Quality Manager
Why work for us?
Alkegen brings together two of the world’s leading specialty materials companies to create one innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation and sealing materials. Through global reach and breakthrough invention, we deliver products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before.
With more than 60 manufacturing facilities and over 9,000 employees worldwide, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to support customers in meaningful environmental and industrial applications. We offer dynamic career opportunities across engineering, operations, technical and leadership functions.
If you are motivated to lead system excellence, drive measurable performance improvement and strengthen environmental and quality governance, we would welcome your application.
Position Summary:
The Quality Manager is responsible for leading the site’s Quality Management Systems in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 standards.
This role ensures certification integrity, drives continual improvement, reduces Cost of Poor Quality, improves material yield, minimises customer complaints, and strengthens compliance across the Derby site.
The position operates as a member of the site leadership team and reports directly to the Plant Manager.
Key Responsibilities
1. Management System Leadership (ISO 9001 & ISO 14001)
• Lead and maintain ISO 9001 certification.
• Own the effectiveness and continual improvement of both systems.
• Lead Management Review in accordance with Clause 9 requirements.
• Maintain risk registers for quality aspects.
• Ensure all procedures and documentation remain current and controlled.
• Govern internal audit programmes using a risk-based approach.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are robust, timely and effective.
• Ensure legal and compliance registers are current and evaluated periodically.
• Prevent recurrence of non-conformities through systemic corrective actions.
2. Quality Performance & Financial Impact
Accountable for measurable improvement in:
• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
• Customer complaints (volume and financial impact)
• Material yield percentage
• Scrap and material loss cost
• Manufacturing variance linked to quality losses
Responsibilities include:
• Leading root cause investigations and validating corrective actions.
• Establishing financial visibility of quality losses.
• Implementing SPC and process control methods where appropriate.
• Reducing complaint recurrence through systemic prevention.
• Presenting monthly quality performance data to plant leadership.
3.Governance & Compliance
• Maintain aspect and impact assessments.
• Ensure operational controls are effective for significant risks.
• Lead incident investigations.
• Drive waste reduction initiatives linked to process scrap and inefficiency.
• Support energy and resource efficiency improvements.
• Ensure no non-conformities or regulatory breaches.
4. Customer & Supplier Quality Interface
• Lead customer quality discussions and issue resolution.
• Approve PPAP submissions and process change requests.
• Govern supplier quality performance and corrective actions.
• Ensure risk-based evaluation prior to any deviation approval.
5. Continuous Improvement
• Identify and lead quality-driven cost reduction initiatives.
• Develop and maintain Control Plans and PFMEAs.
• Embed preventive thinking across operations.
• Drive transition from inspection-based control to process capability.
6. Team Leadership
• Lead and develop Quality Engineer(s) and inspection personnel.
• Maintain training matrix and auditor competency.
• Foster a culture of accountability and ownership and become part of the SLT team for the site.
• Encourage cross-functional engagement in quality and performance.
Qualifications
• Engineering degree in Manufacturing, Industrial, Chemical, Ceramics or similar discipline; or equivalent experience.
• Minimum five (5) years’ experience within an ISO 9001 certified manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading internal audits and management review processes.
• Strong understanding of statistical analysis and process control methodologies.
• Proven problem-solving and root cause analysis capability.
• Experience interacting with customers and suppliers on technical quality matters.
Knowledge & Skills
• Thorough understanding of ISO 9001:2015 standards.
• Financial awareness relating to scrap, yield and cost of poor quality.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to analyse data and present clear performance conclusions.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional improvement initiatives.
Key Performance Indicators
• Reduction in Cost of Poor Quality year-on-year.
• Reduction in customer complaint frequency and financial impact.
• Improvement in material yield percentage.
• Zero major non-conformities during external audits.
• Zero compliance breaches.
• Timely closure of corrective actions.
• Measurable reduction in process waste and scrap.
Working Relationships
• Plant Manager and site leadership team.
• Production, Engineering and Maintenance teams.
• Supply Chain, Procurement, Customer Sales Division.
• Customers and suppliers.
• Corporate Quality and EHS functions.
At Alkegen, we strive every day to help people – all people – breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before. We believe diversity and inclusion are central to this mission and to our impact. Our diverse and inclusive culture drives innovation and performance.
Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to any protected characteristic