Quality Assurance Leader

Independent Forgings and Alloys Ltd.; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading forging company in Sheffield is seeking a committed Quality Assurance Leader to enhance their Quality Management System. The role includes overseeing compliance, leading audits, and managing customer quality expectations. Ideal candidates will have experience in aerospace quality management and a strong knowledge of QMS standards. The company offers attractive benefits, including 33 days of holiday, a pension scheme, and development opportunities.

Benefits

33 days holiday

5% pension scheme

Performance-linked bonus

Westfield cash plan

Access to fitness apps and gyms

Free work wear and PPE

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience with internal or external audits on accreditations.
• Strong knowledge of AS 9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015.
• Ideally with experience of forging or machining operations.

Responsibilities

• Ensure effective implementation of the Quality Management System.
• Lead internal and external audits and compliance assessments.
• Manage supplier quality assurance programs and performance.

Skills

Experience in quality management within Aerospace

Knowledge of QMS standards

Proficiency in root cause analysis

Excellent communications and leadership skills

Education

Quality Management qualification or related field

Tools

Statistical methods (SPC, MSA, PPAP)

Job description

Independent Forgings and Alloys have an exciting opportunity for a committed, and driven Quality Assurance Leader to join our journey to become the number one forging company in the world.

Over the last few years Independent Forgings and Alloys Ltd (IFA) have invested in the business and have successfully doubled our turnover and are continuing on this path.

Main Purpose of the Role

The Quality Assurance Leader is responsible for ensuring that the company’s Quality Management System and its accreditation is effectively implemented, maintained, and continuously improved across a large metal forging operation. This role leads quality assurance programs covering compliance, audits, process documentation, customer quality requirements, and systemic quality performance.

Main duties include:

• Quality Management System (QMS) – Maintain and develop the company’s QMS AS 9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015, NADCAP, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 AS/EN9100). Lead the development, revision, and approval of procedures, work instructions, and policies.
• Internal & External Audits – Plan and conduct internal audits across all operational areas, assessing compliance with process standards.
• Customer Quality Assurance – Act as a key point of contact for customer quality expectations, documentation, and compliance issues. Prepare and manage customer‑required quality submissions.
• Process Assurance & Documentation – Ensure all manufacturing and inspection processes are properly documented and controlled. Lead control plan development and verification in cooperation with production and engineering. Oversee document control, traceability systems, and version management.
• Corrective & Preventive Action Management – Lead root‑cause analysis and ensure robust corrective actions are implemented. Track effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions across the company.
• Supplier Quality Assurance – Support supplier assessments, audits, and incoming quality assurance programs. Monitor supplier performance and participate in decisions to approve, develop, or disqualify suppliers.
• Team leadership – Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Quality Engineers, Customer Quality Officers, Certification Officers. Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across all levels of the organisation.
• Training & Quality Culture – Develop and deliver training on quality processes, standards, and documentation requirements. Coordinate quality awareness initiatives to strengthen discipline and adherence to procedures.
• Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement – Track and analyse quality metrics (NCRs, audit results, customer complaints, scrap/rework trends). Prepare regular reports for leadership, highlighting risks, systemic issues, and improvement actions.

Background and experience

• Experience in quality management within Aerospace.
• Quality Management qualification or related field.
• Strong knowledge of QMS standards (AS 9100 Rev D, ISO 9001:2015, NADCAP, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 AS/EN9100)).
• Ideally with experience of forging, machining, or metallurgical operations.
• Experience with auditing the above accreditation (internal or external), control plans, PPAP, and customer compliance.
• Proficiency in root cause analysis, statistical methods, and quality tools (SPC, MSA, PPAP, PFMEA, APQP).
• Excellent communications and leadership skills.

About Independent Forgings

Independent Forgings and Alloys (IFA) is one of Britain’s leading independent aerospace and industrial forgers. The unique feature about IFA is the combination of open and closed‑die forging while also undertaking the whole production process from raw material to the finished product in one location. Operating from a (Apply online only) ft2 facility in Sheffield, we manufacture high‑integrity, open‑die and closed‑die forged components in nickel alloy, titanium, stainless steel and carbon alloys for customers and tier‑one suppliers within the aerospace, nuclear, power generation, marine as well as oil and gas sector.

Why work for us?

At IFA we pride ourselves on being a great place to work. As one of the UK’s leading forge manufacturing companies we want to ensure that we attract, motivate and retain the best people who can deliver the best service to the company and our customers.

We offer you:

• Holidays – you will have 33 days holiday, including bank holidays.
• Pension scheme – IFA wants to provide its employees a good foundation for life after work and hence offers a 5% contribution.
• Working hours – 8.15am – 4.30pm Monday to Thursday with 4pm finish on Friday.
• Bonus scheme – this is linked to team and company performance.
• Westfield cash plan – IFA provides level 1 health cash plan which comes along with numerous discounts and special offers, including gym discounts, online, high street and grocery retailers and many more.
• Wellhub – access to various fitness apps and gyms in the local area.
• Free work wear and PPE.
• Development – we offer genuine development opportunities to progress your career.