Supplier Quality Assurance Manager

Leonardo UK Ltd; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense technology firm in Luton is seeking a Supplier Quality Manager to lead a high-performing team and ensure suppliers deliver in line with product requirements. Responsibilities include managing supplier quality assurance and promoting continuous improvement practices. Candidates should have experience in a highly regulated supply chain and advanced quality tools. The position offers a hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership skills with experience in a regulated supply chain environment.
• Ability to maintain relationships with stakeholders for optimal performance.
• Familiar with advanced quality planning tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of Supplier Quality Professionals.
• Ensure suppliers meet product quality standards.
• Lead process improvement initiatives with suppliers.

Skills

Self-motivated leader

Relationship management

Problem Solving

Advanced Quality Planning

Continuous improvement

Agile methodology

Tools

FMEA

Job description

Job Description:

Job Description:

Managing a high performing team of Supplier Quality Professionals across Leonardo sites, you will be Responsible for ensuring that the supply chain companies deliver in line with Leonardo Electronics product requirements and for verifying their processes are capable in stable production.

Reporting to the Head of UK Supplier Quality Assurance, responsible for delivering all aspects of Supplier Quality Assurance on an on-going basis in line with Quality Management System and Quality Policy to ensure that the business’ products and services are fit for purpose and meet both Leonardo and customer expectations. Responsible for ensuring that suppliers continue to develop and implement best practice focussed on defect prevention, reduction in variation and provide for continuous improvements and continue to meet required product quality standards. Responsible for providing leadership, excellent people skills and management to a team of Supplier Quality Professionals.

Effective collaboration with the wider UK Operations team and other Functions within Leonardo Electronics UK is critical to the success of this role, to ensure our internal and external Stakeholders requirements are consistently achieved in support of Leonardo Electronics UK business plan.

Key Responsibility Areas:

• Support Lifecycle Management and input to Project Quality Plans to define clearly the goals and objectives of the Edinburgh SQA Team and alignment of their activities to meet overall Project needs
• Compilation, co-ordination and management of the Project SQA plans in terms of the activities, skills, resources and hours required maximising regional Supplier activities using the whole of the UK team. Co-ordinate resource assignments using the SQA team. Handover of risks / activities relating to Special Processes / surveillance to compliance team resulting from Project activities
• Contribute to adoption of CTQ attributes in the supply chain to enable data to be gathered and assessed on critical features, ensure customer critical attributes are identified and addressed either on the drawings or by the suppliers concerned
• Ensure proactive Supplier Quality tools and techniques are embedded into the supply chain at the earliest opportunity in the Project/Product lifecycle
• Review supplier capabilities, collaborate with suppliers on process improvement and value enhancement opportunities
• Contribute to the creation and Implementation of best practice quality strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve operational performance
• Promote the use of preferred tools/techniques for continuous improvement e.g. Lean, six sigma, Design and Process Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEAs)
• Manage root cause and corrective analysis actions process of supplier quality issues working directly with supplier where appropriate
• Participate in cross-functional due-diligence initiatives such as the Leonardo Electronics UK Extended Engineering Enterprise (E3) and Future Factory Initiative
• Collaborate with our Supply Chain Partners and internal stakeholders in support of early Lifecycle engagement to maximise the opportunity for ‘right first time’ new product introduction with a focus on Design for Manufacture, Supplier test and verification, and how Leonardo Electronics UK define and communicate parameters to ensure supplier capability is effective to meet product and service requirements

Skills, Qualifications & Knowledge Required:

Essential:

• Self-motivated leader with supply chain experience in a highly regulated industry, covering a diverse range of commodities and services.
• Relationship management, must be able to develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure optimal performance
• Using initiative to challenge current ways of working.
• Detailed knowledge and experience of using Problem Solving and Advanced Quality Planning Tools in support of NPI, including but not limited to Process and Design Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEAs).
• Experience in Supply Chain Development regarding process and manufacturing capability including the implementation of continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with the use of agile methodology and practices
• Have the ability to obtain SC level of Security Clearance.

Desirable:

• Management and experience of conducting First Article Verification activities for complex systems.
• Record of successfully managing assurance of delivery across all phases of the Product and Project Lifecycle within an Integrated Product Team environment.

Primary Location:

GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid