At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and improve quality assurance systems, ensuring compliance and operational excellence.
- Company: Join a leading tech company focused on quality and growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Dynamic role with potential for career advancement in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Be the driving force behind quality standards and make a real impact on business success.
- Qualifications: Experience with ISO management systems and strong organisational skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
The Quality Assurance Officer (QAO) is responsible for establishing, managing, auditing, maintaining, and continuously improving the company’s integrated management systems, compliance frameworks, operational quality standards, and certification requirements across the entire business. This is a governance, compliance, process control, and operational assurance role, not a technical support or engineering support position. The QAO will act as the central owner of all business accreditations, certifications, policies, audit readiness, procedural controls, and compliance obligations, ensuring the company operates to a consistently high and measurable standard across all divisions. The role is critical in supporting the company’s operational maturity, scalability, customer confidence, and long-term growth ambitions.
Core Responsibilities
- Quality Management System Ownership
- Own and manage the company’s Integrated Management System (IMS)
- Maintain and continuously improve all documented processes, procedures, policies, and operational controls
- Ensure operational adherence to company standards across all departments
- Develop measurable quality objectives and KPI reporting frameworks
- Maintain document control processes across the organisation
- Ensure version control and audit traceability of all controlled documents
- ISO & Accreditation Management
- Full ownership and management responsibility for all company certifications and accreditations, including but not limited to:
- ISO 9001
- ISO 14001
- ISO 27001
- ISO 45001
- Cyber Essentials Plus
- NSI Gold
- BAFE
- Safe Contractor
- Constructionline
- Achilles or future industry schemes
- Any future compliance frameworks required by customers or regulators
- Responsibilities include:
- Surveillance audits
- Recertification audits
- Corrective actions
- Non-conformance management
- Internal audit scheduling
- External auditor liaison
- Management review preparation
- Continuous improvement programmes
- Certification renewals
- Compliance reporting to leadership
- Internal Audit & Compliance Control
- Design and implement a company-wide internal audit programme
- Audit operational compliance across all divisions
- Ensure departmental adherence to:
- documented procedures
- contractual obligations
- quality standards
- health & safety requirements
- information security controls
- environmental standards
- customer commitments
- Produce formal audit reports with:
- findings
- risk ratings
- corrective actions
- owners
- target completion dates
- Monitor completion and effectiveness of corrective actions
- Operational Process Improvement
- Identify operational inefficiencies, inconsistencies, and process failures
- Work with department heads to improve:
- process control
- accountability
- operational consistency
- service delivery quality
- Assist in standardising workflows across divisions
- Support the transition from reactive operational management to structured scalable processes
- Risk, Governance & Regulatory Compliance
- Support the company’s governance and risk management framework
- Maintain risk registers relating to:
- compliance
- operational quality
- health & safety
- cybersecurity
- supplier risk
- business continuity
- Ensure regulatory compliance obligations are maintained and evidenced
- Support GDPR and information governance controls alongside relevant departments
- Ensure audit evidence is maintained and retrievable
- Supplier & Subcontractor Quality Assurance
- Assist with supplier qualification and compliance reviews
- Monitor subcontractor compliance requirements
- Ensure external providers meet required operational and certification standards
- Maintain approved supplier records and compliance evidence
- Customer & Contractual Compliance
- Support customer audit requirements
- Ensure customer contractual compliance obligations are documented and controlled
- Assist operational teams in ensuring contractual processes align with company certifications and standards
- Support major customer onboarding from a compliance and assurance perspective
- Management Reporting
- Provide regular reporting to senior leadership covering:
- Audit outcomes
- Non-conformances
- Certification status
- Corrective action progress
- Compliance risks
- KPI trends
- Continuous improvement activities
- Operational quality performance
Key Deliverables
The QAO will be expected to:
- Maintain all certifications without major non-conformance
- Improve audit readiness across the business
- Reduce operational inconsistency
- Improve process adherence
- Increase organisational accountability
- Strengthen governance and compliance maturity
- Support scalable business growth through operational discipline
Skills & Experience Required
Essential
- Strong experience managing ISO management systems
- Experience leading external certification audits
- Experience implementing internal audit programmes
- Strong understanding of:
- ISO 9001
- ISO 27001
- ISO 14001
- ISO 45001
- Experience within technology, engineering, software, security, logistics, or service-based environments
- Excellent documentation and procedural writing capability
- Strong organisational and analytical skills
- Ability to challenge operational practices constructively
- Experience managing corrective and preventive actions
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
Desirable
- Experience with NSI Gold and/or BAFE environments
- Knowledge of cybersecurity governance frameworks
- Experience in AIM-listed or regulated businesses
- Experience building integrated management systems from fragmented environments
- Internal or Lead Auditor qualifications
Personal Characteristics
- Highly organised
- Process-driven
- Detail-oriented
- Independent and objective
- Commercially aware
- Calm under pressure
- Able to influence operational change without direct authority
- Strong sense of accountability and ownership
Quality Assurance Officer in Manchester employer: All The Top Bananas
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Quality Assurance Officer in Manchester
✨Join Compliance Communities
Get involved in compliance and risk communities — both online and offline. Look for forums, LinkedIn groups, or even local meetups where compliance pros hang out. You never know who might drop a job opportunity your way!
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye out for compliance and risk management conferences and workshops in your area. These events are a goldmine for networking, and they often have job boards or recruiters on-site looking for new talent. Plus, it’s a chance to learn what's trending in the field.
✨Leverage Your University Career Services
If you’ve recently graduated or are still studying, head over to your university's career services. Many companies, including those in compliance, actively recruit fresh talent through these services, so make sure you tap into that resource.
✨Showcase Your Knowledge Online
Start writing articles or blog posts about compliance topics that interest you. Share them on platforms like LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and passion. This not only builds your presence in the field but can also catch the attention of companies like All The Top Bananas looking for candidates who are engaged and informed.
We think you need these skills to ace Quality Assurance Officer in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Understanding of Compliance:In the compliance-risk field, it's super important to showcase your understanding of regulations and risk management frameworks. Highlight any relevant coursework, certifications (like ICA or AML), or even projects that demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to this area. We want to see how you can navigate this complex landscape!
Quantify Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, try to quantify your achievements. For example, if you've previously worked on a project that improved compliance metrics or reduced risk exposure, give us the numbers! This data-driven approach really stands out to hiring managers in compliance-risk roles.
Tailor Your CV to Reflect Relevant Skills:Make sure your CV highlights skills that are particularly relevant to compliance, like attention to detail, analytical thinking, and report writing. Ensure these are easy to spot – consider using bullet points to break down your responsibilities and achievements for maximum impact!
Craft a Motivating Cover Letter:In your cover letter, let us know why you’re excited about the compliance-risk role at All The Top Bananas. Share what motivates you about compliance, and how you believe you can contribute to our mission. This is your chance to showcase not only your skills but also your passion for this important field!
How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas
✨Master the Regulations
Brush up on key compliance regulations relevant to the industry you're applying to. Familiarising yourself with specific laws and frameworks used in your field will give you an edge during technical questions. Show that you’re not just aware of them but can also apply them—think real-life scenarios!
✨Show Your Analytical Skills
Compliance roles really focus on analytical skills, so be prepared for case studies or situational questions during the interview. We've got to demonstrate how we approach risk assessments or compliance audits, possibly drawing on examples from past experiences or university projects. Bring some thoughtful case scenarios to discuss!
✨Know Your Tools
Get comfortable with commonly used compliance software and tools. Familiarity with platforms like RSA or MetricStream can really impress during your interview, as it shows you're ready to hit the ground running. If you’ve had any experience with them, make sure to highlight that!
✨Align with Company Culture
Since it's a full-time position, show your long-term commitment and interest in the company’s mission and values. Dive into how your ethics and professional philosophy align with All The Top Bananas’s stance on compliance. A shared vision can really resonate with interviewers looking for fit as much as skill!
