Head of Quality

About Us

Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, is one of the largest integrated and diversified providers of rolling stock and infrastructure solutions and technologies for the global rail industry. The company provides advanced EMD locomotives, engines, and technologies, railcars, trackwork, fasteners, signalling, rail welding and Kershaw Maintenance-of-Way equipment, along with dedicated locomotive and freight car repair services, aftermarket parts support and recycling operations.

Progress Rails deep industry expertise ensures a commitment to quality through innovative solutions. With a global network across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Australia, China, Germany, India, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, we are committed to serving our customers.

The Role

Are you a credible leader with ability to influence at a senior level? Does transformation and continuous improvement excite you? Are you ready for a new challenge where you can truly make a difference?

If so, we have just the role for you.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Quality to be responsible for the development, implementation and management of the overall Quality Management Systems (QMS) covering products, supply chain, manufacturing and shared/ common processes across the business.

Reporting into the Executive Director of Operations, you will have three direct reports who are responsible for a team of quality inspectors and provide functional quality support to our four manufacturing facilities across the UK.

You will play a pivotal role in building better quality processes, improved output and business outcomes.

What you'll do

• Manage the overall Quality System and corporate adherence to ISO 9001 including leading the Management Review.
• Develop, implement and manage standard operating procedures (SOP) to meet regulatory, customer and internal business requirements.
• Enable corporate compliance to statutory, contract and other industry legislative requirements.
• Prepare an annual action plan to enhance the QMS and prepare monthly progress reports.
• Develop, implement and maintain the document control of technical and quality records ensuring business-wide compliance.
• Manage internal and external audits ensuring corrective and preventative action is taken.
• Manage certification and approval to Rail Industry Standards (RISAS, RISQS and others as applicable).
• Manage all online business information for development and upkeep of all required approval schemes in support of commercial business development.
• Deliver quality reports / feedback as required.
• Manage and control the risk framework, implementing mitigating action.
• Engage with respective internal stakeholdersregarding warranty issues and bring to a succession resolution.
• Develop/utilise industry recognised tools, techniques and processes to identify root causes whilst leading investigations and responses.
• Reduction of product, data and other defects to support an overall reduction in the cost of poor quality.
• Ensure effective use of the lean culture to drive continuous improvement, with suitable tracking metrics.
• Responsibility for the development of the Quality Team.
• Creation & delivery of KPIs.
• Provide professional advice on arising quality issues, industry and macro trends and legislative as appropriate.

About you

Essential

• Degree in quality management or a related field
• IQA qualified
• Professional certifications from the ISO and the CQI will be advantageous.
• Expert knowledge of Quality Management Systems and BS EN ISO 9001:2015.
• Trained Auditor
• Six Sigma Black Belt or similar data analysis skills.
• Experience of management of people and multifunctional teams
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan, prioritize and work to deadlines.
• An ability to relate and communicate at all levels of the organization.
• IT literate with experience in Microsoft software environments.
• Ability to travel to our UK sites when required

Desirable

• Previous experience of managing Quality Systems in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Familiar with RISAS and RISQS requirements
• Understanding of engineering and manufacturing environments
• Deliver high quality presentations to senior level stakeholders.
• Understanding and application of Lean tools and techniques.
• Experience of Axapta ERP and Ideagen QMS.
• Experience around rail industry/steel industry approvals processes such as DFR (Design for Reliability) and EN1090 (structural steelwork)

Whats in it for you?

We put our people at the heart of our culture. If our people love working here then they do amazing work, thats why we offer things like:

• Company bonus
• Flexible working hours
• Company funded external qualifications
• 33 days holiday per annum, pro rate (inclusive of bank/public holidays)
• Company pension scheme with up to a 7% employer contribution
• Company funded life assurance of 3 times your annual salary
• Fuel card which provides discount on fuel at petrol stations across the UK
• Access to employee discounts hub
• Discounted healthcare cash plan
• Professional and leadership development
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee recognition scheme

We know everyone performs their best when they feel welcomed and supported to bring their whole selves to work. As an equal opportunities employer, we will work with you to ensure you have all you need to achieve your best.

A note for recruitment agencies

We endeavour to hire great talent directly and therefore the use of agencies will only be used to exceptional circumstances. Unsolicited CVs will not be honoured. We will only accept CV submissions for roles briefed to you by our hiring team.