Quality Assurance Manager
| Posting date: | 22 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £41,382 to £56,226 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 21 February 2026 |
| Location: | Kendal, Cumbria |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Gilbert Gilkes and Gordon Ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | GGG00143 |
Summary
Overview
An opportunity has arisen for a Quality Assurance Manager to join the Quality team. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you will be responsible for leading and developing the Quality Assurance function, ensuring the effective implementation and maintenance of a robust Quality Management System across the business.
The successful applicant will be accountable for driving continuous improvement and ensuring that products, processes and services consistently meet internal quality standards, as well as regulatory and customer requirements. The Quality function is critical to safeguarding compliance, enhancing customer satisfaction and supporting the Company’s overall business objectives.
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the Quality Assurance function, driving a strong quality and continuous improvement culture
- Develop, implement and maintain the Quality Management System, ensuring compliance and audit readiness
- Act as the main point of contact for all quality-related matters, including customers, suppliers and certification bodies
- Drive quality performance across the full product lifecycle, from design through to delivery
- Lead audits, root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions to reduce defects and customer complaints
- Establish and monitor quality KPIs, driving measurable improvements in quality performance
- Work cross-functionally to improve processes, supplier quality and operational efficiency
- Ensure compliance with relevant standards, legislation, and safety and environmental requirements
Experience/Personal Skills
- Proven experience in a Quality Assurance or Quality Management role, ideally within a manufacturing or engineering industry
- Strong understanding of QMS frameworks such as ISO 9001
- Excellent knowledge of quality tools and methodologies (e.g., FMEA, SPC, RCA, etc.)
- Demonstrated leadership and team management experience
- Exceptional analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills
- Strong communication skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organisation
Why Gilkes?
Gilkes invests in its people & in developing a positive organisational culture. Our values-based approach has been shaped from a 170 year heritage as a family-owned business and we strongly believe that our people are the ultimate differentiator & are at the heart of everything we do. In return for our employees commitment, we offer:
- Flexible working allowing for earlier finish on a Friday
- Generous Pension Scheme
- Enhanced family leave
- 25 days holidays plus bank holidays (the option to buy more!)
- Continuous professional development & membership funding
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Life Insurance
- Access to OH Support / EAP programme for wellbeing support
For more information regarding our people and benefits, please follow this link: https://www.gilkes.com/about-us/career-apprenticeships/
Interested? Contact us at recruitment@gilkes.com for more information.
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
An opportunity has arisen for a Quality Assurance Manager to join the Quality team. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you will be responsible for leading and developing the Quality Assurance function, ensuring the effective implementation and maintenance of a robust Quality Management System across the business.
The successful applicant will be accountable for driving continuous improvement and ensuring that products, processes and services consistently meet internal quality standards, as well as regulatory and customer requirements. The Quality function is critical to safeguarding compliance, enhancing customer satisfaction and supporting the Company’s overall business objectives.
Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the Quality Assurance function, driving a strong quality and continuous improvement culture
- Develop, implement and maintain the Quality Management System, ensuring compliance and audit readiness
- Act as the main point of contact for all quality-related matters, including customers, suppliers and certification bodies
- Drive quality performance across the full product lifecycle, from design through to delivery
- Lead audits, root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions to reduce defects and customer complaints
- Establish and monitor quality KPIs, driving measurable improvements in quality performance
- Work cross-functionally to improve processes, supplier quality and operational efficiency
- Ensure compliance with relevant standards, legislation, and safety and environmental requirements
Experience/Personal Skills
- Proven experience in a Quality Assurance or Quality Management role, ideally within a manufacturing or engineering industry
- Strong understanding of QMS frameworks such as ISO 9001
- Excellent knowledge of quality tools and methodologies (e.g., FMEA, SPC, RCA, etc.)
- Demonstrated leadership and team management experience
- Exceptional analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills
- Strong communication skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organisation
Why Gilkes?
Gilkes invests in its people & in developing a positive organisational culture. Our values-based approach has been shaped from a 170 year heritage as a family-owned business and we strongly believe that our people are the ultimate differentiator & are at the heart of everything we do. In return for our employees commitment, we offer:
- Flexible working allowing for earlier finish on a Friday
- Generous Pension Scheme
- Enhanced family leave
- 25 days holidays plus bank holidays (the option to buy more!)
- Continuous professional development & membership funding
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Life Insurance
- Access to OH Support / EAP programme for wellbeing support
For more information regarding our people and benefits, please follow this link: https://www.gilkes.com/about-us/career-apprenticeships/
Interested? Contact us at recruitment@gilkes.com for more information.
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.