Senior Supplier Quality Specialist
Location: Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey
Job Type: Permanent
Salary: £67k DOE
An element of UK and overseas travel
About the Role Join a forward-thinking engineering and manufacturing business where quality is at the heart of everything we do. As a Senior Supplier Quality Specialist, you will be a key driver in developing high-performing supplier partnerships that directly support product excellence, operational efficiency, and business growth. This is a cross-functional role that offers visibility, influence, and the opportunity to shape supplier performance standards across a global supply base.
Key Responsibilities Supplier Quality Governance & Strategy Own the Supplier Audit Management Plan aligned with business priorities, ensuring risk-based scheduling, compliance, and continuous improvement.
Champion the Supplier Quality Manual, maintaining all documentation in accordance with internal and regulatory standards.
Oversee the Approved Supplier List (ASL), including scope of supply, qualification criteria, and periodic review protocols.
Performance Monitoring & Improvement Lead supplier performance reviews using data-driven techniques such as scorecards, KPIs, and trend analysis.
Proactively manage non-conformance investigations using 8D, Ishikawa, and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) methodologies.
Drive timely closure of Corrective Actions, monitoring effectiveness and sustainability of improvements.
Collaborate with suppliers on Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives, integrating Lean and Six Sigma principles where applicable.
Operational and Project Support Support sourcing decisions and supplier capability assessments for New Product Introduction (NPI) and ongoing production needs.
Conduct thorough on-site supplier audits, including quality system, process, and special process audits.
Partner with purchasing, engineering, and operations teams to ensure supply chain readiness and risk mitigation.
Compliance and Audit Readiness Prepare and support the business during third-party audits (e.g. ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949) with supplier-related evidence and documentation.
Maintain full adherence to the Business Management System (BMS) and Quality Assurance (QA) frameworks.
Requirements Essential Experience & Skills Proven experience in supplier quality, manufacturing quality, or supply chain engineering within an advanced manufacturing or engineering setting.
In-depth knowledge of quality tools (e.g. 8D, FMEA, Control Plans, SPC, PPAP).
Hands-on experience conducting supplier audits and managing supplier development plans.
Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis capability.
Competent in managing quality metrics and supplier scorecards.
Desirable Qualifications Certified Lead Auditor (ISO 9001 or equivalent)
Six Sigma Green Belt or higher certification
Familiarity with NPI and APQP processes
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and QMS platforms
What We Offer Clear progression path into strategic quality, supply chain leadership, or operations roles
Involvement in key projects, including global supplier rationalisation and NPI launches
A culture that values collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement
Competitive salary package, professional development funding, and generous holiday allowance
Additional Expectations Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to supplier sites as required (approx. 20%)
Flexibility to support cross-functional tasks during periods of low departmental headcount
Proactive mindset and strong stakeholder communication skills
Apply Now to join a company where your expertise will shape supplier performance, influence business success, and contribute to engineering excellence.
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