Head of Quality Assurance - Manufacturing - Series Production

Join a diverse Quality Organisation contributing to a shared ambition to deliver for our Armed Forces and preserve the company’s reputation as the leading provider of Missile and Weapon Systems!

Salary: Circa £70,000 depending on experience

Dynamic (hybrid) working: 3 days per week on-site due to workload classification

Security Clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship

Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you:

• Company Bonus: Bonus of up to 30% of base salary
• Car Allowance: £300 per month cash allowance
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…

The opportunity:

We are seeking a Head of Quality Assurance to lead our QA team in support of our Series Production Programmes in Bolton. This diverse role requires a proactive approach working across our Business Units, and supporting Programme delivery.  You will form part of a leadership team maintaining Customer satisfaction, while working collaboratively with our manufacturing organisation to help drive improvement efficiencies into our manufacturing processes.

Main purpose for the role:

• Accountable for delivery of all Quality Assurance activities within the Bolton Manufacturing facility, with the purpose of reducing production programme quality risks.
• Customer interface, maintain effective relationship and communications with Customer quality representatives to minimise impact of customer concerns on production programmes.
• Ensure timely resolution of production line issues, by leading multi-functional teams through application of industry standard problem-solving tools and techniques.
• Lead effective delivery of improvement initiatives and activities. Drive the Quality culture within the Manufacturing domain to ensure continuous improvement and delivery of the quality strategy and risk assessments.
• Manage delivery of assurance activities associated with industrialisation of our manufacturing lines. Identify and mitigate production risks through implementation of PFMEA’s, Control Plans, Special Process validation, etc.
• Manage delivery of an effective non-conformance management process in line with Business targets.
• Provide clear direction in the management of the quality team with appropriate coaching & mentoring for team members.
• Provide a consolidated view at Business Unit and Function level of potential manufacturing quality risks/issues to project milestones achievement, including mitigation solutions.

What we are looking for?

• Preferably degree educated, or substantial experience in Quality Management
• Practitioner of current QA problem solving methods (8D, Six Sigma, DMAIC, etc.)
• Strong desire to lead change with demonstrated continuous improvement experience. Ability to use own initiative to deliver improvements.
• Good understanding of the key sub-systems related to Weapon Defence Systems, preferable
• Experience of people management.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are essential and able to influence others in a collaborative way.
• Highly self-motivated, and demonstrate a determination and persistence to deliver results despite obstacles and setbacks.
• Position is based at our Bolton site, but will require provision of support at our other MBDA sites. Some travel (both UK and international) maybe required.

Additional role responsibilities:

• Ensure adequate Quality Assurance resources are available and deployed across all programs, responsibilities include completion of Work Load Forecast and recruitment.
• Undertake Line management of quality resources which include objective setting and performance management.
• Provide independent view of status of input/activities that support PRR and IVM, VMS gates. Ensure FAI’s are scheduled, and executed in line with programme requirements. Key issues escalated to Head of Operations & Head of Programmes Quality.
• Lead effective delivery of improvement initiatives and activities within Operations & QA function Drive the Quality culture within the Manufacturing domain to ensure continuous improvement and delivery of the quality strategy and risk assessments.

Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given

MBDA is a leading defence organisation.  We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more…

We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

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