Lead Auditor

Job Title: Quality Specialist / Lead Auditor

Ref: 12108186

Location: Dartford / Kent

Salary: Day Rate Negotiable DOE

Shift: Days Only; Monday-Friday

Role Type: Contract / Temporary

Contract Duration: 5 months

Role Summary

This is an exciting time to join a busy rail company as a Quality Specialist to support with audit preparation, internal & external audits and administering the QMS in advance of an upcoming audit regime within the rolling stock engineering departments. The position is temporary cover and is an anticipated to run from November 2024 – April 2025

As a Quality Specialist you will manage the Engineering Department’s Quality Management System (QMS), including ensuring compliance to the requirements of ISO9001 and other standards as required. Lead the establishment and development of key quality and supplier assurance processes. Work with stakeholders to ensure that suppliers meet expected performance criteria. Report on compliance to & performance to expected quality standards highlighting areas of weakness and opportunities for improvement, recommending appropriate actions.

The role

• You will lead process improvement through a PDCA-cycle of continual improvement.


• Assess procedures and processes using quality & risk management principles


• Identify KPIs for the QMS and suppliers SLAs.


• Manage data relating to quality management to guide and inform engineering managers.


• Conduct and manage internal and external audits.


• Act as ‘Lead Auditor’ for ISO 90001.


• Make recommendations for improvement and raise Corrective Actions.


• Coordinate the continued development of the QMS for Engineering


• Author, and review (as appropriate) management system documentation.


• Support functional teams with the development of documentation.


• Manage the Corrective / Preventive Action process (internal & external) and ensure that actions are completed in a timely manner.


• Assess and review suppliers for Rolling Stock Engineering Work.


• Investigate and take appropriate action when performance drops below expected levels.


• Advise the engineering management team on quality assurance issues.


• Highlight concerns relating to current quality compliance or opportunities for improvement in reports and at management review meetings.


• Act as deputy to the Quality and Standards Manager.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Ideally 5+ years’ experience in quality assurance


• Must be a qualified Lead Auditor for Quality / ISO 9001


• Certified Quality Professional (Degree or vocational qualification)


• Membership of CQI is highly desirable


• Engineering background – ideally a level 3 qualification within any engineering discipline or hands on experience within quality assurance within an engineering production environment


• Experience in the rail sector (particularly for rolling stock) is desirable, however we welcome applicants from any heavy engineering, production or transportation industry especially candidates from automotive, marine/maritime, military, aviation or similar backgrounds


• Strong demonstrable planning experience


• Ability to foster a positive and inclusive working culture and able to motivate others to achieve mutual goals within quality management and improvement


• Any employment offers will be subject to rail standard medical and drugs & alcohol screening procedures

My client is an equal opportunities employer, that aim to foster a diverse and inclusive working environment. If you have any questions or need any special assistance throughout the application process, please do not hesitate to ask.

To apply or find out more please send an updated CV to <email address removed>