Quality Manager, Wicklow

ROLE OVERVIEW:

The Quality Manager will lead the development of a proactive quality culture across the business, shifting the organisation from reactive problem solving to prevention and continuous improvement.

This is a hands-on role, based predominantly on the production floor, working directly with operators, supervisors and engineers to improve product quality at source. The successful candidate will focus on building capability within the team, embedding robust processes, and ensuring that quality is owned by production rather than inspected at the end. The role is not just about identifying issues, but about ensuring that sustainable corrective actions are implemented and that problems do not reoccur.

Key Responsibilities:

· Actively lead and embed a culture where quality is built into the process, not checked at the end

· Spend most of the time on the shop floor working with teams to improve quality at source

· Coach and support operators and supervisors to take ownership of quality standards

· Move the business away from “find and fix” to “prevent and improve”

· Lead structured root cause analysis on quality issues (not surface level fixes)

· Ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented, tracked and sustained

· Identify recurring issues and eliminate them through process improvement

· Introduce and embed practical problem-solving tools across the production team

· Develop and improve standard operating procedures to reduce variation

· Work with Engineering and Production to improve manufacturability and consistency

· Support new product introduction to ensure smooth transition into production

· Train production teams on quality standards, defect identification and good practice

· Develop simple, practical training that operators can apply immediately

· Use quality data to identify trends, not just report performance

· Ensure reporting drives behaviour and decision making at production level

· Work closely with Production, Design, Engineering and Installation teams to close feedback loops

· Engage with suppliers to resolve quality issues and improve incoming quality

What We Are Looking For

· A hands-on quality professional who prefers being on the shop floor rather than behind a desk

· Strong experience in root cause analysis and implementing lasting corrective actions

· Proven ability to influence and change behaviours within production teams

· Experience in manufacturing environments (ideally with fabricated or engineered products)

Qualifications and Experience:

· A third-level qualification in Quality Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related discipline

· Minimum 5+ years’ experience in a Quality role, with at least 2–3 years in a managerial or leadership position

· Experience within a manufacturing or production environment is important

· Experience in implementing, maintaining, and improving QMS systems, including internal and external audits

· Demonstrated ability to lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (e.g. CAPA, 8D methodologies)

· Strong understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements relevant to manufacturing in Ireland and the EU

· Experience liaising with external auditors, certification bodies, and customers

· Proficiency in quality tools and techniques (e.g. FMEA, SPC, Lean, Six Sigma principles)

· Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills

· High level of IT literacy (ERP systems, Microsoft Office, quality reporting tools)

Preferred Skills:

· A strong commitment to maintaining and improving the highest quality standards

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of the organisation

· Exceptional attention to detail and a structured, methodical approach to work

· Strong leadership and team management capabilities, with the ability to influence and drive a quality-focused culture

· Self-motivated, proactive, and capable of managing priorities to meet deadlines

· A flexible and solution-oriented mindset, with strong problem-solving skills

· Confidence in decision-making, particularly in relation to quality and compliance matters

· Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively