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.