Head of Quality

Join to apply for the Head of Quality role at RS PRO

Hybrid Working (Corby, London or Manchester – with regular visits to our Corby Offices)

RS PRO is the own brand of RS, launched in 2016 as a one‑stop shop for industrial supplies. It serves over 600,000 customers across 31 global locations and offers an extensive portfolio of more than 90,000 products spanning all industries.

Our culture is paramount to our success. We ensure we have the right people on the team and a diverse perspective in the way we think and see the world.

The Role

The Head of Quality is responsible for ensuring RS PRO’s products meet the highest standards of quality, compliance, and performance. This role will drive a proactive quality strategy that supports business growth, enhances customer trust, and ensures operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement a best‑in‑class Quality Management System (QMS) aligned with global regulatory requirements and RS PRO’s strategic objectives.
• Drive product lifecycle excellence, ensuring quality is embedded from NPI (New Product Introduction) through to end‑of‑life processes.
• Lead quality‑driven initiatives to enhance innovation, sustainability, and operational efficiency across the portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with global regulatory standards, industry certifications, and company policies.
• Use data‑led insights to monitor quality performance and proactively identify and resolve issues.

Product & Supplier Quality Assurance

• Lead global supplier quality assurance programs and compliance audits, ensuring products consistently meet performance and reliability expectations.
• Provide strategic leadership in supplier relationships, holding suppliers accountable for continuous improvement and capability enhancement.
• Drive early intervention for product quality risks, leading root cause analysis and corrective action plans.
• Establish robust monitoring processes for product quality mitigation and due diligence across the supply chain.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with cross‑functional teams (Product, Category Management, Sourcing, Business Development) to integrate quality into sourcing and product strategies.
• Drive process improvements within the quality function, leveraging automation, technology, and best practices to enhance efficiency.
• Support future customer demands by delivering quality alternatives at the expected price point, aligning with RS PRO’s value‑driven market positioning.

Stakeholder & Leadership Responsibilities

• Collaborate with MDs of EMEA and support peers in Americas & APAC regions to align global quality standards.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the quality team, fostering a high‑performance culture focused on continuous improvement and accountability.
• Represent RS PRO at executive‑level discussions regarding quality strategy, risk management, and supplier partnerships.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders to drive alignment on quality priorities and objectives.

How I Make a Difference

• Enhancing Product & Supplier Quality: Ensure that all RS PRO products consistently deliver on performance, safety, and reliability, reinforcing our brand reputation.
• Embedding a Data‑Led Quality Culture: Through advanced analytics and continuous monitoring, drive proactive decision‑making and risk mitigation.
• Optimising Supplier Performance: Build strong, accountable partnerships with suppliers, ensuring quality is a key driver of RS PRO’s growth strategy.
• Driving Process Efficiency: By simplifying and improving quality frameworks, enable seamless execution of RS PRO’s ambitious product expansion plans.
• Fostering Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Ensure that quality is integrated into every aspect of RS PRO’s product and sourcing strategy, aligning teams towards a common goal.

What we\’re looking for from you

• Proven experience in leading and developing a best‑in‑class Quality Management System (QMS) aligned with global regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance with ISO 9001, RoHS, REACH, CE, UL, and other relevant industry standards.
• Strong expertise in supplier quality assurance programs, compliance audits, and corrective action plans, ensuring products consistently meet performance, safety, and reliability expectations.
• Experience managing end‑to‑end product quality, from New Product Introduction (NPI) through to product end‑of‑life, ensuring adherence to quality standards and optimising product performance.
• Ability to leverage data analytics, statistical process control (SPC), and AI‑driven insights to proactively identify trends, mitigate risks, and drive continuous improvement.
• Track record of implementing Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies to improve processes, enhance efficiency, and reduce defects.
• Strong leadership in managing high‑performing quality teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence, and influencing senior stakeholders across global teams.
• Proficiency in Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Enterprise Quality & Compliance Platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or other digital quality control tools.

Any of the following would be a bonus

• Industrial Distribution & Manufacturing Experience: Previous experience in B2B industrial distribution, manufacturing, or own‑brand product development.
• Strategic Supplier & Compliance Management: Familiarity with multi‑tier global supply chains, vendor negotiations, and sustainability‑driven quality assurance initiatives.
• Regulatory & Compliance Expertise: Understanding of global market compliance for industrial products, including safety standards, ethical sourcing, and sustainability regulations.
• Global Operations & Multi‑Site Quality Management: Experience working across multiple international markets, ensuring quality consistency across diverse regulatory environments.
• Multilingual Capability: While not essential, fluency in Mandarin, German, Spanish, or other relevant languages would be beneficial in managing global supplier relationships.

Qualifications

• A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field, such as Engineering, Quality Management or Operations Management, Supply Chain, Procurement, or Business Administration.
• Recognized Industry Certifications, including:
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt Certification
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) from ASQ
• Regulatory Compliance Certifications (RoHS, REACH, CE, UL, or industry‑specific safety standards).

Job Details

• Seniority level: Executive
• Employment type: Full‑time
• Job function: Quality Assurance
• Industries: Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing

We are RS Group. At RS we’ve been solving engineering problems for over 80 years, turning the ‘what ifs’ into the ‘why nots’. We turn impossible challenges into possibilities.

Our purpose is to make amazing happen for a better world. We offer service and product solutions, sending out a parcel every 2 seconds to over 130 countries. We provide over 700,000 in‑stock and over 3 million unstocked products to more than 1.2 million customers.

We want people like you, who are curious, innovative, and value empathy. Because that’s exactly how we partner with customers, suppliers, colleagues and communities to solve problems.

We’ll invest in your development and wellbeing – building a more diverse and inclusive culture, being ethical, responsible, and committed to our ESG action plan at the heart of everything we do.

Come and join us and over 9,000 employees worldwide – we’ll help you think big, do more, and unleash your brilliance, so you can achieve amazing things too.