Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we're inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We're proud to play a part in protecting the world's democracies. And we're committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world's aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

It's great to know you're making a difference to the future of aviation! Whatever part you play you'll be helping us deliver operational excellence to our customers. Based at our Luton manufacturing plant you'll do just that. Established in 1993, GKN Aerospace in Luton is a world leader in commercial and military ice protection systems and transparencies. Offering a full range of capabilities; design, analysis, testing, certification and manufacture of electro-thermal ice protection, military fast jet canopies and flight deck windows to over 20 programmes including: Boeing 787, Dreamliner, AgustaWestland, AW101, Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. Our customers include Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopters, Textron, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Leonardo. Our Luton site is home to 370+ employees and onsite facilities including onsite parking, food hub and vending machines.

We're hiring a Site Quality Manager to join our team at our Luton manufacturing facility. This is a Senior Site Leadership role responsible for planning, implementing, assuring, and continuously improving the Quality Management System (QMS) and Business Management System (BMS) to meet the needs and expectations of the site's interested parties, while maintaining all associated certifications and regulatory approvals. The role is accountable for supporting and assuring Product Safety, Product Quality, and Customer Satisfaction through zero-defect quality planning, effective product realisation and delivery, the provision of customer support, and the application of robust risk management, problem-solving, and quality improvement practices.

As a key member of the Site Leadership Team, the Site Quality Manager will provide expert guidance, governance, and leadership to foster a culture of quality across all site activities. The role will ensure ongoing quality compliance while supporting the achievement of business objectives, including leading initiatives focused on Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) reduction, driving effective 8D/RCCA investigations, and facilitating complex A3 problem-solving activities to support operational excellence and continuous improvement.

GKN Luton is a stable, high-performing facility with ambitious growth plans for the months and years ahead. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in shaping the site's future. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to transform and develop the Quality function, creating a high-performing team that supports continued operational excellence and future growth.

Job Responsibilities

• Working collaboratively with the site Senior Leadership Team to create and sustain a Quality culture and provide appropriate governance and assurance leadership
• Plan and assure availability of Quality related resources and continuously lead/support capability development and improvement
• Planning, implementation, maintenance and continuous improvement of the site QMS/BMS and product quality in compliance with industry standards, applicable Aviation Safety laws, Regulatory Requirements, customer and GKN Aerospace Global Standards requirements (APMS)
• Systemic analysis of QMS/BMS data such as process performance measures, CA timeliness, trend analysis and KPI to the site Management Review process ensuring effective, data based, factual inputs to business decisions
• Responsible for scheduling, undertaking, reporting and resourcing of audits to ensure ongoing compliance against the Customer, Regulatory and 3rd Party requirements and industry standards, as well as GKN's own requirements and delivering on site follow up activities to ensure successful outcomes of the audits
• Planning, conducting & follow up activities (including systemic analysis of risk/opportunity) of product and production process audit as required by the programmes and to assure proper discharge of delegated product quality related activities in the organisation in support of product safety and conformity.
• Systemic risk management and mitigation for Quality with focus on compliance, assurance, deployment and effectiveness. Escalating any Quality risks including product performance affecting customers to the Site Leadership, and if applicable/appropriate the accountable manager (POA/MOA) and Business Line Quality Director for support/co-ordination of appropriate actions to mitigate/address these risks
• Coordination, planning, hosting and leadership of all Customer (2nd party) & Certification Body (3rd party) audits and assessments of the Quality Systems and Special Processes to ensure successful outcome and, supporting Site Local Business Process Owners in resolving any issues raised as part of the audits
• Act as the site representative for the certified entity and Quality related matters with Customers, Certifying Bodies and Aerospace Authorities.
• Coach the site to ensure the adoption of the GKNA Global Standards, adapting and tailoring the local QMS/BMS processes and improve effectiveness and efficiency, to support achieving business objectives
• Planning and management of the system requirements for hosting and deployment of the local QMS/BMS, its stated processes & associated controls and for training people who will be defining/utilising its functions
• Recording and measuring of any defined Site Quality Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) including Quality Escapes and Cost of Poor Quality and for taking the actions necessary to improve
• Managing Continuous Improvement of the QMS/BMS as well as forward planning on the integration of new regulation/specification requirements
• Where applicable, is responsible to the Regulatory Authorities for all product Compliance to the various Airworthiness Regulations and holds the authority for the approval of all product conformance documentation such as the EASA Form 1 (Product Airworthiness Certificate) and Certificates of Conformity
• Provides guidance to and act as a point of escalation for personnel with delegated Quality authorities and top-level arbitration to resolve conflicts between personnel with delegated Quality authority and line management

What You'll Bring

To help us make a difference, you'll bring your...