Where performance, quality and ease of use are paramount, you’ll find Advanced on the wall.
Advanced is a global leader in the design and manufacture of specialist fire safety systems that protect lives and property in more than 80 countries across the globe.
Company: Advanced
Sector: Safety
Job Type: Regular / Permanent
Role Type: Full time
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Job Description
Our team members are passionate, driven and up for a challenge. If you have ambition to make a difference, then please read on.
Location – Newcastle
Reports to – Operations Director
Role Purpose
The Head of Quality is accountable for defining, leading and embedding a robust quality strategy across the business, ensuring all fire detection and alarm products meet regulatory, customer and certification requirements. The role champions a culture of right‑first‑time, continuous improvement and compliance, protecting product integrity, business reputation and customer safety.
This is a senior leadership role with end to end responsibility for Quality Management Systems, product compliance, audit readiness and continuous improvement across design, manufacturing, suppliers and product performance.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Strategy & Leadership
- Define and deliver the Quality strategy aligned to business growth, regulatory requirements and customer expectations.
- Act as the senior Quality authority, providing credible challenge and guidance to the leadership team.
- Embed a strong quality culture across engineering, manufacturing and supply chain functions.
- Lead, develop and performance‑manage the Quality team.
Quality Management System (QMS)
- Own and continually improve the Quality Management System (ISO 9001), ensuring effective implementation across all functions.
- Ensure document control, change management, corrective and preventive action (CAPA), and management review processes are robust and effective.
- Drive risk‑based thinking and preventative quality approaches.
Regulatory & Product Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with applicable standards and regulations, including (but not limited to):
- EN 54 series
- BS 5839 (relevant interfaces and system considerations)
- UKCA / CE marking
- LPCB approvals (and/or UL where applicable)
- Oversee product approval, re‑certification and technical file integrity.
- Ensure effective quality controls across manufacturing, test and inspection processes.
- Lead supplier quality assurance, including supplier audits, performance monitoring and corrective actions.
- Support new product introduction (NPI) processes to ensure quality is designed in from concept through to production.
Audit & Assurance
- Lead internal and external audits, including certification, customer and regulatory audits.
- Ensure timely and effective closure of audit findings and continuous improvement actions.
- Prepare the organisation for growth‑related audit complexity (new markets, products, customers).
- Use data, KPIs and root‑cause analysis to drive measurable quality improvement.
- Reduce cost of poor quality, rework, scrap and field issues.
- Support operational excellence and lean initiatives where appropriate.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Senior Quality leadership experience within electronic, electrical or safety‑critical manufacturing.
- Strong working knowledge of fire detection and alarm standards (EN 54 essential).
- Proven experience owning ISO 9001 systems and leading external audits.
- Strong understanding of product compliance, certification and regulatory frameworks.
- Ability to influence at senior and board level with confidence and credibility.
- Experience leading and developing technical Quality teams.
- Experience within fire safety, life‑safety or regulated product environments.
- Exposure to LPCB, UL or multi‑territory product approvals.
- Experience supporting business growth, new markets or product expansion.
- Lean / Six Sigma or Continuous Improvement qualifications.
Personal Attributes
- Calm, credible and decisive under pressure
- Detail‑focused with strong commercial awareness
- Confident challenger with a collaborative leadership style
- Values‑led and committed to product safety and integrity
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