Head of Quality

Owen Daniels are currently seeking an experienced and driven Head of Quality to lead and develop the Quality function within a leading aerospace engineering and manufacturing environment.

This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for maintaining and continually improving the organisation’s Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with ISO 9001, applicable aerospace industry standards, customer requirements and regulatory obligations.

The successful candidate will provide strategic direction across all aspects of quality assurance, quality control and continuous improvement, promoting a culture of operational excellence, accountability and right-first-time performance throughout the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and continually improve the organisation’s Quality Management System in accordance with ISO 9001 requirements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace quality standards, customer specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement quality strategies aligned with business objectives and operational performance.
• Manage internal and external audits, customer audits and certification body assessments.
• Oversee non-conformance management, root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and effectiveness reviews.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce defects, improve process capability and enhance product quality.
• Lead customer and supplier quality activities, ensuring effective supplier assurance and performance management.
• Establish and monitor key quality performance indicators (KPIs), reporting trends, risks and improvement opportunities to senior management.
• Promote a proactive quality culture across engineering, manufacturing, operations and supply chain teams.
• Lead, develop and mentor the Quality team, ensuring appropriate competence, accountability and technical capability.
• Support risk management, change control, process validation and product conformity activities.
• Act as the principal point of contact for quality-related matters involving customers, suppliers, certification bodies and regulatory stakeholders.

Candidate Requirements

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Proven experience in a senior Quality Management role within aerospace, aviation, precision engineering or a similarly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001 and practical experience managing and improving a certified Quality Management System.
• Experience with aerospace quality standards such as AS9100 would be highly advantageous.
• A strong understanding of auditing, non-conformance management, root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience leading internal and external audits and managing customer quality requirements.
• A track record of driving continuous improvement and delivering measurable improvements in quality performance.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to influence at all levels of an organisation and embed a culture of quality ownership.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a structured and commercially aware approach.
• A relevant Engineering degree.

What’s on Offer?

• The opportunity to lead and shape the Quality function within an aerospace-focused organisation.
• A senior leadership role with direct influence over business performance and customer satisfaction.
• The opportunity to drive meaningful improvements across systems, processes and operational standards.
• A collaborative working environment focused on technical excellence, compliance and continuous improvement.
• A competitive salary and benefits package, reflective of experience and expertise.