Position Expectations
Reporting to the CEO, this role will lead the quality assurance function to ensure the Company meets demanding customer requirements and deliver operating profit to the Company. Working with the management team, this position will guide our Company to achieving ‘best practice’ quality systems.

Key Duties
• Responsible for the management of the quality control department, ensuring the systems and procedures move towards the requirements of ISO 9001, although not necessarily to seek registration.
• To lead the quality team members across the Group to a long-term quality assurance vision, formalising policies and procedures and establishing performance metrics for the department.
• Working closely with our suppliers both UK based and internationally, to create data collection techniques for control of supplied products or sub-contracted production services.
• Arrange, direct and conduct supply chain audits across our suppliers, ensuring their procedures comply with our expected standards.
• Create quality technical specifications for suppliers.
• Responsibility for continuous performance improvement of staff and thorough training in all aspects of the QA systems relevant to their position. This includes performance management of their responsibilities in line with the quality procedures and the completion of internal quality audits.
• Direct and co-ordinate the quality program across the Group.
• Compile quality reports, create statistical process control metrics, manage non-conformity reports, recommend continuous improvement activities.
• Prepare monthly summaries of quality issues for presentation to the senior management team.
• Implement quality training programs for key staff and supply chain partners.
• Ensure appropriate calibration of quality equipment.
• Work with Logistics to integrate quality standards as part of the Service Level Agreement for core suppliers and assess supplier return products with failure analysis, where appropriate.
• Support Logistics with business reviews of key suppliers.
• Work with the Development & Design team across the Group on new component introduction, alternative raw materials, tooling requirements, test plans and product qualification requirements.
• Communicate and share the Company quality philosophy across the Group.
• Ensure the senior management team are fully aware of significant developments identified during quality control activities.
• Investigate and record customer complaints regarding product performance, specifications and reliability.
• Refine and develop the existing product warranty and return policy for finished goods.
• Assure adherence to international product regulations regarding quality.
• Responsibility for ensuring products comply with the required legislation and EU Directives.
• Reporting data to the Environment Agency on a regular basis.

The successful candidate should have the following skills and experience;

• Experience in managing product compliance and QA
• Commercial awareness
• Methodical approach to work
• Ability to communicate at all levels
• Good presentation skills
• IT skills including Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint
• Credibility
• Project management skills
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills
• Ability to influence and motivate others
• Excellent leadership skills
• Good time management, planning, organisation and prioritisation skills

The role is primarily based at the companies Head Office in East Kent, although regular travel is required both domestically and internationally.