Quality, Safety & Environmental (QSE) Manager

Our client, a privately owned company located in East Sussex, currently employing just over 60 people, has a core business in the design and manufacture of specialised imaging detectors and systems covering a diverse range of industries from aerospace to biomedical.

Applications for such detectors include the detection of single photons and ultrafast cameras capable of sub-nanosecond exposure times.

A global leader of highly differentiated technologies in scientific and medical research, life sciences, agriculture, recycling, aerospace, defence and security, and industrial markets.

Job Summary

A QSE Manager is required for immediate start to have overall responsibility for Quality Assurance and implementing Health & Safety and Environmental compliance throughout the company.

This includes the maintenance and administration of our Quality Management Standards – ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. This is a key position that will help shape our quality culture and ensure our commitment to continuous improvement in every area of our business.

Key Areas of Responsibility

1. Quality Assurance

• Supervision and development of a small QA team.

• Maintain and administer the Quality Management System (QMS), ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address quality issues and ensure product and process consistency.

• Monitor and report yield statistics and warranty return numbers within our core product lines.

• Co-ordinate 8D corrective actions with support from engineering.

• Oversee quality control processes including incoming inspection, in-process checks, and final product evaluation.

• Oversee all aspects of document control.

• Manage internal and external audits and drive corrective and preventative actions.

• Manage the change control system (QCBD).

• Lead the internal MRB meetings and follow up actions.

• Represent the company in quality control matters to outside parties such as customers and suppliers.

• Report and present on company performance against quality targets at Senior Management and Board level.

1. Health & Safety and Environmental

• Develop and maintain H&S policy to ensure that it is relevant, current, and in line with legal and good practice standards.
• Conduct regular safety inspections, risk assessments, and training sessions to ensure a safe working environment for all employees.
• Ensure new staff are inducted appropriately and that training records for all staff are maintained.
• Investigate any incidents, accidents, or near-misses and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Manage the company's Environmental Management program in line with ISO 14001 standards.
• Ensure compliance with current legislation for waste, emissions etc., whilst promoting sustainable practices.

Qualifications

• Professional certifications OR significant experience in QMS (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001) - Essential
• IOSH Managing Safely qualification – Essential
• NEBOSH qualification - Desirable
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Engineering, Quality Management, or similar – Desirable

Experience

• Proven experience in a similar QSE role within a manufacturing environment, preferably within the scientific equipment or precision manufacturing sector – Essential
• Strong knowledge of ISO standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001) and regulatory compliance – Essential
• Experience in leading internal audits and managing external audits – Essential
• Line Management experience – Desirable

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent problem-solving skills with a hands-on approach to resolving issues.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to influence and drive change in a small business environment.
• High attention to detail and a commitment to delivering results.