Quality, Risk & Governance Manager

Sectech Solutions; Leatherhead; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Sectech Solutions is recruiting for a hybrid Quality, Governance and Risk Lead to drive the contract-level QMS, compliance and risk management across Leatherhead and Swindon sites and client locations.

The role requires ensuring audit readiness, evidence retention and robust governance across mobilisation and ongoing service delivery. Travel to multiple sites and strong stakeholder management are essential.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in quality, governance, assurance or risk.
• Experience supporting mobilisation and transition of complex contracts.
• Strong understanding of governance, compliance and risk frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and continuous improvement of quality, risk and governance framework.
• Own the contract-level QMS and governance documentation; manage version control and audit readiness.
• Oversee DMS operations and secure, accessible retention of evidence and performance data.
• Establish and chair governance forums on quality, risk, compliance and reporting.
• Lead risk identification, assessment, mitigation and escalation within a live governance framework.
• Coordinate internal assurance activities including audits and readiness reviews across mobilisation and operations.

Skills

Quality management

Governance leadership

Risk management

Compliance

Education

Quality Management / Business Management

Estates / Property discipline

Tools

QMS

DMS

Audit tooling

Job description

HYBRID WORKING (3 DAYS OFFICE/2 DAYS REMOTE)

LEATHERHEAD OR SWINDON (CANDIDATES WILL BE REQUIRED TO VISIT BOTH OFFICES)

OUTSIDE IR35

INITIAL 9 MONTH CONTRACT

CTC CLEARANCE WILL NEED TO BE ACHIEVED BEFORE STARTING THE ROLE

This is a hybrid role with flexible working practices. The successful candidate will be required to routinely attend our Leatherhead HQ and Swindon National Service Hub, also client sites across the UK when required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the Quality, Risk and Governance framework for the contract, covering mobilisation, transition into steady-state delivery and ongoing service performance.
• Translate contractual requirements, technical responses, specification obligations and CRAD-related controls into a practical assurance regime with clear ownership, reporting lines, evidence requirements and management controls.
• Own and manage the contract-level Quality Management System (QMS) and associated governance documentation, ensuring that policies, procedures, work instructions, records and controlled documents are maintained, current and audit ready, setting permissions/workflows, maintaining version control and ensuring audit readiness.
• Oversee the operation of the Document Management System (DMS) and contract evidence repositories to ensure secure, accurate and accessible retention of mobilisation evidence, governance packs, audit records, performance data, risk registers, meeting outputs and compliance artefacts including configuration and management of QMS/DMS structures, permissions, workflows and record control.
• Establish and chair appropriate governance forums covering quality, risk, compliance, mobilisation assurance, client reporting, lessons learned and corrective action tracking.
• Lead the identification, assessment, mitigation and escalation of contract risks, ensuring that strategic, operational, mobilisation, delivery, supply chain and compliance risks are actively managed through a live and effective risk framework, including maintaining governance documentation, action logs and risk registers.
• Own the planning and delivery of internal assurance activity, including audits, self-assessments, control reviews, compliance checks and readiness reviews across mobilisation and operational service lines.
• Ensure robust management of non-conformities, findings, observations, incidents and corrective/preventive actions, including root cause analysis, assignment of owners, recovery planning and closure verification.
• Provide independent challenge and second-line oversight to delivery teams to test whether controls are operating effectively and whether contractual commitments are being met in practice.
• Maintain and coordinate mobilisation assurance artefacts, including readiness trackers, evidence matrices, dependency logs, gateway reviews and acceptance criteria, ensuring that mobilisation progress is supported by robust evidence and transparent reporting.
• Support the contract leadership team with governance input into service change, process improvement, issue resolution, recovery actions and continuous improvement planning.
• Develop and maintain management information and reporting packs for KBR leadership and the client, including dashboards covering audit status, risks, issues, actions, compliance position, quality trends and assurance outcomes, including compiling and presenting summary reports on compliance status, audit outcomes and risk indicators.
• Lead preparation for internal and external audits, client reviews, governance inspections and assurance deep-dives, ensuring traceable evidence and a strong narrative of compliance and control.
• Work with supply chain and subcontract partners to ensure governance, quality and reporting obligations are embedded consistently across all participating organisations.
• Oversee contract business continuity, resilience and incident governance arrangements, ensuring plans are in place, tested where required, and linked to the wider governance framework.
• Promote a culture of quality, ownership, integrity and continuous improvement, providing coaching and guidance to operational teams on governance requirements and good assurance practice.
• Act as the principal point of contact for quality, governance and risk queries within the contract.

Experience Requirements

• Significant experience in a quality, governance, assurance, risk or compliance leadership role, preferably within complex public-sector, estates, infrastructure or outsourced service environments.
• Demonstrable experience supporting mobilisation and transition of complex contracts, including readiness planning, control implementation, evidence management and governance oversight.
• Strong understanding of contract governance, specification compliance, assurance frameworks and the practical controls required to manage client-facing delivery commitments.
• Experience developing and operating QMS and document control environments, including governance structures, controlled documentation, audit trails, version control and evidence retention.
• Proven track record of planning and leading internal audits, compliance assessments and assurance reviews, including closure of findings and driving sustainable corrective action.
• Experience managing contract and operational risk frameworks, including risk identification, assessment, mitigation, escalation and reporting.
• Experience producing clear, senior-level reporting on quality, compliance, governance and risk position.
• Strong stakeholder management experience, with confidence working across operational teams, corporate functions, client representatives and supply chain partners.
• Experience of leading continuous improvement activity and embedding governance disciplines in fast-moving operational environments.
• Experience within justice, government estate, secure environments, or highly regulated service settings.

Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Strong working knowledge of quality management principles, document control and evidence-based assurance.
• Understanding of ISO 9001 and application of quality management standards within operational service delivery.
• Strong knowledge of risk and issue management methodologies, governance controls and assurance reporting.
• Ability to interpret contractual requirements, specifications, policies, procedures and control documents and convert them into practical delivery frameworks.
• Good understanding of audit methodology, corrective action management and root cause analysis.
• Experience with QMS, DMS and reporting tools, including management of workflows, permissions and controlled document environments.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to identify trends, controlling areas requiring improvement and intervention.
• High standard of written communication, with the ability to prepare governance papers, assurance reports, executive summaries and client-ready documentation.

Behaviours/Personal Qualities

Builds trusted relationships across client, operational and corporate teams, creating confidence in the contract’s governance and assurance arrangements.

Drives robust, practical and measurable quality and governance outcomes that improve mobilisation readiness, delivery confidence and contract performance.

Provides objective, evidence-based oversight and challenge, ensuring transparency, accountability and ethical decision-making.

Enables teams to understand and fulfil their governance and quality responsibilities through clear guidance, coaching and constructive support.

Works effectively across KBR, client organisations and supply chain partners to embed consistent governance, risk and assurance disciplines.

Qualifications/Certifications Requirements

Educational

Professional

Degree or equivalent experience in one of the following disciplines:

• Quality Management / Business Management
• Risk Management / Governance / Compliance
• Estates or Property-related discipline

OR significant demonstrable experience in a quality, governance, assurance or risk leadership role within complex service delivery environments (public sector preferred)

Essential One or both of the following core certifications (or demonstrable equivalent experience):

• Quality & AuditISO 9001 Internal Auditor
• Risk & GovernanceFoundation-level risk or governance certification (or equivalent experience), e.g.:
• IRM (International Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management - Level 5)
• M_o_R (Management of Risk) Foundation

Chartered or membership status with a relevant professional body:

• IWFM (MIWFM/CIWFM) for FM alignment
• IRM (Institute of Risk Management)
• Advanced Quality & Audit ISO 9001 Lead Auditor (CQI/IRCA certified preferred)
• Advanced Risk & GovernanceIRM Level 5 Certificate / Diploma in Risk Management
• M_o_R Practitioner (Management of Risk)

Governance / Assurance

One of:

• CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)
• CRISC / CISM (risk/security governance)
• Broader GRC certifications (e.g. CGRC, CGEIT)

IWFM Level 5 or above (or equivalent experience)