Special Process Manager Hybrid

Gardner Aerospace; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company is looking for a Special Process Manager Level 3 to lead and enhance the global quality framework. This 100% hybrid role is open to candidates in the UK, France, Poland, and India, allowing flexible working. Responsibilities include managing NADCAP qualifications, supporting audits, and continuous improvement initiatives for quality and delivery. Desired qualifications include extensive experience in quality management, special processes, and auditing, as well as strong project management abilities. The salary is £50,000 in the UK, adjusted based on location.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in quality or manufacturing engineering.
• Experience in special processes and auditing.
• Strong knowledge of international standards for quality management.

Responsibilities

• Manage the group special process and NADCAP qualifications.
• Support internal audit schedules and external audits.
• Drive improvement in delivery performance and cost reduction.

Skills

Quality Management

Manufacturing Engineering

Problem Analysis Methodologies

Project Management

Technical Documentation

Analytical Skills

ERP Systems

Special Processes

Education

Quality or Manufacturing Engineering Professional

Job description

Gardner Aerospace Group is seeking an exceptional Special Process Manager Level 3 to lead, develop, and elevate our global quality framework across a truly international footprint. This 100% hybrid role is open to candidates based in the UK, France, Poland, and India, offering the opportunity to work flexibly while influencing quality excellence across our sites.

Responsibilities

• Oversight and management of all group special process and NADCAP qualifications.
• Managing internal special process audit schedule, and supporting sites in the planning, preparation and completion of external customer and NADCAP audits.
• Monitor response to NADCAP audit findings, and support with the effective implementation of corrective and continuous improvement actions including close out of audit NADCAP findings etc.
• Perform internal special process, and pre-NADCAP audits across the group.
• Act as internal focal point of contact for special processes, and support the central quality teams (group) as well as sites in an expert role for escalated queries and issues (within the assigned scope).
• Work closely with manufacturing engineering to continuously improve planning with a special focus on special processes; share, embed and flow down best practices across the group.
• Support all ToW and NPI projects in the area of expertise.
• Support customer specification and standard surveillance activities and the flow down to the relevant sites.
• Support the other Quality functions upon request, including support with internal audits and closure of audit findings.
• Work within cross functional teams to support business development, growth and improvement projects as required, The employee must also strive to support the elements of the SQCDP framework of the wider Gardner business.
• Safety: work in line with all accredited company safety standards in order to provide a safe working environment for all.
• Quality: support the quality accreditations across the business to ensure the delivery of a 'right first time' performance.
• Cost: support the continuous improvements in cost reduction activities across the company in order to deliver increased profitability and value for money to our customers and stakeholders.
• Delivery: drive improvement in delivery performance to continually exceed customer expectations and targets.
• People: support organisational capability and influence cultural change by embracing diversity, inclusion, wellbeing and community.

Performance Indicators

• Sustained (or new) process approvals and NADCAP accreditations to ensure business continuity and growth.
• Approvals and accreditation up to date with minimal findings from external audits.
• Robust group standards for planning and technical documentation Close out of findings in a timely manner with minimal iterations.
• Quality tools and methods rolled out and deployed across the group (where agreed).
• Achievement of targets in line with project plans and set deadlines.

Qualifications

• Quality or Manufacturing Engineering Professional with extensive experience in a similar role.
• Experience in special processes (heat treatment, chemical processing, welding, nonconventional machining, NDT), process qualification processes, approvals (e.g. customer, NADCAP) and auditing (process audits).
• Willingness to travel internationally to all Gardner manufacturing sites to support sites where needed.
• Working knowledge of international standards for quality management systems (AS9100, ISO9001).
• Highly proficient in reading, understanding and applying technical documentation such as drawings, technical specifications, standards etc.
• Experience in a highly regulated industry, preferably Aerospace.
• Strong knowledge of problem analysis methodologies (i.e. 8D, Ishikawa, 5-Why, DoE, DMAIC, Kepner Tregoe, etc.).
• Experience in APQP and NPI and associated deliverables.
• Working experience with ERP systems.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritise tasks.
• Excellent IT Skills.

Salary: £50,000 if hired in UK, adjusted if hired in Poland, France, India