Quality, Compliance, and Assurance Manager in Colchester

As Quality, Compliance, & Assurance Manager, you will be responsible for leading and continually improving TES 2000's quality, compliance and assurance framework, ensuring the business maintains the highest standards of governance, operational control, and regulatory compliance across all areas of our rail operations.

Reporting directly to the Head of SHEQ, you will act as the custodian of our Integrated Business Management System, taking ownership of the policies, procedures, governance arrangements and assurance processes that underpin the business. You will ensure TES remains compliant with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, RISQS requirements, Principal Contractor Licence obligations, client standards and wider legislative requirements, whilst supporting the business to identify opportunities for continual improvement.

This is a highly visible role that works across every function of the organisation, partnering with operational teams, support functions and senior leaders to drive consistency, accountability and compliance. You will lead the annual audit and assurance programme, coordinate external certification audits, oversee supplier assurance activities, manage standards implementation and provide meaningful reporting and insight to senior management and the Board.

The role extends beyond maintaining compliance. We are looking for someone who can challenge existing processes, identify inefficiencies, implement improvements and ensure our management systems remain practical, effective and aligned with the needs of a growing rail business. You will champion a culture where governance and compliance are embedded into everyday decision making, helping managers understand not only what is required, but why it matters.

You will also take a lead role in the management of business continuity and organisational resilience, ensuring lessons learned from incidents, exercises, audits and investigations are converted into tangible improvements. Working closely with stakeholders across the business, you will coordinate management reviews, monitor compliance performance, maintain assurance evidence and ensure the organisation is prepared for client audits, accreditation assessments and regulatory scrutiny at any time.

Success in this role will be measured not simply by maintaining certification and compliance obligations, but by your ability to improve processes, provide meaningful assurance, reduce risk and help position TES as a trusted and high-performing supplier within the rail industry.

We're looking for an experienced quality, compliance and assurance professional who combines strong technical knowledge with the ability to influence, engage and drive improvement across a complex organisation.

You will have a proven track record of managing integrated management systems and leading assurance activities within a highly regulated environment. Whether your background is in rail, construction, infrastructure, engineering or a similar sector, you will understand how robust governance arrangements support operational excellence and business performance.

You will be comfortable taking ownership of multiple compliance disciplines, including audit management, management systems, accreditation requirements, supplier assurance, standards management, document control and organisational governance. You will be equally comfortable conducting an audit, presenting assurance reports to senior leaders, supporting tender submissions or coaching managers through compliance challenges.

The ideal candidate will be analytical, inquisitive and naturally driven to improve the way things are done. You will not simply maintain systems; you will look for opportunities to strengthen them. You will enjoy investigating issues, identifying root causes and implementing sustainable solutions that deliver measurable improvements for the business.

You will be confident interpreting legislation, industry requirements and client expectations, translating complex compliance obligations into practical actions that can be understood and implemented by operational teams. Strong organisational skills, excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities are essential.

To succeed in this role, you will also need excellent communication and relationship-building skills. You will be working with individuals at every level of the organisation, from frontline employees through to senior management and board members, and must be able to influence decisions, build credibility and provide trusted advice.

Ideally, you will bring experience of RISQS, ISO certification management, Principal Contractor compliance requirements, supplier assurance and Network Rail standards. Qualifications such as Lead Auditor, NEBOSH or equivalent professional certifications would be highly advantageous.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who shares TES's commitment to doing things the right way, takes pride in high standards and is motivated by creating a culture of continual improvement, accountability and excellence.

At TES we are committed to creating safe railway working environments and offer a wide range of professions and occupations within the Railway sector. Our continuing success depends on our people, which is why we are committed to attracting, retaining and developing our people with the skills, knowledge and experience to ensure an excellent delivery of our services.

In line with our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, TES recognises the value that Serving Personnel, Reservists, Veterans and military families bring to our workforce. We encourage applications from the Armed Forces community, support Reservists with reasonable flexibility for training and deployment, and ensure fair consideration for Service leavers, Veterans and military spouses or partners.