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Location - Newcastle
Reports to - Operations Director
Role Purpose
The Head of Quality is accountable for defining, leading and embedding a robust quality strategy across the business, ensuring all fire detection and alarm products meet regulatory, customer and certification requirements. The role champions a culture of right‑first‑time, continuous improvement and compliance, protecting product integrity, business reputation and customer safety.
This is a senior leadership role with end to end responsibility for Quality Management Systems, product compliance, audit readiness and continuous improvement across design, manufacturing, suppliers and product performance.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Strategy & Leadership
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Define and deliver the Quality strategy aligned to business growth, regulatory requirements and customer expectations.
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Act as the senior Quality authority, providing credible challenge and guidance to the leadership team.
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Embed a strong quality culture across engineering, manufacturing and supply chain functions.
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Lead, develop and performance‑manage the Quality team.
Quality Management System (QMS)
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Own and continually improve the Quality Management System (ISO 9001), ensuring effective implementation across all functions.
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Ensure document control, change management, corrective and preventive action (CAPA), and management review processes are robust and effective.
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Drive risk‑based thinking and preventative quality approaches.
Regulatory & Product Compliance
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Ensure full compliance with applicable standards and regulations, including (but not limited to):
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EN 54 series
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BS 5839 (relevant interfaces and system considerations)
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UKCA / CE marking
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LPCB approvals (and/or UL where applicable)
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Oversee product approval, re‑certification and technical file integrity.
Manufacturing & Supplier Quality
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Ensure effective quality controls across manufacturing, test and inspection processes.
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Lead supplier quality assurance, including supplier audits, performance monitoring and corrective actions.
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Support new product introduction (NPI) processes to ensure quality is designed in from concept through to production.
Audit & Assurance
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Lead internal and external audits, including certification, customer and regulatory audits.
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Ensure timely and effective closure of audit findings and continuous improvement actions.
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Prepare the organisation for growth‑related audit complexity (new markets, products, customers).
Continuous Improvement & Performance
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Use data, KPIs and root‑cause analysis to drive measurable quality improvement.
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Reduce cost of poor quality, rework, scrap and field issues.
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Support operational excellence and lean initiatives where appropriate.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential
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Senior Quality leadership experience within electronic, electrical or safety‑critical manufacturing.
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Strong working knowledge of fire detection and alarm standards (EN 54 essential).
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Proven experience owning ISO 9001 systems and leading external audits.
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Strong understanding of product compliance, certification and regulatory frameworks.
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Ability to influence at senior and board level with confidence and credibility.
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Experience leading and developing technical Quality teams.
Desirable
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Experience within fire safety, life‑safety or regulated product environments.
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Exposure to LPCB, UL or multi‑territory product approvals.
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Experience supporting business growth, new markets or product expansion.
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Lean / Six Sigma or Continuous Improvement qualifications.
Personal Attributes
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Calm, credible and decisive under pressure
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Detail‑focused with strong commercial awareness
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Confident challenger with a collaborative leadership style
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Values‑led and committed to product safety and integrity
#Advanced
If you're excited by this opportunity, we'd love to hear from you! Please tell us about yourself by uploading your CV.
