Head of Quality and Compliance

We are rightly proud of our world-class quality standards developed over many years of operations in Defence and Aerospace, and we now look forward to setting the bar still higher as we continue to improve. As we grow and undertake increasingly challenging projects, it is vital that we ensure high quality in everything we do at the same time as assuring compliance with all internal and external requirements.

This is a particularly exciting time to join STS Defence in this leadership role as we look to redevelop our Quality Management System and implement a new compliance regime. As we improve our quality standards still further, the Head will play the key role in leading Quality Improvement specifically, and Business Improvement more generally. The role reports directly to the Managing Director to ensure independence from all other departments and will be able to develop the existing team of quality professionals as well as growing the team further and building capability.

The role would ideally suit someone who is keen to get involved in every aspect of the business with a keen attention to detail, who understands the importance of continuous improvement and how to express the benefits of that improvement. The Head will also need to be confident in developing plans and business cases as well as engaging directly with the Board and our customers at the highest levels.

Responsibilities

Act as a role model for Quality and Business Improvement, setting the highest standards

Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team and other departments to support the quality of all activities, identify and lead improvement activities, and ultimately help to deliver future growth

Manage the Quality department within budget to deliver all agreed objectives

Take direct responsibility for the maintenance of all Quality Standards including ISO9001, AS9100 and NADCAP, and support others in all accreditations; both the maintenance of existing and the implementation of new standards

Responsible for all Quality Management Plans

Lead the development of a robust process for measuring Net Promoter Score and all follow up actions from this and other related initiatives

Support a productive communication process allowing everyone to understand business performance and a forum for the workforce to ask questions, provide feedback and share ideas

Develop a culture of continuous improvement across the organisation, which involves all levels of the workforce. Ensure change is implemented using a structured approach focussing on raising employee awareness for the need to change through effective communication channels

Set the standard for all inspection and hold to account

Directly support the development and sharing of ‘Lessons Learned’ from both projects (internal and external) and bids, and use these to drive further improvement

Own the monitoring and accuracy of all business KPIs and reporting, including the analysis of trends and ensuing actions

Redevelop and continuously improve the Quality Management System, ensuring effectiveness and including all critical business processes

Lead and ensure compliance of a full and meaningful audit regime across all areas of the business, including training auditors on how to conduct audits and providing appropriate tools

Engage closely with customer audits of our business and projects

Facilitate and lead process improvement and re-engineering initiatives

Engage directly with customers and suppliers at all levels on all matters of Quality and Compliance, including reporting of significant changes in a timely manner affecting the QMS

Support all areas of delivery and procurement to capture feedback from customers and supplier performance data and capability, as well as leading on subsequent analysis and reporting

Take the lead on developing business cases for investment to improve the business

There are also a number of further development responsibilities that we would be keen to introduce in the near future including the development of an approach to collaborative relationships / partnering, and a formal knowledge management capability

Product Safety Training

Please note that all applicants must be eligible for SC clearance as a minimum.

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Apply ..... full job details .....