SUPPLY CHAIN QUALITY SPECIALIST - INSIDE IR35 - £40 PER HOUR - UNTIL 31/12/2026 - LIKELY EXTENDED - 1 STAGE INTERVIEW PROCESS
Role Summary
Reporting into senior leadership within New Product Introduction (NPI), this role sits at the intersection of supply chain, quality, and industrial performance. The position is focused on driving supplier maturity, embedding structured quality frameworks, and ensuring robust delivery across complex product changes and work transfers within a high-integrity engineering environment.
Key Accountabilities
Lead deployment of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) across new product introduction, major modifications, and transfer of work programmes to ensure industrial readiness
Develop and elevate capability within the Supply Chain Quality community through coaching and structured upskilling
Drive supplier performance through continuous improvement and development initiatives
Provide operational support to resolve complex supplier quality and delivery challenges impacting production flow
Core Responsibilities
APQP Leadership - NPI / Product Change / Transfer of Work
Act as APQP lead across product changes within complex mechanical and systems-based assemblies
Ensure consistent, end-to-end deployment of APQP across programme lifecycle phases
Work cross-functionally with programme and quality stakeholders to maintain industrial robustness and compliance
Influence internal and external stakeholders to drive adoption of best practice quality frameworks
Quality Tools, Techniques & Governance
Coach and develop Supply Chain Quality Managers to improve maturity in core quality tools and methodologies
Drive standardisation and consistent application of quality processes across the organisation
Support implementation and adherence to recognised quality standards and assurance frameworks
Supplier Development & Continuous Improvement
Lead supplier improvement initiatives using structured methodologies (e.g. business improvement plans)
Act as focal point for supplier APQP assessments and improvement project delivery
Facilitate deployment of quality tools and capability development across the supplier base
Strengthen supplier industrial maturity aligned to programme and production requirements
Operational Support
Support resolution of complex supplier quality issues impacting production and delivery performance
Standardise ways of working across supply chain quality activities
Contribute to supplier maturity assessments, audits, and concession management processes
Required Experience & Skills
Proven background in supply chain quality within a regulated engineering or manufacturing environment (e.g. aerospace, defence, automotive, rail)
Strong working knowledge of APQP and structured quality methodologies
Experience supporting new product introduction, engineering change, or transfer of work programmes
Ability to operate autonomously in complex, stakeholder-heavy environments
Track record of driving supplier performance and influencing cross-functional teams
Comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels
Salary description
£35.00 - £40.00 per hour