Senior Quality Manager

The Senior Quality Manager is a key leadership role within the Safety Quality & Mission Assurance (SQ&MA) function responsible for defining and delivering the Quality Strategy for the STEP fusion programme. Reporting to the Head of Safety Quality & Mission Assurance the role provides independent confidence that systems structures and products are safe compliant and fitforpurpose across the full lifecyclefrom concept and design through manufacture delivery and operation.

STEP is a firstofakind highconsequence engineering programme comparable in complexity and risk profile to advanced nuclear and space this context quality must be designed in from the outset; opportunities to recover from failures postdeployment are extremely limited. The Senior Quality Manager therefore establishes the frameworks governance and assurance necessary to achieve robust performancedriven quality in the presence of technical uncertainty novel technologies and evolving regulatory expectations.

Acting as the SQ&MA focal point for quality assurance the role ensures that management systems assurance frameworks and certification approaches enable safe reliable and highquality outcomes at scale. The postholder will engage closely with the Design Authority regulators delivery partners and independent assurance bodies to build confidence in STEPs technical and organisational capability.

Key Accountabilities

Quality Strategy & Capability

• Define and deliver the STEP Quality Strategy aligned to organisational objectives regulatory requirements and programme priorities.
• Establish a coherent approach to achieving fitforpurpose riskinformed quality in a firstofakind fusion environment.
• Drive consistent application of quality principles across engineering operations and the supply chain.
• Set expectations for structured quality and reliability tools including design risk analysis (e.g. FMEA DFMEA FTA) and problemsolving methodologies (e.g. RCA 8D DMAIC).
• Build and lead a highperforming Quality function embedding capability resilience and a culture of continuous improvement.

Management System & Assurance

• Provide independent assurance that management systems and governance frameworks enable safe compliant and highquality outcomes.
• Define and implement a proportionate riskbased assurance framework appropriate for a complex firstofakind programme.
• Oversee assurance activities including audits surveillance readiness reviews and compliance assessments.
• Ensure insights from assurance and operational performance are captured and used to continuously improve systems and processes.

Certification & Conformity

• Define and oversee the strategy for product and system certification within a regulated environment.
• Ensure the development and maintenance of robust conformity evidence including UKCA requirements essential requirements and technical documentation.
• Enable integration of certification and compliance activities into programme delivery and lifecycle decisionmaking.
• Support engagement with regulators notified bodies and external assurance organisations to build confidence in STEPs approach to novel technologies.

Quality Risk Management

• Lead the identification assessment and management of qualityrelated risks across the lifecycle.
• Establish a structured riskbased approach to quality management integrated with programme and engineering decisionmaking.
• Ensure alignment with safety reliability security and environmental risk frameworks.
• Facilitate risk reviews and ensure timely mitigation and closure of actions.

Leadership & Culture

• Act as a senior leader within SQ&MA influencing quality outcomes across engineering supply chain and delivery partners.
• Champion a culture where quality is proactively engineered and assured reflecting the highconsequence nature of the programme.
• Rolemodel organisational values the Seven Principles of Public Life and inclusive leadership behaviours.
• Promote a culture of curiosity evidencebased decisionmaking and disciplined problemsolving within complex highuncertainty environments.

Qualifications :

Essential: 

• Degree Level Science or Engineering Qualification (or equivalent experience). 

• Chartered member with relevant institution. 

• Strong understanding of engineering principles and product lifecycle management. 

• In-depth knowledge of quality management systems and applicable standards (e.g. ISO9001). 

• Experience leading product certification and conformity assessment activities including managing UKCArelevant evidence technical files and engagement with regulators or notified bodies. 

• Ability to identify assess and mitigate technical and quality risks while enable innovation. 

• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage complex technical interfaces. 

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. 

Beneficial:

• Track record of creative problem solving in ambiguous or innovative environments. 

• Experience of the full lifecycle for technically complex plant systems within major programmes.

Additional Information :

We welcome applications from under-represented groups particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team supported by our Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email  if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis for example changes to the way we interview or share information.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance that clearance can be transferred to UKFE.

As we work towards our mission and goals guided by our principles STEP has six behaviours that are intended to capture the spirit of how we work: 

• We champion safety 
• We all matter 
• We act as one 
• We embrace change 
• We are pioneering 
• We deliver 

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.

Remote Work :

Yes

Employment Type :

Full-time