Head Of Quality

Head of Quality

Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 08:00–16:00, with flexibility

Working Arrangement: Predominantly office-based, with occasional remote working

Travel: Up to approximately six times per year, planned by the postholder

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and commercially aware Head of Quality to provide strategic, Group-wide leadership of quality systems, governance and continuous improvement.

This is a senior functional leadership role within a global industrial manufacturing organisation operating across multiple international locations. The successful candidate will take ownership of the Group’s Quality Management System and Quality Development Strategy, ensuring a consistent approach to quality performance across the organisation.

The role will work closely with operational, commercial and technical teams, as well as customers and suppliers, to strengthen quality capability, improve operational performance and support the organisation’s wider strategic objectives.

The position is based at the Group’s Sheffield head office and will require regular presence in the office, with some flexibility to work remotely when appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish, maintain and govern a robust Group-wide Quality Management System across all business operations.
• Develop and implement a Group Quality Development Strategy aligned with the organisation’s strategic and commercial objectives.
• Drive a consistent approach to quality governance, standards, processes and performance across international sites.
• Lead the continual improvement of quality performance, with the ambition of achieving class-leading standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve internal operational capability through the application of advanced quality tools, methodologies and techniques.
• Provide functional leadership, guidance and expertise to quality teams and operational leaders across the Group.
• Strengthen quality capability, processes and ways of working across multiple international locations.
• Establish appropriate quality metrics, reporting and governance mechanisms to monitor performance and drive accountability.
• Work collaboratively with operational and commercial teams to ensure quality supports both customer requirements and business objectives.
• Build effective relationships with customers and suppliers on quality-related matters, providing credible and confident representation of the organisation.
• Support the resolution of significant quality issues and promote a proactive approach to risk management and prevention.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and high-quality performance.

The role has Group-wide functional responsibility for quality systems and strategy, supporting operations across the UK and international locations including Germany, Belgium, China and Singapore.

The role does not have direct line-management responsibility for site-based quality teams; these teams are managed locally by their respective General Managers. Instead, the Head of Quality will provide functional leadership, strategic direction, governance and support across the Group.

International travel will be required periodically, expected to be up to approximately six trips per year. Travel will be planned and managed by the successful candidate in conjunction with business requirements.

About You

We are looking for a strategic quality professional who can combine technical quality governance with practical operational improvement.

You will ideally bring:

• Significant senior-level experience within a quality leadership role in manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience developing and governing Quality Management Systems across multiple sites or business units.
• A strong understanding of quality strategy, governance, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• The ability to translate quality strategy into practical improvements and measurable business outcomes.
• Experience influencing and engaging stakeholders without relying solely on direct line-management authority.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of how quality contributes to customer satisfaction, operational performance and business growth.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the credibility to engage confidently with senior leaders, customers and suppliers.
• Experience working within an international or multi-site organisation.
• A collaborative and pragmatic leadership style, with the ability to strengthen capability and drive consistency across geographically dispersed teams.

What You’ll Bring

You will be:

Strategic – able to develop and deliver a clear Group-wide quality strategy.

Commercially aware – understanding the relationship between quality, customer expectations, cost and business performance.

Technically credible – confident in quality systems, governance, problem-solving and continuous improvement methodologies.

Influential – able to lead through collaboration and functional authority across multiple sites.

People-focused – capable of developing quality capability and engaging teams at all levels.

Customer-focused – credible when representing the organisation with customers and suppliers.

Pragmatic – able to balance governance and standards with the realities of operational environments.

Aligned with our values – demonstrating Safety, Teamwork, Accountability, Respect and Trust in your approach

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