Quality & Compliance Manager

Signa Group; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading training organization in Johannesburg seeks a Quality and Compliance Manager responsible for the development and management of the Quality Management System. The role involves ensuring compliance with various regulatory bodies, managing internal audits, and leading project governance for critical initiatives. Ideal candidates will have over 7 years of experience in the quality and compliance field, possessing relevant qualifications in engineering or quality management, and have solid experience in training environments. The position offers competitive remuneration.

Qualifications

• 710+ years senior experience in quality, compliance, or governance.
• Experience implementing quality management systems and standards.
• Proven experience with SETA / QCTO accreditation.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain the Quality Management System.
• Ensure compliance with QCTO, SETAs, DHET, and SAQA.
• Conduct internal audits and manage KPAs.

Skills

Quality Management Systems

Regulatory Compliance

Auditing

Training Material Development

Project Management

Education

Relevant degree or diploma (Engineering, Quality Management)

Tools

ISO 9001

ISO 45001

Job description

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Quality Management System (QMS) & Governance

• Design, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the organisation’s Quality Management System aligned to recognised quality management principles
• Establish and enforce quality policies, procedures, SOPs, and standards across all functions
• Ensure consistent application of quality standards across all programmes, sites, and delivery models
• Implement effective document control, version management, and record retention
• Conduct internal audits and manage corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
• Facilitate management reviews of quality performance, risks, and improvement actions
• Prepare the organisation for external audits, verifications, and regulatory inspections

2. Regulatory, Accreditation & ETQA Governance

• Ensure full compliance with QCTO, SETAs, DHET, SAQA, and other applicable regulatory requirements
• Own institutional and programme accreditation, scope management, and re‑accreditation processes
• Provide governance oversight of ETQA functions while ETQA teams execute day‑to‑day administration
• Remain accountable for audit outcomes, findings, and corrective actions
• Monitor regulatory and legislative changes and ensure organisational alignment

3. Training Material & Curriculum Quality

• Own the quality, accuracy, relevance, and control of all training and assessment materials
• Conduct structured gap analyses of existing learning materials
• Define priorities for upgrading, standardising, and improving training content
• Ensure alignment of materials to occupational/unit standards, assessment requirements, and industry needs
• Establish review and update cycles for all training content
• Implement document control systems for learning materials and assessments
• Coordinate curriculum improvements with Training, ETQA, and subject‑matter experts

4. 5S Implementation & Workplace Standards

• Design and lead the implementation of 5S across workshops, training centres, stores, and support areas
• Define 5S standards, layouts, visual controls, and audit criteria
• Coordinate phased roll‑out of 5S in alignment with operational schedules
• Conduct regular 5S audits and drive corrective actions
• Embed discipline, organisation, and professionalism as part of training excellence

5. Occupational Health & Safety (OHS)

• Act as the organisational authority for OHS governance
• Establish and maintain OHS systems aligned to recognised safety management principles
• Ensure systematic identification of hazards, assessment of risks, and implementation of controls
• Maintain risk assessments, hazard registers, and incident reporting systems
• Oversee incident investigations and corrective actions
• Define PPE standards and safe work practices
• Monitor legal compliance and OHS performance and report trends and risks to executive management

6. Contract Compliance & Risk Control

• Interpret quality, compliance, OHS, and reporting obligations within training and apprenticeship contracts
• Translate contractual requirements into operational compliance standards
• Monitor evidence and documentation supporting contractual compliance
• Identify and escalate contractual, regulatory, or delivery risks
• Support audits and reviews linked to contractual obligations

7. Project Governance, Project Leadership & Expansion Readiness (Critical Responsibility)

The Quality and Compliance Manager will act as the designated project lead and governance authority for selected high‑impact, high‑risk, or strategically critical projects, particularly where quality, compliance, accreditation, safety, governance, or organisational risk are central to successful delivery.

Project Leadership & Delivery Governance

• Lead project planning, structuring, and governance
• Define scope, milestones, dependencies, risks, and success criteria
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, risk registers, and dashboards
• Coordinate cross‑functional inputs while minimising operational disruption

Project Governance & Expansion Readiness

• Provide governance for:
  • New training sites
  • New programmes or qualifications
  • Major client, funder, or partnership initiatives
• Define quality, compliance, safety, and readiness criteria for expansion
• Conduct formal compliance stage‑gate reviews prior to go‑live
• Ensure expansion does not compromise accreditation, quality, or safety standards
• Apply the Two‑Key Rule jointly with the General Manager

For assigned projects, the Quality and Compliance Manager holds project leadership and governance authority. Ownership of operational resources, staffing, scheduling, and budgets remains with the General Manager.

8. Executive Reporting, Risk Escalation & Advisory (Critical)

Reporting under this role is critical to organisational governance and risk control. The Quality and Compliance Manager is responsible for providing clear, accurate, and timely reporting to enable informed executive decision‑making and protect organisational sustainability.

The role is responsible for:

• Providing regular and structured reports to the CEO on:
  • Overall compliance status
  • Audit readiness and audit outcomes
  • Quality risks, trends, and systemic issues
  • OHS and safety performance, incidents, and risk exposure
• Preparing governance plans, dashboards, and management reports
• Using advanced Excel and analytical tools for audit, risk, compliance, and project tracking
• Escalating material risks and non‑compliance issues timeously
• Recommending corrective and preventive actions to protect accreditation, safety, legal standing, and organisational sustainability
• Presenting confidently to executive leadership, partners, auditors, regulators, and external stakeholders
• Acting as a senior advisor to the CEO and executive team on governance, compliance, quality, safety, and organisational risk

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must meet all the following:

• Relevant degree or diploma (Engineering, Quality Management, Safety Management, Technical Training, or similar)
• 710+ years senior experience in quality, compliance, governance, or audit‑driven environments
• Proven experience with SETA / QCTO accreditation and audits
• Experience implementing systems, standards, and structured improvements
• Quality Management Systems training
• OHS qualification
• Assessor /Moderator certificate
• 5S/Lean/Continuous Improvement training
• Proven experience in technical training centres, workshops, or engineering environments
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 principles