QA & Compliance Manager

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey.

The QA and Compliance Manager is responsible for defining, embedding, and assuring quality and compliance standards across the end-to-end product lifecycle. This role ensures that all digital products and productised services are consistent, scalable, compliant, and fit for purpose, enabling repeatable delivery and protecting the organisation’s reputation, commercial performance, and regulatory obligations.

As part of a newly established Product function, the role will play a critical part in shaping governance frameworks, setting quality benchmarks, and standardising delivery practices.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Quality assurance framework
  • Define and implement a product-level QA strategy aligned to the Product Office operating model.
  • Establish quality gates, acceptance criteria, and release standards across the product lifecycle.
  • Drive consistency across: Product design artefacts (PR/FAQ, service definitions, etc.) Delivery outputs (models, platforms, data products, service wrap)
  • Introduce scalable QA processes to support repeatable, productised offerings.
• Compliance and governance
  • Define and enforce compliance frameworks across: Regulatory requirements (as applicable to sector/geographies) Internal governance standards. Data, security, and risk policies.
  • Ensure alignment with recognised frameworks (e.g. ISO standards, AWS Well-Architected, data governance principles)
  • Maintain audit readiness and ensure traceability across product decisions and outputs.
• Product lifecycle assurance
  • Embed QA and compliance into each stage of the product lifecycle, including: Ideation and Product Backlog. At each Product Delivery Stage. During Maturity, Decline and Retirement.
  • Define and monitor entry/exit criteria between lifecycle stages.
  • Ensure all products meet defined non-functional requirements (NFRs) such as security, scalability, resilience, and performance.
• Standards, tooling and automation
  • Define and standardise: QA processes and templates. Compliance checklists and control frameworks.
  • Implement tooling to support: Automated testing and validation (where applicable) Governance workflow management. Audit and reporting tracking.
  • Drive adoption of “quality by design” and “compliance by default” principles.
• Risk and issue management
  • Identifying, assessing, and managing quality and compliance risks across product portfolios.
  • Establishing escalation frameworks and remediation processes.
  • Providing clear visibility to leadership on risk exposure and mitigation status.
• Continuous improvement
  • Defining and tracking quality KPIs and metrics (e.g. defect rates, rework, audit findings, delivery consistency)
  • Managing post-implementation reviews and incorporate learnings into standards.
  • Driving a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Stakeholder collaboration
  • Partner with: Product Managers/Product Owners. Engineering and Delivery teams. Data, security, and risk functions. External partners and vendors.
  • Act as the central point of authority for QA and compliance within the Product Office.

Success in this role will include:

• QA and Compliance Framework (product lifecycle-aligned)
• Standardised templates, checklists, and governance artefacts.
• Defined NFR framework aligned to industry best practice.
• Quality metrics dashboard and reporting pack.
• Audit readiness and compliance assurance processes.
• Risk registers and mitigation tracking.

You’ll need to have:

• Proven experience in QA, compliance, or governance roles within digital, product, or technology environments.
• Experience operating within structured product or delivery lifecycles.
• Strong understanding of: Quality assurance methodologies. Risk and compliance frameworks. Non-functional requirements (performance, security, scalability)
• Ability to operate in newly forming/ambiguous environments, building frameworks from scratch.

Our values:

• Safety first - Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.
• Client focus - Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.
• Integrity - Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.
• Create opportunity - For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation. We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable within the role.