Senior Manager-Quality

Kohler Co.; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonuses

Car cash allowance

Private medical cover

Generous pension scheme

Job summary

Kohler Mira Ltd. in Cheltenham seeks a Senior Manager, Quality to lead the Quality Assurance function at our Cheltenham site.

You will shape quality strategy, drive compliance, and build a culture of continuous improvement across manufacturing and supplier quality. As a member of the Manufacturing Senior Leadership Team, you will own quality systems, collaborate cross-functionally, and mentor a team of around 19 associates to deliver robust quality standards that support safety, cost, delivery

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in a manufacturing/assembly environment.
• Experience and application of six sigma, quality systems, lean principles, manufacturing processes, automation, capital planning, operations finance and working within gated NPD frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to assess risk and make balanced decisions under time and cost pressure.
• Confident decision maker with strong delivery focus.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Comfortable operating between strategic intent and hands-on execution.
• Bachelor and/or Masters Degree aligned to operations or related technical field would be desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the supplier and internal quality assurance teams in accordance with established policies, procedures and objectives.
• Own and develop the company quality system and the related external third-party systems accreditations.
• Lead Operations quality strategy. Work with relevant stakeholders to identify gaps in the current business quality processes and implement prioritized plans and policies targeting improvement.
• Own manufacturing and supplier quality improvement activity working with relevant stakeholders. Set improvement targets, monitor quality issues and drive improvements.
• Work to ensure quality requirements are fully considered as part of our internal and external processes including management of change, training and supply chain processes.
• Communicate project status, risks, and readiness clearly to senior stakeholders.

Skills

Quality leadership

Six Sigma

Lean manufacturing

Stakeholder management

Decision making

People management

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor/Masters Degree in operations or related technical field

Job description

Salary up to £70K (subject to skills and experience) + fantastic benefits including company bonuses, car cash allowance, private medical cover and generous pension scheme.

We can offer you a lot in return!

We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With a genuine commitment to creating better tomorrows, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.

Designing award-winning products for our market-leading brands – Mira Showers, Rada and Recoup - is our lifeblood. We focus on investment; investing in the best technology and resources available and investing in each and every individual. Whether you arrive at our facilities in Cheltenham, Worcester or Hull, have a visit from a Service Engineer or pick up the phone to our Customer Service team, you’ll instantly see that, no matter our department or location, we all share the same cultural values at Kohler Mira.

From day one you’re part of the Kohler Mira community – a collaborative, forward focused team with a shared pride in our work and commitment to delight our customers, develop innovative products and services and inspire our people.

We're looking for a Senior Manager, Quality to lead our Quality Assurance function at our Cheltenham manufacturing site.

As a key member of the Manufacturing Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strategic leadership and direction to the Quality Assurance function across our Cheltenham site. This senior leadership role is accountable for driving quality excellence, ensuring compliance, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and delivering robust quality standards that support our operational and business objectives.

Accountable for Quality Assurance focused on:

• Supporting the Business Manufacturing Strategy over a 3-year rolling timeline
• Deliver Senior Leadership focused initiatives and strategic improvements.
• Pro-active compliance and development of operational capability to achieve Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery and People (SQCDP).
• Achieving and maintaining targeted Quality service levels and strategic improvements.
• Building a high performing, quality assurance improvement culture through the coaching and development of the team (circa 19 Quality associates).
• Work cross‑functionally with NPD, Manufacturing Engineering, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and Production teams.

General Responsibilities

Responsibility for leading the supplier and internal quality assurance teams in accordance with established policies, procedures and objectives. Specifically:

Quality Assurance Leadership

• To act as strategic business leader for quality across all areas with specific focus on customer, supply chain and manufacturing quality.
• To own and take leadership in developing and implementing plans to reduce the company Cost of Quality.
• Act as focal point to represent Operations on quality issues and best practice quality development.
• Lead Operations quality strategy. Work with relevant stakeholders to identify gaps in the current business quality processes and implement prioritized plans and policies targeting improvement.
• Acts a focus point for Quality in the business. Represent the business to ensure our voice is heard on quality. Lead and lobby our business case as required.
• Own and develop the company quality system and the related external third-party systems accreditations.
• Work with Kohler Quality teams to ensure our compliance with global corporate quality standards and policies. Work with Compliance Teams and internal/external stakeholders to ensure compliance with new and evolving Quality requirements.
• Lead our plans to reduce our Cost of Poor Quality across all business areas. Monitor and report on our quality performance and quality system compliance status and undertake corrective and improvement action as necessary.
• Own manufacturing and supplier quality improvement activity working with relevant stakeholders. Set improvement targets, monitor quality issues and drive improvements.
• Work to ensure quality requirements are fully considered as part of our internal and external processes including management of change, training and supply chain processes .
• Communicate project status, risks, and readiness clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Define equipment, tooling, fixtures, and control system requirements for suppliers..
• Define and control capital expenditure associated with quality assurance function.
• Support and/or lead continuous improvement and Kaizen activity.
• Support site reviews, leadership walkthroughs, and global engagement as required.

Management & Development - People

• Lead, inspire, coach and develop the skills of direct reports.
• Manage reports in line with company standards and policies.
• Set objectives and monitor performance of direct reports in line with the Kohler Co Maximizing Performance process.
• Represent Kohler co. in working groups; contribute to these and facilitate discussion locally on possible implications of new initiatives.
• Ensure appropriate resourcing aligned to project complexity and portfolio demand.

Skills/Requirements

• Proven competence and previous success in a quality or engineering leadership role, typically 8+yrs experience within a manufacturing/assembly environment.
• Experience and application of six sigma, quality systems, lean principles, manufacturing processes, automation, capital planning, operations finance and working within gated NPD frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to assess risk and make balanced decisions under time and cost pressure.
• Confident decision maker with strong delivery focus.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Comfortable operating between strategic intent and hands‑on execution.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across functions.
• Bachelor and/or Masters Degree aligned to operations or related technical field would be desirable.

About Us

In the UK, Kohler Mira Ltd. is made up of three market leading brands: Mira Showers, Rada Controls, and Recoup Where our brands differ in market position, they are equal in their commitment to design, innovation, and providing a single level of quality regardless of price.

Kohler Mira is committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse associates, consumers, partners, and global communities. As an equal opportunities employer, it is Kohler Mira’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified people in all job classifications without prejudice. If, as an individual with a disability, you require adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail].