Quality Manager - Manufacturing

Mercury-Hampton-Ltd; Billericay; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus up to 10%

Company pension

Life assurance

Five weeks’ holiday

Job summary

Mercury-Hampton-Ltd is seeking a proactive Quality Manager in the Billericay area to own the ISO 9001 QMS and drive cross-functional quality improvements across the product lifecycle. You will lead strategic quality initiatives while staying hands-on with manufacturing operations to ensure robust processes and reliable customer outcomes.

The role emphasizes autonomy, collaboration with Commercial and Engineering teams, and a visible commitment to a Right First Time culture within a growing SME.

Qualifications

• Experience in quality management within manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 quality systems and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with data-driven approach.

Responsibilities

• Continuously improving and strengthening the ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
• Establishing effective quality controls across the full product and service lifecycle.
• Working with Commercial and Engineering teams to ensure technical proposals and product specifications are accurate, achievable and aligned with operational capabilities.
• Leading root cause investigations and implementing permanent corrective actions.
• Driving manufacturing process improvements, standardisation and in-process quality assurance.
• Improving first-pass yields while reducing defects, waste and rework.
• Developing and standardising procedures across the business.
• Overseeing quality-related training and coaching.
• Conducting regular operational and customer-site quality audits.
• Monitoring and reporting on NCRs, defect rates, customer feedback and other key quality measures.
• Leading continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Kaizen and related methodologies.
• Managing supplier quality, customer audits, compliance requirements and quality documentation.
• Championing a culture of “Right First Time” through visible leadership, coaching and engagement.

Skills

Quality Management

Lean manufacturing

Kaizen

Tools

ISO 9001

Job description

Quality ManagerEngineering | Manufacturing | Quality | Continuous Improvement

Key Highlights

• £50,000–£55,000 basic salary
• Performance-related bonus of up to 10%
• Company pension, life assurance and five weeks’ holiday
• High-profile position with strong senior leadership support
• Take ownership of an established ISO 9001 Quality Management System
• Lead quality improvements across the complete product lifecycle
• Shape and embed a company-wide “Right First Time” culture
• Genuine autonomy to introduce processes and deliver lasting change
• Join an established manufacturing SME with ambitious growth plans
• Billericay area, Essex

The Opportunity

This is more than a traditional Quality Manager role. It is an opportunity to take ownership of quality across an entire manufacturing business and make a visible, lasting impact on its products, processes and customer experience. Our client is an established and growing engineering and manufacturing organisation supplying technically engineered products and services to customers across a range of sectors. As Quality Manager, you will lead the continued development of the company’s quality systems across the complete value chain—from technical specifications and product development through to manufacturing, project delivery and after-sales support. Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will have the visibility, autonomy and backing needed to introduce robust processes, improve operational performance and build a positive quality culture throughout the business. This is not a desk-based compliance position. You will work collaboratively across Commercial, Engineering and Manufacturing teams, maintain a visible presence within operations and periodically visit customer sites. For an experienced Quality Manager or Senior Quality Engineer, this is an opportunity to shape how quality is delivered across a growing SME and establish improvements that will support its long-term development.

The Role

You will take ownership of the company’s Quality Management System while leading improvements across product quality, manufacturing processes and customer delivery. You'll combine strategic quality leadership with a practical, hands-on approach, working closely with teams throughout the business to ensure consistent standards and reliable customer outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Continuously improving and strengthening the ISO 9001 Quality Management System.
• Establishing effective quality controls across the full product and service lifecycle.
• Working with Commercial and Engineering teams to ensure technical proposals and product specifications are accurate, achievable and aligned with operational capabilities.
• Leading root cause investigations and implementing permanent corrective actions.
• Driving manufacturing process improvements, standardisation and in-process quality assurance.
• Improving first-pass yields while reducing defects, waste and rework.
• Developing and standardising procedures across the business.
• Overseeing quality-related training and coaching.
• Conducting regular operational and customer-site quality audits.
• Monitoring and reporting on NCRs, defect rates, customer feedback and other key quality measures.
• Leading continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Kaizen and related methodologies.
• Managing supplier quality, customer audits, compliance requirements and quality documentation.
• Championing a culture of “Right First Time” through visible leadership, coaching and engagement.

About You

We're looking for an experienced and proactive quality professional who combines strong technical knowledge with a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach. You will be comfortable operating at both strategic and practical levels—developing systems and analysing data while remaining highly visible within day-to-day manufacturing operations. You'll likely bring experience in:

• Quality Management or Senior Quality Engineering within a manufacturing environment.
• Developing, implementing or continuously improving ISO 9001 quality systems.
• Engineered, mechanical, assembled or technically specified products.
• Root cause analysis using tools such as 8D, 5 Whys and FMEA.
• Lean manufacturing, Kaizen or wider continuous improvement activity.
• Manufacturing process improvement and in-process quality assurance.
• Supplier quality and customer audits.
• Monitoring quality performance through NCRs, defect data and customer feedback.
• Working collaboratively across Engineering, Manufacturing and Commercial teams.
• Influencing employees and stakeholders at all levels of an organisation.
• Building engagement and developing a positive quality culture.
• Experience supporting technical sales, applications engineering or site-based project delivery would be particularly advantageous.
• A Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt qualification would also be beneficial, although it is not essential.

What's on Offer

This is an opportunity to join a growing manufacturing business where quality has genuine senior-level support and where your work will directly influence operational performance, customer satisfaction and future growth. Alongside a £50,000–£55,000 basic salary, performance-related bonus of up to 10%, company pension, life assurance and five weeks’ holiday, you'll have the autonomy and support required to deliver meaningful, lasting improvements throughout the business.