Customer Quality & Plant SQ Principal

We are looking for a talented Customer Quality & Plant SQ Principal to join our team in the Plant Quality Department in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

This is a permanent position that requires full on-site presence.

Working hours:

7:30 am to 4:00 pm. 15% Domestic and 10% International travel as required.

• Advocate for customer needs by resolving product and process quality issues and integrating customer expectations into quality planning, evaluation, and control.
• Develop and translate customer requirements for the site, using customer‑centric metrics to guide prioritization and allocate quality resources effectively.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer quality topics at the site level, managing corrective action systems, nonconforming material processes, and containment activities.
• Drive continuous improvement by reducing defect potential, strengthening processes, and ensuring purchased parts and product designs meet customer‑specific quality standards.
• Identify problems, prioritize actions, and lead or support Six Sigma, continuous improvement, or customer‑specific methodology projects.
• Conduct quality audits and act as a technical quality resource for cross‑functional teams, while coaching and mentoring less experienced team members.
• Lead opportunities to enhance current site processes using Quality 4.0 principles, support Safe Launch activities (VPI), and apply AIAG core tools to strengthen quality performance.
• Responsible for the supplier corrective action process, including Containment, Interim Corrective Action, and identification of assignable cause at the assigned site. May lead or support development of permanent corrective actions while providing process oversight and guidance.
• Responsible for Quality bonded inventory control and monitoring to achieve inventory accuracy target.

To be successful in this role you will need the following:

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences and deliver clear, effective, multi‑mode communication.
• A customer‑focused mindset, capable of building strong relationships and consistently delivering customer‑centric solutions.
• Advanced problem‑solving skills, using structured, data‑driven methodologies to identify root causes, implement robust corrective actions, and prevent recurrence—while also mentoring others in systematic problem‑solving.
• The ability to work cross‑functionally, collaborating with internal teams to address quality issues, drive improvements, and ensure customer expectations are met.

• A college or university degree is required; a background in Engineering or a related technical or scientific field is preferred.
• Intermediate‑level experience in Manufacturing or Quality is required.
• Relevant experience in Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, or Program Management within the automotive industry or another similarly regulated sector is preferred.
• Additional related manufacturing or quality experience is considered an advantage.

The compensation for this role is aligned with a local bargained or unionized agreement.