IMS Lead Auditor

Ontic, a leading licensor and manufacturer of complex engineering parts for the global aerospace and defence industries, is recruiting for an IMS Lead Auditor to join our IMS Compliance team where you'll support us in the compliance and continual improvement of Ontic’s IMS. This role will be based at our Gloucestershire sites, Staverton, Bishops Cleeve and Tewkesbury + regular travel.

We are looking for an experienced Integrated Management Systems (IMS) Auditor to join our dedicated audit team. In this highly visible role, you will play a key part in ensuring the effectiveness, compliance, and continual improvement of our Integrated Management System (IMS) across multiple business and regulatory standards.

Working under the direction of the Head of IMS Compliance (HoIMSC) or IMS Lead Auditor (IMSLA), you will:

• Plan, conduct, report on, and follow up internal audits against the approved audit programme.
• Provide valuable guidance to operational teams, helping to ensure our IMS is effectively implemented, maintained, and continually improved across the organisation.
• Audit compliance against a range of industry and regulatory standards, including AQAP (PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA), AS9100, AS9102, Part 21G, Part 145, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 45001, and other applicable management systems and regulatory requirements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Planning, preparing, conducting, reporting, and following up internal audits in line with the approved audit schedule.
• Verifying that IMS processes and procedures reflect actual working practices and comply with relevant standards and regulations.
• Identifying, communicating, and tracking non-conformances through to effective resolution.
• Supporting continual improvement by assessing process performance, effectiveness, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Ensuring the IMS remains aligned with UK IMS policies, objectives, business plans, and international standards.
• Maintaining accurate audit records and documented evidence in accordance with audit procedures.
• Delivering audits objectively and impartially while maintaining confidentiality and avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Collaborating with colleagues across the business to promote a culture of quality, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Supporting compliance with legislation and regulatory requirements across aerospace, defence, HSE, rail, marine, cyber security, data protection, and other applicable sectors.

This is an excellent opportunity to make a real impact within a highly regulated environment while working alongside knowledgeable colleagues who are committed to operational excellence.

About you: At Ontic, our culture is just as important as our technical capability. We're looking for someone who combines strong auditing expertise with a collaborative approach and a passion for continuous improvement. You'll thrive in an environment where you're empowered to make a difference and recognised for your contribution.

To be successful in this role, you'll have:

• A technical background supported by UK Government Level 3 or Level 4 qualifications (or equivalent).
• A minimum qualification as an Internal Auditor to ISO 9001 and/or AS9100 standards.
• Practical knowledge of additional industry standards and regulatory approvals such as AQAP (PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA), AS9100, AS9102, Part 21G, Part 145, ISO 14001, ISO 22301, ISO 27001, ISO 45001, or similar.
• Strong analytical skills with proven experience in root cause analysis and Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications, ERP systems, and quality management tools such as Q-Pulse, Net-Inspect, or equivalent.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organisation.
• Sound judgement and the ability to consider wider business impacts when making decisions and recommending improvements.

Travel Requirement: This role involves regular travel throughout the UK, with approximately 80% travel, so flexibility and willingness to travel are essential.

Benefits: At Ontic we care about your financial, physical, and mental wellness so we offer a range of benefits to support this, we care about what matters to you and have a valued culture of recognition and empowerment, accompanied by benefits that support work/life balance.

Our benefits package highlights include:

• Up to 29 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• 10 hours paid volunteering time
• Annual goal share bonus scheme for all employees
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Discounts and offers from a range of retailers

We are more than the sum of our parts. And we’ve been recognised internally and externally for being so:

• We were ranked #9 in Best Companies’ Q3 leaderboard for Best Manufacturing Company based on our employee feedback
• 72.5% of employees who took part in our 2023 employee satisfaction survey said they are proud to work at Ontic

No day is the same at Ontic; we have doubled in size over the last couple of years and are still in rapid growth. We attribute our success to empowering colleagues to create the opportunity, fostering an environment of autonomy where we ask for forgiveness, not permission.

Our values are intrinsic to everything we do:

• We share a common sense - we’re a global family of specialists with a shared passion for precision.
• We have the freedom to choose - we’re challengers and innovators with the freedom to think differently and challenge the status quo.
• We create the opportunity - we’re change-makers with a clear direction and can-do spirit.

We are a fast-paced business with ambitious growth plans; so if you are dedicated, enthusiastic and always seeking ways to improve, you'll enjoy a career with us!