Supplier Quality & Development Manager

GKN; Highgate; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in the UK is seeking a Supplier Quality and Development Manager to enhance supplier quality and delivery performance. You will lead initiatives in supplier evaluation, corrective actions, and communication with external suppliers. The ideal candidate has a degree in Engineering, extensive experience in Quality roles, and strong leadership skills. With opportunities for remote work and travel, this position offers competitive salary and benefits, including a performance bonus and extensive pension plan.

Benefits

Competitive salary dependent on experience

Opportunity to earn up to 22.5% bonus

Annual car allowance £5,500

Industry leading pension scheme

Life Assurance 8 × salary

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Income protection

Employee Assistance Programme

Enhanced family friendly leave

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or recognized certification in Quality or Supplier Quality.
• Experience with suppliers both on-site and virtually.
• Knowledge of quality requirements in industries like Automotive or Aerospace.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical problem solving for supplier issues.
• Lead supplier development activities and improvement projects.
• Support deployment of new quality assurance processes.

Skills

Experience in Quality / Supplier Quality / Engineering roles

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to lead, coach and mentor

Experience in continuous improvement and RCCA

Education

Bachelor Degree in Engineering or Quality related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

ERP systems

Job description

Join us as a key driver of supplier excellence! As the Supplier Quality and Development Manager you will support the Operational Procurement and Supplier Quality teams through targeted supplier development and quality enhancement initiatives assigned to the Defence business line. You will work to improve supplier quality and delivery performance, leading both reactive and proactive actions, including supplier recovery activities, corrective actions, rate readiness reviews, quality tool deployment, and lean improvements.

Role Details

Remote role offering the flexibility to work from home, with regular UK and international travel to supplier locations and manufacturing sites in Luton, Cowes (Isle of Wight), and Hoogeveen.

Job Accountabilities

• Provide robust practical problem solving to supplier issues, obstacles, and complex issues causing disruption within the business line
• Lead supplier development activities in assigned area including reactive and proactive supplier improvement projects
• Support the deployment of new quality assurance processes and compliance in the business line focused on supplier quality and development
• Support the development of the SQE personnel in the business line in terms of competency and capability
• Lead supplier evaluations, rate readiness assessments and supplier assessments
• Support the Zero Defect deployment in the supplier base as well as Zero Defect culture and mindset within procurement
• Create a “Great place to work” and champion GKN Aerospace culture principles

Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree, or recognised certification in Quality, Supplier Quality, or Auditing principles in Engineering or Quality related discipline
• Experience in Quality / Supplier Quality / Engineering roles
• Experience in procurement and interacting with suppliers on-site and virtually to support key initiatives and business line processes
• Experience in Quality or Engineering leadership in cooperation with customers and suppliers
• Knowledge in quality requirements (e.g., Automotive, Aerospace, or Medical)
• Experience in continuous improvement and RCCA
• Ability to work with essential data capture systems and produce usable charts, graphs, and high visibility SLT and ELT presentations
• Knowledge in Zero Defect deployment, culture and mindset
• Demonstrated interpersonal, organisational and communication skills
• Ability to lead, coach and mentor highly skilled and experienced direct reports
• Experience with Microsoft Office and ERP systems
• Experience working internationally

Desirable Qualifications

• Previous experience from Supplier Quality positions
• Experience in quality processes within engineering and design organizations
• Experience of supplier development using lean tools
• Comprehensive knowledge in all functional disciplines and proficiency in fundamentals of process design
• Experience in APQP, 8D, 5W, and NPI
• Green belt or black belt certified

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity set the standards in our industry, we are inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies and are committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries, we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn in 2023.

We want to see your career fly! We offer fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities within a dynamic environment.

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we've created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process; if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please let us know.

We support your career progression by providing learning and development opportunities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Opportunity to earn up to 22.5% bonus
• Annual car allowance £5,500
• Industry leading pension scheme – we’ll match contributions up to 8% on a 1:1.5 basis
• Life Assurance 8 × salary
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Income protection
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle To Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP Clinic for you and immediate family
• Enhanced family friendly leave
• A collaborative, dynamic working environment