Job Title: Quality Manager
Salary: £66,000 - £82,000 depending on skills demonstrated
Contract: Full time & permanent
Location: Desford, Leicestershire
Opportunity
As a Quality Manager and certified Black Belt, you will lead the administration and continual improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS) at the Desford facility. You will use Black Belt methodology to drive defect reduction, resolve complex internal and external quality issues and deliver measurable improvement through structured projects. The role leads Quality Engineers and Black Belts and acts as the key link between quality, operations and engineering.
Responsibilities
* Act as the site Black Belt leader, deploying CPI methodology, coaching teams, and ensuring structured problem‑solving is consistently applied.
* Develop and maintain quality assurance strategies, processes, control plans and QMS governance to ensure compliance and product reliability.
* Lead, develop and performance‑manage Quality Engineers and Black Belts, embedding a data‑driven continuous improvement culture.
* Personally lead and govern Black Belt‑level projects to resolve internal and external defects, driving sustained DPU reduction.
* Own internal audit programmes and lead external audits, ensuring robust corrective actions using Black Belt tools and discipline.
* Use statistical analysis and quality data to prioritise issues, influence stakeholders and drive improvement decisions across the business.
Qualifications & Experience
* Degree‑level capability or equivalent, demonstrated through the independent application of quality theory, data analysis and structured problem‑solving to complex quality and process challenges.
* Certified Black Belt who applies structured quality and statistical methodologies to lead CPI projects end‑to‑end, deliver measurable defect reduction, and embed sustainable ways of working within a QMS environment.
* Leadership and technical authority, shown through leading highly technical teams, applying strong product and process understanding, making site‑level quality decisions, and holding teams accountable for standards and outcomes.
* Influencing: Applies certified Black Belt methodology to lead complex improvement and defect‑reduction activity, influencing decisions across quality, operations and engineering using data and structured analysis.
* Problem‑Solving: Leads root cause analysis and corrective action using statistical and quality tools, balancing risk, data and stakeholder input to deliver sustainable solutions to complex quality issues.
* Quality Management System (QMS) ownership and operation within a QMS environment at site level, ensuring processes, controls, documentation and metrics meet regulatory and customer requirements.
* Relationship Management: Leads and coaches Quality Engineers and Black Belts, setting clear direction, building capability and working effectively with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve issues.
Benefits
* 27 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the option to buy additional holiday.
* Car Allowance £625pm.
* 18% bonus.
* Private medical insurance.
* Contributory pension scheme – company matches up to 10% of employee contribution.
* Contributory share scheme – company matches 50% of employee contribution.
* Support networks and optional flexible benefits including access to private health and dental plans, EV car lease, etc.
Employment Details
Work onsite five days a week. Approximately 20% travel, including up to 10% global and regional travel as required. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.
Posting Dates
April 2, 2026 - April 17, 2026
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