Quality Manager - Production/Manufacturing Wicklow

Cpl; Wicklow; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Our client in Wicklow Town is seeking a Quality Manager to lead the development of a proactive quality culture on the production floor, collaborating with operators, supervisors and engineers to improve quality at source. The role is hands-on and involves embedding robust processes and sustainable corrective actions.

The position requires travel, including overnight stays, in line with business needs, and a strong emphasis on training, data-driven improvements and cross-functional collaboration

Qualifications

• A third-level qualification in Quality Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related discipline.
• Minimum 5+ years in a Quality role, with 2–3 years in a managerial/leadership position.
• Experience in manufacturing environments with QMS audits (internal/external).
• Proven ability to lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA, 8D).
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead shop-floor quality culture and prevent-and-improve mindset.
• Perform structured root-cause analyses and ensure corrective actions are sustained.
• Develop and improve SOPs to reduce variation and ensure quality built into processes.
• Train production teams on quality standards and problem-solving practices.
• Use quality data to identify trends and translate into actionable improvements on the shop floor.

Skills

Root Cause Analysis

CAPA & 8D

Quality Tools

Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Education

Quality Management degree

Tools

ERP systems

Quality Reporting Tools

Job description

On behalf of our client, based in Wicklow Town, we are currently recruiting for a Quality Manager.

The Quality Manager will lead the development of a proactive quality culture across the business, shifting the organisation from reactive problem solving to prevention and continuous improvement.

This is a hands on role, based predominantly on the production floor, working directly with operators, supervisors and engineers to improve product quality at source. The successful candidate will focus on building capability within the team, embedding robust processes, and ensuring that quality is owned by production rather than inspected at the end. The role is not just about identifying issues, but about ensuring that sustainable corrective actions are implemented and that problems do not reoccur.

The Quality Manager position is based in our offices in Wicklow Town, and will require travel, including overnight stays, on both a regular and ad hoc basis in line with business needs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Driving Quality Culture

• Actively lead and embed a culture where quality is built into the process, not checked at the end
• Spend the majority of time on the shop floor working with teams to improve quality at source
• Coach and support operators and supervisors to take ownership of quality standards
• Move the business away from “find and fix” to “prevent and improve”

Root Cause and Continuous Improvements

• Lead structured root cause analysis on quality issues (not surface level fixes)
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented, tracked and sustained
• Identify recurring issues and eliminate them through process improvement
• Introduce and embed practical problem solving tools across the production team

Process and Project Quality

• Develop and improve standard operating procedures to reduce variation
• Ensure quality is built into processes rather than inspected at the end
• Work with Engineering and Production to improve manufacturability and consistency
• Support new product introduction to ensure smooth transition into production

Training and Capability Building

• Train production teams on quality standards, defect identification and good practice
• Develop simple, practical training that operators can apply immediately
• Build internal capability so teams can identify and solve problems themselves

Data and Performance Improvement

• Use quality data to identify trends, not just report performance
• Translate data into actionable improvements on the shop floor
• Ensure reporting drives behaviour and decision making at production level
• Work closely with Production, Design, Engineering and Installation teams to close feedback loops
• Engage with suppliers to resolve quality issues and improve incoming quality

What We Are Looking For

• A hands on quality professional who prefers being on the shop floor rather than behind a desk
• Strong experience in root cause analysis and implementing lasting corrective actions
• Proven ability to influence and change behaviours within production teams
• Practical mindset able to simplify quality rather than overcomplicate it
• Experience in manufacturing environments (ideally with fabricated or engineered products)
• Someone who challenges the status quo and drives accountability

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• A third-level qualification in Quality Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related discipline
• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in a Quality role, with at least 2–3 years in a managerial or leadership position
• Experience within a manufacturing or production environment is important
• Experience in implementing, maintaining, and improving QMS systems, including internal and external audits
• Demonstrated ability to lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (e.g. CAPA, 8D methodologies)
• Experience managing customer complaints, supplier quality issues, and non-conformance processes
• Strong understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements relevant to manufacturing in Ireland and the EU
• Experience liaising with external auditors, certification bodies, and customers
• Proficiency in quality tools and techniques (e.g. FMEA, SPC, Lean, Six Sigma principles)
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability with a data-driven approach
• High level of IT literacy (ERP systems, Microsoft Office, quality reporting tools)