Quality Assurance Team Lead in Dunstable

Quality Assurance Team Lead

Location: Dunstable
Salary:£50,000 - £55,000
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time & Onsite

We are looking for an experienced Quality Assurance Team Lead to join our clients team in Dunstable. This is a key leadership position responsible for managing and developing a team of Quality Engineers across NPI, Supplier, Production and Customer Quality.

As Quality Assurance Team Lead, you will lead the Quality Assurance function, providing technical and operational leadership while working closely with Engineering, Production, Sales, Purchasing and Supply Chain.

Key Responsibilities as a Quality Assurance Team Lead

• Lead, manage and develop a team of Quality Engineers across NPI, Supplier, Production and Customer Quality.
• Set clear objectives, priorities and performance expectations aligned with business goals.
• Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, appraisals and development reviews.
• Coach and mentor team members, supporting their technical and leadership development.
• Manage departmental workload and resource allocation to meet operational and programme requirements.
• Act as Deputy to the Quality Manager when required.

• Ensure effective deployment of APQP, PPAP and risk management methodologies.

• Lead supplier approval, qualification and performance management activities, as well as conducting supplier audits and capability assessments.
• Monitor supplier performance against agreed quality metrics and KPIs.
• Work closely with Purchasing and Supply Chain to manage quality risks across the supply base.

• Support production teams in achieving operational and quality objectives.

• Act as the primary quality interface for customer issues, concerns and escalations.
• Lead investigations and responses to customer complaints and quality escapes.
• Support customer audits, assessments and surveillance activities.

About You, as the Quality Assurance Team Lead

We are looking for an experienced quality professional with leadership, analytical and problem-solving skills.

Ideally, you will have:

• A Bachelor's degree, preferably in Engineering, or an equivalent relevant qualification/experience.
• Experience in a quality management, or Team Lead role within an industrial manufacturing and product development environment.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 and other regulated quality standards.
• Experience working across areas such as NPI, supplier, production and/or customer quality.
• Experience leading and developing a team of Quality Engineers.
• Strong knowledge of quality planning, risk management and structured root cause analysis.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Quality professional to take ownership of a broad Quality Assurance function, lead a multi-disciplinary team and make a tangible impact on quality performance, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.