Director of Quality Assurance Job Description

UK Director of Quality Assurance Job Description

Comprehensive Reference Guide for the Director of QA Role at UK Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, Food, Manufacturing, Aerospace, Automotive, Chemical and Adjacent Sector Firms Across UK Quality Regulatory Framework, ISO Quality Management Systems, GxP Framework, CQI Chartered Quality Institute Qualification and Senior Quality Leadership

A UK Director of Quality Assurance (Director of QA) is the senior quality leader at a UK firm operating in sectors with material quality framework dimensions — UK pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, UK medical device firms, UK food and beverage firms, UK manufacturing firms, UK aerospace firms, UK automotive firms, UK chemical and process industries firms, UK technology and software firms, and adjacent UK firms with senior quality framework dimensions. The Director of QA holds senior accountability for the firm’s quality strategy and quality framework leadership, quality management systems (QMS) including ISO 9001 framework leadership and sector-specific quality framework leadership (AS9100 at UK aerospace firms, IATF 16949 at UK automotive firms, ISO 13485 at UK medical device firms, BRCGS at UK food firms), quality assurance audit framework, quality compliance framework intersection with sector-specific UK regulatory framework (MHRA framework at UK pharmaceutical and medical device firms, FSA framework at UK food firms, sector-specific UK regulatory frameworks), quality risk management, supplier quality framework, customer quality framework, quality data and metrics framework, quality improvement programmes (Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, TQM), quality team leadership, and the wider senior quality assurance leadership dimensions. The Director of QA typically reports to the Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, Operations Director, Technical Director, or Chief Executive at UK firms.

This UK Director of Quality Assurance job description reference covers the role specification across the principal UK firm scenarios with material senior quality framework dimensions, the UK and international quality regulatory framework intersection (ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 45001 management systems framework, sector-specific UK quality frameworks at UK pharma/medical device/food/aerospace/automotive firms, UK and EU regulatory framework intersection at UK pharmaceutical and medical device firms), the UK quality methodology framework (Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma at Green Belt / Black Belt / Master Black Belt tier, Kaizen, FMEA, Root Cause Analysis, SPC, TQM), the UK Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) qualification framework operating as the primary UK quality professional credential, the realistic compensation calibration by sector and firm scale, and a sample Director of QA job description structure that UK firms can adapt for senior recruitment. Every senior Director of Quality Assurance search mandate at Exec Capital is led personally by Adrian Lawrence FCA. For senior UK Director of Quality Assurance recruitment service engagement see Director of Quality Assurance Recruitment.

UK Firm Scenarios for Senior Director of Quality Assurance Recruitment

UK Director of Quality Assurance appointments operate across the following principal UK firm sector scenarios with senior commercial dynamics, sector-specific regulatory framework dimensions, and senior quality framework dimensions specific to each UK firm sector context.

UK pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms — UK pharmaceutical firms (UK manufacturers operating with MHRA Manufacturer’s Authorisation, UK pharmaceutical R&D firms, UK clinical-stage biotech firms, UK adjacent pharmaceutical firms) frequently appoint Directors of QA with pharmaceutical-specific senior quality scope including MHRA regulatory framework leadership, GxP framework leadership across GMP / GLP / GCP / GDP / GVP framework dimensions, pharmaceutical quality systems (PQS) framework leadership aligned with ICH Q10 framework, MHRA inspection framework engagement at GMP and GDP inspection levels, pharmaceutical regulatory submission quality framework intersection, supplier qualification framework leadership at pharmaceutical supplier scale, and the wider senior pharmaceutical quality dimensions specific to UK pharmaceutical firm operations.

UK medical device firms — UK medical device firms (UK Class I, IIa, IIb, III medical device manufacturers, UK in vitro diagnostic device firms, UK adjacent medical device firms) frequently appoint Directors of QA with medical device-specific senior quality scope including ISO 13485 medical device quality management systems framework leadership, EU MDR (Regulation 2017/745) framework leadership where applicable to EU-marketed devices, UK MDR framework leadership at UK-marketed devices, MHRA medical device regulatory framework leadership, Notified Body engagement framework, technical file framework leadership, post-market surveillance framework leadership including PMCF (Post-Market Clinical Follow-up) where applicable, and the wider senior medical device quality dimensions specific to UK medical device firm operations.

UK food and beverage firms — manufacturing and FMCG — UK food manufacturing firms, UK beverage manufacturing firms, UK FMCG firms operating with food and beverage dimensions, and adjacent UK firms operating with food technical dimensions frequently appoint Directors of QA with food-specific senior quality scope including BRCGS (Global Standards) Food Safety framework leadership at the major UK food retailer supplier framework, HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) framework leadership, FSA (Food Standards Agency) framework engagement, sector-specific food regulatory framework, food contamination control framework leadership, food allergen management framework leadership, food traceability framework leadership, and the wider senior food quality dimensions specific to UK food and beverage firm operations.

UK manufacturing firms — mechanical, electrical, electronic — UK manufacturing firms across UK mechanical engineering manufacturing, UK electrical engineering manufacturing, UK electronic manufacturing, and selected specialist UK manufacturing sectors frequently appoint Directors of QA with manufacturing-specific senior quality scope including ISO 9001 quality management systems framework leadership, ISO 14001 environmental management systems framework leadership, ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management systems framework leadership, manufacturing quality control framework leadership, manufacturing supplier quality framework leadership at major UK and international manufacturing supplier networks, manufacturing quality improvement programme leadership including Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma framework leadership, manufacturing CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) framework leadership, and the wider senior manufacturing quality dimensions specific to UK manufacturing firm operations.

UK aerospace firms — UK aerospace firms (UK aerospace manufacturers, UK aerospace component firms, UK aerospace MRO firms, UK adjacent aerospace firms) frequently appoint Directors of QA with aerospace-specific senior quality scope including AS9100 aerospace quality management systems framework leadership, EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) framework intersection where applicable, CAA (UK Civil Aviation Authority) framework intersection where applicable, NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) framework leadership where applicable, aerospace supplier qualification framework leadership, FAI (First Article Inspection) framework leadership, and the wider senior aerospace quality dimensions specific to UK aerospace firm operations.

UK automotive firms — UK automotive firms (UK automotive manufacturers, UK automotive component firms, UK automotive supplier firms across major UK automotive supplier tiers) frequently appoint Directors of QA with automotive-specific senior quality scope including IATF 16949 automotive quality management systems framework leadership, automotive APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) framework leadership, PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) framework leadership, automotive supplier qualification framework leadership, automotive PFMEA (Process FMEA) framework leadership, automotive control plan framework leadership, and the wider senior automotive quality dimensions specific to UK automotive firm operations.

UK chemical and process industries firms — UK chemical manufacturing firms, UK process industries firms, UK petrochemical firms, and selected UK specialist chemical firms frequently appoint Directors of QA with chemical-specific senior quality scope including ISO 9001 framework leadership, REACH Regulation framework leadership, COSHH framework leadership intersection with technical health and safety scope, sector-specific UK chemical regulatory framework leadership, chemical batch quality framework leadership, and the wider senior chemical quality dimensions specific to UK chemical and process industries firm operations.

UK technology and software firms — software QA framework — UK technology firms and UK software firms frequently appoint Directors of QA with technology/software-specific senior quality scope including software quality assurance framework leadership across software development lifecycle (SDLC), software testing framework leadership across functional testing, integration testing, performance testing, security testing, and user acceptance testing dimensions, software quality methodology framework leadership across Agile, DevOps, DevSecOps integration, software CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment) quality framework, and the wider senior software quality dimensions specific to UK technology and software firm operations.

UK PE-backed industrial firms — UK PE-backed firms operating in industrial, manufacturing, or technical-led commercial sectors frequently appoint Directors of QA with PE-backed firm-specific senior quality scope including senior quality value-creation programme delivery, senior quality operational improvement framework leadership during PE hold periods, senior quality framework leadership during M&A integration where applicable to bolt-on acquisitions, senior quality exit-readiness framework leadership, and the wider senior quality dimensions specific to UK PE-backed industrial firm operations.

UK Quality Regulatory Framework

UK Director of QA appointments operate within UK and international quality regulatory framework dimensions specific to each UK firm sector context.

ISO 9001 — Quality Management Systems — the principal international standard for quality management systems with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability for ISO 9001 framework application across UK firms operating ISO 9001 framework. ISO 9001 framework dimensions include quality management principles framework, quality policy framework, quality objective framework, process approach framework, quality risk-based thinking framework, internal audit framework, management review framework, continuous improvement framework, and the wider ISO 9001 framework dimensions specific to senior UK quality leadership.

ISO 14001 — Environmental Management Systems — the international standard for environmental management systems with associated senior UK Director of QA intersection accountability at UK firms operating ISO 14001 framework, particularly material at UK manufacturing firms.

ISO 45001 — Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems — the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems with associated senior UK Director of QA intersection accountability at UK firms operating ISO 45001 framework.

AS9100 — Aerospace Quality Management Systems — the aerospace-specific quality management systems standard with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability at UK aerospace firms. AS9100 framework dimensions include aerospace-specific quality framework, aerospace supplier qualification framework, aerospace product realisation framework, aerospace First Article Inspection framework, aerospace counterfeit parts prevention framework, and the wider AS9100 framework dimensions specific to UK aerospace quality scope.

IATF 16949 — Automotive Quality Management Systems — the automotive-specific quality management systems standard with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability at UK automotive firms. IATF 16949 framework dimensions include automotive-specific quality framework, APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) framework, PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) framework, automotive PFMEA framework, automotive control plan framework, automotive supplier qualification framework, and the wider IATF 16949 framework dimensions specific to UK automotive quality scope.

ISO 13485 — Medical Device Quality Management Systems — the medical device-specific quality management systems standard with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability at UK medical device firms. ISO 13485 framework dimensions include medical device-specific quality framework, medical device design control framework, medical device risk management framework intersection with ISO 14971, medical device CAPA framework, medical device supplier qualification framework, medical device technical file framework, and the wider ISO 13485 framework dimensions specific to UK medical device quality scope.

BRCGS — Global Standards (Food Safety, Packaging, Storage and Distribution) — the principal UK food retail supplier quality framework with BRCGS framework dimensions including BRCGS Food Safety standard framework leadership at UK food manufacturing firms supplying major UK food retailers, BRCGS Packaging Materials standard framework, BRCGS Storage and Distribution standard framework, and the wider BRCGS framework dimensions specific to UK food quality scope.

HACCP — Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points — the principal international food safety framework with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability at UK food firms. HACCP framework dimensions include hazard analysis framework, critical control points framework, critical limits framework, monitoring framework, corrective action framework, verification framework, and record-keeping framework.

MHRA framework — UK pharmaceutical and medical device regulatory — the principal UK pharmaceutical and medical device regulatory framework administered by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability at UK pharmaceutical and medical device firms. MHRA framework dimensions include MHRA Manufacturer’s Authorisation (MIA) framework, MHRA Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (WDA) framework, MHRA medical device registration framework, MHRA inspection framework engagement at GMP/GDP/GCP inspection levels, and the wider MHRA framework dimensions specific to UK pharmaceutical and medical device quality scope.

GxP framework — GMP, GLP, GCP, GDP, GVP — the international Good Practice framework operating across pharmaceutical and life sciences quality dimensions with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability at UK pharmaceutical firms. GxP framework dimensions include Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) framework at pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) framework at pharmaceutical R&D laboratory operations, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) framework at pharmaceutical clinical trial operations, Good Distribution Practice (GDP) framework at pharmaceutical distribution operations, and Good Pharmacovigilance Practice (GVP) framework at pharmaceutical post-marketing safety operations.

EU MDR and UK MDR — Medical Device Regulations — the EU Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 (EU MDR) framework and the UK Medical Devices Regulations framework with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability at UK medical device firms. EU MDR and UK MDR framework dimensions include medical device classification framework, medical device technical file framework, medical device clinical evaluation framework, medical device post-market surveillance framework including PMCF (Post-Market Clinical Follow-up) framework, medical device UDI (Unique Device Identification) framework, and the wider medical device regulatory framework dimensions.

FSA — Food Standards Agency framework — the principal UK food safety regulatory framework administered by the Food Standards Agency with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability at UK food firms.

CE/UKCA marking framework — UK firms placing products on UK and EU markets operate under CE marking framework (for EU markets) and UKCA marking framework (for UK markets) with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability for product compliance framework application across the firm’s product portfolio.

REACH Regulation framework — UK firms operating with chemical substance dimensions operate under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) framework with associated senior UK Director of QA intersection accountability at UK chemical firms.

HASAWA 1974 and UK health and safety framework — Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 framework intersection with senior UK Director of QA scope at UK firms with material technical health and safety dimensions.

UK Quality Methodology Framework

UK Director of QA appointments operate within UK quality methodology framework dimensions including the principal UK quality improvement methodology frameworks.

Lean Manufacturing — the principal manufacturing efficiency methodology framework with associated senior UK Director of QA intersection at UK manufacturing firms operating Lean Manufacturing framework. Lean Manufacturing framework dimensions include value stream mapping framework, waste elimination framework (the seven wastes — overproduction, waiting, transport, over-processing, inventory, motion, defects), 5S workplace organisation framework, kanban framework, just-in-time framework, and the wider Lean Manufacturing dimensions.

Six Sigma — the principal quality improvement methodology framework with associated senior UK Director of QA accountability at UK firms operating Six Sigma framework. Six Sigma framework dimensions include DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyse-Improve-Control) framework, DMADV (Define-Measure-Analyse-Design-Verify) framework, statistical analysis framework, process capability framework, Six Sigma Belt certification framework (Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, Master Black Belt), and the wider Six Sigma framework dimensions.

Kaizen — continuous improvement framework — the principal continuous improvement methodology framework with associated senior UK Director of QA intersection at UK firms operating Kaizen framework. Kaizen framework dimensions include continuous improvement framework, kaizen events framework, gemba walks framework, and the wider Kaizen dimensions.

8D Problem Solving framework — the principal quality problem-solving methodology framework with associated senior UK Director of QA intersection at UK firms operating 8D framework. 8D framework dimensions include team formation framework (D1), problem definition framework (D2), interim containment framework (D3), root cause analysis framework (D4), permanent corrective action framework (D5), implementation framework (D6), preventive action framework (D7), and team recognition framework (D8).

FMEA — Failure Mode and Effects Analysis — the principal quality risk analysis methodology framework with associated senior UK Director of QA intersection at UK firms operating FMEA framework. FMEA framework dimensions include Design FMEA (DFMEA) framework, Process FMEA (PFMEA) framework, severity-occurrence-detection scoring framework, Risk Priority Number (RPN) framework, and the wider FMEA dimensions.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) framework — Root Cause Analysis methodology framework dimensions including 5 Whys framework, Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram framework, fault tree analysis framework, Pareto analysis framework, and the wider RCA dimensions.

Statistical Process Control (SPC) — the principal statistical quality control methodology framework with associated senior UK Director of QA intersection at UK manufacturing firms operating SPC framework. SPC framework dimensions include control chart framework (X-bar charts, R charts, p charts, c charts), process capability indices framework (Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk), and the wider SPC dimensions.

TQM — Total Quality Management framework — the principal organisational quality methodology framework with associated senior UK Director of QA intersection at UK firms operating TQM framework. TQM framework dimensions include customer focus framework, total employee involvement framework, process-centred framework, integrated systems framework, strategic and systematic approach framework, continual improvement framework, fact-based decision making framework, and communications framework.

Principal UK Director of QA Responsibilities

UK Director of QA responsibilities vary across UK firm sectors but typically extend across the following senior quality dimensions at most UK firms.

Senior quality strategy and quality framework leadership — owning the firm’s senior quality strategy and senior quality framework architecture across senior quality strategy formulation, senior quality framework architecture aligned with the firm’s commercial sector, senior quality resource allocation across the firm’s quality functions, senior quality governance framework, senior quality budget framework at firm scale, and the wider senior quality strategy dimensions specific to the firm.

Quality management systems leadership — leading the firm’s quality management systems (QMS) framework across ISO 9001 framework application, sector-specific QMS framework application (AS9100 at aerospace firms, IATF 16949 at automotive firms, ISO 13485 at medical device firms, BRCGS at food firms, GxP at pharmaceutical firms), QMS documentation framework, QMS internal audit framework, QMS management review framework, and the wider quality management systems dimensions.

Quality assurance audit framework leadership — leading the firm’s quality assurance audit framework across internal quality audit framework, supplier quality audit framework, customer quality audit support framework, regulatory quality audit framework engagement (MHRA inspections at pharmaceutical firms, sector-specific regulatory audits), Notified Body audit framework engagement at medical device firms, and the wider quality audit dimensions.

Quality compliance framework leadership — leading the firm’s quality compliance framework across UK and sector-specific quality regulatory framework application, sector-specific quality certification framework, CE/UKCA marking framework where applicable, MHRA framework engagement at pharmaceutical and medical device firms, FSA framework engagement at food firms, and the wider quality compliance dimensions specific to the firm’s commercial sector.

Quality risk management framework leadership — leading the firm’s quality risk management framework across quality risk identification framework, quality risk assessment framework intersection with FMEA framework, quality risk treatment framework, quality risk monitoring framework, and the wider quality risk management dimensions.

Supplier quality framework leadership — leading the firm’s supplier quality framework across supplier qualification framework, supplier quality audit framework, supplier corrective action framework, supplier scorecard framework, supplier development framework, and the wider supplier quality dimensions specific to UK firms.

Customer quality framework leadership — leading the firm’s customer quality framework across customer quality requirements framework, customer complaint framework, customer CAPA framework intersection, customer satisfaction framework, and the wider customer quality dimensions.

Quality data and metrics framework leadership — leading the firm’s quality data and metrics framework across quality KPI framework, quality dashboard framework, quality trend analysis framework, quality reporting framework to senior leadership and Board, and the wider quality data dimensions.

Quality improvement programme leadership — leading the firm’s quality improvement programmes across Lean Manufacturing programmes at UK manufacturing firms, Six Sigma programmes, Kaizen programmes, TQM programmes, and the wider quality improvement programme dimensions specific to UK firms.

Quality team leadership — leading the firm’s senior quality team typically numbering 4-15+ senior quality direct reports at UK SME and mid-market firm scale (typically including QA Manager(s), Quality Engineer(s), Quality Inspector(s), Quality Auditor(s), Supplier Quality Manager, Customer Quality Manager, Quality Systems Manager, depending on firm scale and structure).

UK Director of QA Required Experience and Qualifications

UK Director of QA appointments typically require senior quality career experience and qualification credentials across the following dimensions.

Senior quality leadership career background — typically 12-25+ years of senior quality career experience including prior Director of QA experience at peer UK SME or mid-market firms, prior senior quality leadership experience (Head of Quality, Quality Manager, Senior Quality Engineer) at major UK firms with senior quality scope that meaningfully maps to Director of QA scope.

Sector-specific quality career background — UK Director of QA appointments typically require senior quality career background in the firm’s commercial sector with sector-specific regulatory framework familiarity, sector-specific quality framework familiarity, and senior commercial dimensions that meaningfully map to the firm’s senior quality requirements.

CQI — Chartered Quality Institute qualification — the principal UK quality professional qualification framework with CQI membership at MCQI (Member) and FCQI (Fellow) tier and Chartered Quality Professional (CQP) designation operating as the standard senior UK quality professional credential. CQI qualification is particularly material at UK senior Director of QA appointments where formal UK senior quality professional credentials are specified.

IRCA — International Register of Certificated Auditors — IRCA quality auditor credentials operating as standard quality auditor professional credentials at UK Director of QA appointments with material quality auditor framework dimensions.

ASQ — American Society for Quality credentials — ASQ international quality credentials including ASQ Certified Quality Manager / Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), ASQ Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), and ASQ Six Sigma Black Belt credentials operating as standard international quality credentials at UK Director of QA appointments.

Six Sigma Black Belt and Master Black Belt certifications — Six Sigma certifications at Black Belt and Master Black Belt tier operating as standard quality improvement professional credentials at UK Director of QA appointments at firms operating Six Sigma framework.

Lean Six Sigma certifications — Lean Six Sigma certifications operating as standard quality improvement professional credentials at UK Director of QA appointments at firms operating Lean Six Sigma framework.

Engineering Council UK Chartered Engineer (CEng) — at UK Director of QA appointments at engineering-rooted UK manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and chemical firms, Engineering Council UK Chartered Engineer (CEng) status operating as a meaningful senior engineering professional credential intersecting with senior quality scope.

Sector-specific qualifications — sector-specific qualifications including pharmaceutical-specific qualifications at UK pharmaceutical firms, medical device-specific qualifications at UK medical device firms, food-specific qualifications at UK food firms, and adjacent sector-specific qualifications where applicable.

Educational background — UK Directors of QA typically hold undergraduate degrees in engineering, sciences, mathematics, or sector-relevant disciplines (most commonly from UK universities) with selected senior Director of QA candidates holding postgraduate qualifications (MSc Quality Management, MBA, sector-specific specialised qualifications).

UK Director of QA Compensation Calibration

UK Director of QA compensation varies materially with firm scale, sector, and senior accountability scope.

UK SME Director of QA (typical revenue £5-30 million) — typical UK base salary range £75,000-£120,000, with bonus typically 10-25% of base plus selected long-term incentive arrangements where applicable at PE-backed UK SME firms. Total compensation typically £85,000-£155,000 across cash and selected equity arrangements.

UK mid-market firm Director of QA (typical revenue £30-100 million) — typical UK base salary range £110,000-£170,000, with bonus typically 15-30% of base plus long-term incentive arrangements. Total compensation typically £130,000-£230,000 across cash and equity arrangements at UK mid-market firms.

UK pharmaceutical and medical device Director of QA — regulated industry tier — typical UK pharmaceutical and medical device Director of QA compensation operates at the upper end of the broader UK Director of QA ranges reflecting senior commercial dimensions specific to UK pharmaceutical and medical device regulatory framework leadership including MHRA framework dimensions, EU/UK MDR framework dimensions, and the wider senior pharmaceutical and medical device regulated industry quality dimensions. Typical UK pharmaceutical and medical device Director of QA compensation operates in the £130,000-£220,000+ range.

UK aerospace and defence Director of QA — regulated industry tier — typical UK aerospace and defence Director of QA compensation operates at the upper end of the broader UK Director of QA ranges reflecting senior commercial dimensions specific to UK aerospace and defence regulatory framework including AS9100 framework leadership, EASA/CAA framework intersection, NADCAP framework where applicable, and the wider senior aerospace and defence quality dimensions. Typical UK aerospace and defence Director of QA compensation operates in the £130,000-£200,000 range.

UK PE-backed firm Director of QA — typical UK base salary range £110,000-£170,000, with bonus typically 15-30% of base plus material sweet equity participation in the platform structure. Total cash compensation typically £130,000-£230,000 plus sweet equity that potentially adds material economic value at successful PE-firm exits across multi-year hold periods.

Sample UK Director of QA Job Description Structure

The following sample UK Director of QA job description structure can be adapted by UK firms specifying senior Director of QA requirements internally and externally.

Position title — Director of Quality Assurance [or alternative designation: Director of Quality, QA Director, Head of Quality Assurance at firms operating with selected designation alternatives].

Reporting line — Reports to [Managing Director / Chief Executive / Chief Operating Officer / Operations Director / Technical Director] with senior accountability to [Board where applicable, Audit and Risk Committee where applicable at UK FTSE-listed firms, senior shareholders, PE Investment Director at PE-backed firms].

Senior direct reports — Quality team typically including [list senior direct reports — typically QA Manager(s), Quality Engineer(s), Quality Inspector(s), Quality Auditor(s), Supplier Quality Manager, Customer Quality Manager, Quality Systems Manager, depending on firm scale and structure].

Role purpose — to lead [firm name] across [senior quality strategy and quality framework leadership, quality management systems leadership, quality assurance audit framework leadership, quality compliance framework leadership, quality risk management framework leadership, supplier quality framework leadership, customer quality framework leadership, quality data and metrics framework leadership, quality improvement programme leadership, quality team leadership, and the wider senior quality dimensions specific to the firm].

Principal responsibilities — adapt the principal responsibilities section above to the specific senior quality dimensions of the firm.

Required experience — adapt the required experience section above to the specific senior career background requirements of the firm.

Required qualifications — typically specify CQI Chartered Quality Institute qualification (MCQI at minimum, FCQI Fellow at senior tier), Chartered Quality Professional (CQP) designation, IRCA quality auditor credentials where applicable, ASQ international quality credentials where applicable, Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certifications at firms operating Six Sigma framework, Engineering Council UK Chartered Engineer (CEng) status at engineering-rooted firms, and sector-specific qualifications where applicable.

Compensation framework — base salary range, bonus arrangements, long-term incentive participation where applicable, benefits framework including pension, and any sector-specific compensation arrangements.

Application process — application instructions, senior search firm engagement where applicable, interview process structure, senior reference and assessment requirements.

From Director of QA Job Description to Senior Search

The Director of QA job description is the principal artifact through which UK firms specify the senior Director of QA role. The job description supports senior Director of QA recruitment by articulating the senior specifications externally to candidates, internally to the senior leadership team, and to senior search firms engaged on senior Director of QA recruitment mandates.

For senior UK Director of QA recruitment service engagement, see Director of Quality Assurance Recruitment. For UK Technical Director senior search at UK engineering, manufacturing, construction, chemical, and adjacent UK technical-led firms see Technical Director Recruitment; for UK Technical Director Job Description reference see Technical Director Job Description. For UK Operations Director senior search at UK SME and mid-market firms see Operations Director Recruitment.

Senior UK Director of QA recruitment at Exec Capital follows a retained methodology calibrated to the specific dynamics of UK Director of QA recruitment across UK pharmaceutical, medical device, food, manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, chemical, technology, and adjacent UK sector firms. Senior search engagement begins with structured brief development that articulates the firm scenario, sector context, regulatory framework requirements, methodology framework requirements, qualification requirements, and the senior commercial dimensions specific to the firm. Every senior Director of QA mandate at Exec Capital is led personally by Adrian Lawrence FCA.