Job Description
Position: Quality Manager - Utilities Reports to: Quality & Compliance Manager
Job Summary
As our Quality Manager - Utilities you will be responsible for promoting, leading and embedding good quality practice throughout the Utilities business and ensuring that our projects deliver right first time. The Quality Manager will lead quality assurance activity across an allocated portfolio of utilities projects, support the business to ensure that the company HSQE Management Systems remain effective in practice, and provide clear leadership on quality standards, quality compliance, evidence capture and continual improvement.
The role is site-facing and operational, with responsibility for supporting project teams in the effective implementation of quality requirements across utilities works, including excavation, service protection, installation, inspection, testing, commissioning, reinstatement, defect management and handover. The role will work primarily within ISO 9001, while maintaining working awareness of ISO 14001, ISO 45001, utilities client specifications, accreditation requirements and relevant sector requirements where they interface with project delivery.
Principal accountabilities
Promote good safety awareness and best practice in all work activities.
Follow health and safety procedures and meet Bethell expectations for safety standards at all times.
Observe site safety rules and adhere to them during all site visits, audits and support activities.
Ensure PPE is maintained and used appropriately.
Lead by example in promoting safe behaviours during all utilities quality activities.
Support project teams in identifying quality issues that may also create safety or service-risk concerns, including poor workmanship, inadequate service information, incomplete permits, missing inspections or defective reinstatement.
Maintain strong working relationships with clients and the supply chain, acting as a senior quality point of contact for project-related quality matters across the Utilities business.
Advise project teams on relevant quality standards, client requirements, framework obligations and contractual expectations, ensuring these are understood and reflected in delivery.
Provide assurance and guidance in relation to project quality documentation, inspection requirements, test records, commissioning records, completion packs and handover deliverables.
Support project teams in achieving compliant, complete and timely handover documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
Support compliance with utilities client requirements, including asset records, as-built information, inspection evidence, test certificates, material approvals, calibration records and photographic evidence.
Escalate significant client-facing quality concerns where necessary and support their effective resolution.
Lead and support project teams on quality matters and help them discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Provide visible quality leadership across utilities projects, coaching, advising and guiding project teams in the practical implementation of quality requirements on site.
Support and develop Quality Advisors and other personnel involved in quality assurance activity within the Utilities business.
Promote consistency of approach in the application of quality processes, standards and expectations.
Encourage effective upward communication to support the reporting of defective work, nonconformances, quality concerns, process gaps and recurring delivery issues.
Work collaboratively with operational teams, engineers, supervisors, works managers, commercial teams, HSQE, procurement, plant and wider support functions to resolve quality issues quickly and effectively.
Treat others fairly, openly and with respect, dealing with enquiries professionally and within agreed timescales.
Be a strong role model for Quality and actively promote high standards and right first time delivery across the Utilities business.
Maintain standards of professional practice, ensuring behaviour aligns with organisational values and the demands of the role.
Ensure nonconformances, observations, defects and opportunities for improvement are identified, recorded and processed in accordance with company processes.
Lead robust root cause analysis and support effective implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
Monitor and report on recurring quality issues, delivery trends and quality KPIs to the Quality & Compliance Manager.
Provide regular utilities quality reporting to the Quality & Compliance Manager, including key issues, trends, risks, client concerns, handover performance and improvement opportunities.
Exercise appropriate discretion in relation to confidential, sensitive, commercial, employee or client information.
Lead by example and promote best practice across all allocated utilities projects.
Act as an advocate for Quality and support project teams in continuous improvement to achieve high standards for our clients.
Plan, carry out and oversee project and system audit activity within the Utilities business to assess compliance with company standards, client requirements, project specifications and ISO 9001 requirements.
Review and understand relevant client specifications and support project teams in cascading applicable quality requirements through delivery teams and the supply chain.
Provide assurance and guidance on project quality documentation, including quality plans, inspection and test plans, inspection records, test and commissioning records, as-built records, handover packs and supply chain quality submissions.
Identify delivery issues, weak processes and incomplete controls through support visits, audit activity and project engagement, and escalate these through clear feedback to support continual improvement of the management system.
Drive stronger quality culture, improved handover standards and better corrective action follow-through across the Utilities business.
Support the ongoing maintenance and effectiveness of the business management system by feeding back issues, trends and improvement opportunities identified through utilities project activity and audits.
Support the identification and implementation of improvements as part of the continual improvement programme.
Assist with producing responses to tender submissions where utilities or quality input is required.
Support the business during external audits where required.
Lead internal audits within the Utilities business and support readiness for client, certification and external assurance activity.
Contribute to long-term improvement of quality performance, consistency and assurance capability across utilities projects.
Support environmental and sustainability requirements where they interface with quality delivery, including material traceability, waste records, carbon-related client requirements, reinstatement quality and handover evidence.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Experience
Qualified to a minimum of Level 4 / HNC level in Quality, Civil Engineering, Construction, Utilities or a quality-related subject, or able to demonstrate equivalent practical experience.
ISO 9001 Internal Auditor qualification is essential.
Lead Auditor qualification is desirable.
Practitioner or Chartered Member of CQI is desirable.
CSCS Card.
Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 and Teams.
Demonstrable experience within a civil engineering, infrastructure, utilities or regulated construction environment.
Demonstrable experience of leading or coordinating quality assurance activity across multiple live projects.
Experience supporting utilities projects involving excavation, service protection, installation, testing, commissioning, reinstatement, defect management or handover documentation.
Experience developing, reviewing or assuring Quality Plans, ITPs, inspection records, test records, completion packs and handover evidence.
Skills and knowledge
Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001 is essential, with awareness of ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 requirements where they interface with project delivery.
Knowledge and experience of civil engineering, infrastructure or utilities projects.
Knowledge of utilities quality risks, including buried services, permits to dig, service protection, excavation controls, reinstatement, testing, commissioning, material compliance and handover evidence.
Knowledge of client specifications and the ability to translate requirements into practical site controls.
Knowledge of MURS, NRSWA / street works, NHSS 16 & 30 or other relevant client / accreditation requirements is desirable.
Knowledge of lean tools and quality principles.
Ability to carry out audits, interpret findings and produce clear, accurate reports.
Ability to identify trends, weak processes and improvement opportunities through project support activity, audit findings, quality data and KPI review.
Ability to establish and maintain relationships at all levels within the business.
Experience of delivering training sessions, briefings and toolbox talks to groups of varying size, with the ability to communicate quality requirements clearly and effectively to both operational and management audiences.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Effective learner and agile thinker.
Able to work under pressure, respond to change, manage competing priorities and maintain a high standard of output.
Full driving licence.
Personal qualities
Positive commitment to health and safety, quality and environmental practices.
Good communication skills.
Positive, open-minded and confident individual.
Practical, site-focused and solutions-driven.
A team player who can integrate well with project teams while providing clear leadership and direction.
Conscientious, trustworthy, open and reliable.
Tactful and diplomatic when dealing with people.
Committed to business success and continual improvement.
Flexible in approach and willing to support changing business priorities.
Ambitious and open to growth opportunities.
