This role is responsible for leading the strategic direction, governance and continual improvement of the organisation's quality management systems, ensuring the highest standards of product quality, reliability and customer satisfaction.

Operating at a senior leadership level, the role provides oversight of quality assurance, quality systems, supplier quality, failure analysis and calibration functions, while ensuring compliance with industry, customer and regulatory requirements.

The Quality Director serves as the primary customer quality representative, driving a culture of operational excellence, continuous improvement and zero-defect performance across the organisation. Through strong leadership, stakeholder engagement and technical expertise, the role supports business growth, protects the company's reputation and ensures the consistent delivery of high-quality semiconductor products to global customers.

Responsibilities

Quality

• Lead and maintain the Newport Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with ISO 9001, IATF 16949 and VDA 6.3 standards.
• Act as the primary customer representative and interface for audits, quality concerns and customer requirements.
• Define and drive the strategic direction of quality systems, quality culture and continuous improvement across the site.
• Manage external audit programmes and relationships with third-party certification bodies, including LRQA.
• Lead customer complaint investigations and resolution activities, including field returns, assembly complaints and 8D corrective actions.
• Promote and embed quality improvement methodologies, including APQP, FMEA, QCC, 5S, MSA and SPC.
• Drive standardisation and strategic quality initiatives aligned with Vishay 3.0 and sister fabrication facilities.
• Oversee document control, change management processes and serve as final approver for key quality, process and customer communications.
• Chair key quality and material review boards, including PCRB and LRB, ensuring effective governance and decision-making.
• Lead customer and regulatory audits, ensuring successful execution and compliance across the organisation.
• Monitor and report quality performance metrics, including customer satisfaction, PPM, FARs, defect reduction and overall QMS effectiveness.
• Lead, develop and performance manage the Quality, Failure Analysis and Calibration teams, including objective setting, coaching and annual reviews.
• Provide strategic oversight of Failure Analysis and Calibration activities, supporting technical capability development and operational excellence.
• Manage supplier quality performance and mentor Supplier Quality Management resources.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets across Quality Assurance, Quality Systems, Failure Analysis and Calibration functions.
• Champion a customer-first, zero-defect culture that drives quality excellence, compliance and business performance.

Failure Analysis

• Manage and maintain the site's Calibration and Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) programmes, ensuring compliance, accuracy and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership, coaching and mentoring to the Failure Analysis Manager and Failure Analysis team, supporting a 24/7 laboratory operation.
• Act as a technical mentor on Failure Analysis methodologies, techniques and investigations, providing expertise and guidance where required.
• Develop, manage and control budgets for the Failure Analysis and Calibration functions, ensuring effective resource allocation and cost management.
• Support the development of technical capability, skills enhancement and talent growth within the Failure Analysis team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and succession planning.
• Ensure Failure Analysis and Calibration activities support operational, quality and customer objectives through timely investigation, analysis and problem resolution

Essential Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Quality Management, Semiconductor Technology or a related technical discipline.
• Lead Auditor certification in ISO 9001 and IATF 16949.
• VDA 6.3 and Supplier Auditor qualification or equivalent auditing experience.

Essential Experience

• 3 - 5 years senior leadership experience within Quality Engineering, Quality Management and Semiconductor Manufacturing environments.
• Extensive experience leading Quality Management Systems within highly regulated manufacturing environments, preferably automotive semiconductors.
• Proven track record of managing customer quality relationships, external audits and regulatory compliance programmes.
• Strong practical experience of quality tools and methodologies including APQP, FMEA, 8D, SPC, MSA and continuous improvement techniques.
• Demonstrated success in leading multidisciplinary teams, driving cultural transformation and developing high-performing organisations.
• Deep understanding of semiconductor manufacturing processes, product reliability and failure analysis techniques.
• Experience in budget management, strategic planning and performance management at a senior level.
• Strong customer-facing experience, with the ability to influence stakeholders and build effective relationships at all levels.

Desirable Experience

• Experience of Failure Analysis and Calibration laboratory management.
• Knowledge of integrated management systems, including ISO 14001, ISO 50001 and ISO 45001.
• Experience working in the automotive and aerospace semiconductor sectors, with an understanding of industry standards and customer expectations, is desirable
• Proven experience of driving customer satisfaction improvements, quality standardisation and operational excellence across multiple sites or international organisations.

Key Competencies

• Strategic leadership and business acumen.
• Customer-focus and a zero-defect mindset.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• System thinking and continuous improvement orientation.

Ability to coach, mentor and develop technic