.
• Lead root cause investigations using 8D and structured problem solving.
• Maintain ISO 9001 QMS and internal audit programme.
• Develop inspection, measurement, calibration and QA processes.
• Use SPC and statistical analysis to identify trends and drive improvement.
• Develop supplier quality through audits and corrective action.
• Ensure Quality is embedded in APQP/PPAP and NPI activities.
• Manage customer quality concerns with containment and permanent corrective action.
• Establish and report meaningful quality KPIs to support operations decisions.

Skills

People leadership

Quality management

Lean Six Sigma

Statistical analysis

Root cause analysis

APQP/PPAP

DMAIC

ISO 9001 internal auditing

Stakeholder influence

Continuous improvement

Education

Level 4 Quality qualification

Tools

MRP systems

Job description

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Permanent | Full-Time

Quality Manager - Drive Standards. Develop People. Deliver Excellence.

Nicholas Associates are pleased to be partnering with a highly successful engineering and manufacturing business in the appointment of a Quality Manager.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Quality professional to take the lead on quality performance across a growing manufacturing operation, with real scope to influence processes, develop people and drive lasting improvement.

You will lead a team of Quality Engineers and Technicians, working closely with Production, Engineering, Design and Procurement to ensure quality is built into the process from the outset.

The focus is firmly on prevention. You'll be expected to challenge the status quo, use data to understand performance and ensure problems are properly solved rather than repeatedly contained.

The Role

You'll take ownership of the Quality function, ensuring robust systems, standards and processes are in place and consistently followed.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading, coaching and developing the Quality Engineering and Technician teams.
• Driving a strong right-first-time and no-fault-forward culture.
• Leading root cause investigations and corrective actions using 8D, Practical Problem Solving and other structured methodologies.
• Maintaining and improving the ISO 9001 Quality Management System and internal audit programme.
• Developing effective inspection, measurement, calibration and quality assurance processes.
• Using SPC, process capability and statistical analysis to identify trends and drive improvement.
• Developing supplier quality through auditing, performance management and corrective action.
• Ensuring Quality is embedded within APQP, PPAP and new product introduction activity.
• Managing customer quality concerns through robust containment, investigation and permanent preventative action.
• Establishing and reporting meaningful quality KPIs to support operational decision making.

What were looking for?

We're looking for an established Quality Manager or senior Quality professional who can combine strong technical knowledge with confident people leadership.

Ideally, you'll have:

• A relevant Quality, Engineering or technical qualification at Level 4 or above, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience leading a Quality function within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Experience within automotive, aerospace or another technically demanding manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Kaizen and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Practical experience of 8D, root cause analysis and structured problem solving.
• Good understanding of PFMEA and DFMEA.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP and DMAIC.
• Experience using SPC, Cpk/Ppk and statistical techniques to improve process performance.
• Experience developing and managing supplier quality.
• Strong understanding of ISO 9001 and internal auditing.
• Experience working with MRP or manufacturing systems would be advantageous.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong coaching and people-management skills, with a genuine desire to develop others.
• A proactive, analytical and commercially minded approach to quality and continuous improvement.

Most importantly, you'll be a hands-on and credible leader who can challenge constructively, bring people with you and turn quality improvement plans into measurable results.

What's in It for You?

In return, you'll join a successful and forward-thinking engineering business where you will have genuine influence over the future direction of the Quality function.

The package includes:

• Annual business performance bonus.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service.
• 5% contributory pension.
• Healthcare and benefits scheme.
• Death in Service life insurance.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Subsidised refreshments.
• Excellent working conditions within a modern manufacturing environment.

Working Hours

Monday to Thursday: 07:30 - 16:30

Friday: 07:30 - 13:30

40 hours per week.

About Us

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. In line with our Diversity and Inclusion policy, we welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. As a Disability Confident Employer, and part of the Nicholas Associates Group, we are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities, and we're happy to discuss flexible working options.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of all our candidates and clients. If you choose to apply, your information will be processed in accordance with the Nicholas Associates Group of companies Privacy Notice.