Job description (critical purpose) As a Senior Factory & Quality Compliance Specialist, you are responsible for the implementation of technical compliance and quality management systems in the supply chain, ensuring Own Brand products are produced in accordance to the required standards and meeting the compliance requirements. You will lead a team of factory & quality compliance specialists to support the sourcing office in performing new factory on-boarding, in-house supplier audits, pre-production & during production reviews and pre-shipment inspections to ensure compliance with John Lewis & Waitrose standards, as well as actively participating in continuous improvement projects on key suppliers and factories in accordance with the sourcing office strategic plans. You will be the key ground support, suggesting structural quality and process improvements while validating corrective actions with suppliers. Primary Outcomes & Accountabilities Act in accordance with the Partnership’s purpose and democratic principles, constructively participating in co-ownership, and demonstrating to customers and each other that it is a better way of doing business. Share your knowledge, experiences, ideas and opinion to improve the Partnership, speaking honestly and frequently. Invest in your personal and professional development to achieve your potential, by doing more, doing better, or doing different. Continuously engage with and actively contribute to your Profession Take responsibility for actively engaging with change. Create the conditions for all Partners to thrive, make their best contribution and achieve their potential. Appreciate what different life experiences bring to the Partnership and the value this adds to unbiased and smarter decision making. Set the tone, context and outcomes for the team with the voice of the customer at the heart. Enable the conditions for Partner opinion to be heard and acted upon. Key Accountabilities & Activities ● Implementation of quality & technical compliance programmes in the supply chain ● Ensure supply chain operate with an effective quality management system through monitoring and training ● Develop framework to proactively monitor performances of supply chain in terms of quality management & technical compliance ● Develop bespoke programmes for key suppliers and factories in continual improvement ● Provide trainings to enhance quality management systems and technical compliance status of supply chain ● Ensure effectiveness in technical audit programme, pre-shipment inspection programme and related quality management programmes ● Champion for QMS. ● Working closely with Victoria Factory Compliance Manager on the factory compliance program. ● Champion & contact point for 3rd party service providers for coordination on pre-shipment inspection templates, scoring and procedures, etc. ● Responsible for performance of 3rd party service providers. Managing complaints, escalations and resolutions. ● Monitor and track validity of all factory technical audit compliance. Monitor and track performance for all 3rd party pre-shipment inspections and supplier self-inspections. ● Working closely with Category Technical Managers on establishing schedules for on-site technical support. ● Working closely with respective Product Development Technologists on factory related QMS escalations. ● Support Product Development & Merchandising Sourcing teams in conducting capability assessments and verifying factory qualifications. ● Support Product Development teams on key supplier continuous improvement projects and the sourcing office on pre-buying trip reviews. ● Perform individually or with support from Product Development Technologists for on-site factory monitoring and improvement activities such as new factory on-boarding, pre-production & during production reviews, pre-shipment inspections and in-house audits. ● Working closely with Global Technical & Compliance Data Specialist on monthly, quarterly and annual reporting. ● Maintain oversight of all auditing and pre-shipment inspection scheduling. ● Providing support in training of suppliers in process controls and inspection requirements. ● Horizon scanning of regulations, standards and benchmarking & calibrating of auditing requirements. ● Assess and screen new factory to ensure that they can meet John Lewis and Waitrose brand standards. Qualifications & Experience Essential ● Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering or Manufacturing related field, or equivalent professional industrial, technical experience. Min 5 years working experience in manufacturing & process engineering, quality assurance & control or supplier quality. ● Good understanding of Quality Management Systems, with relevant working knowledge in auditing requirements (ISO9001). ● Knowledge of Risk Management / DFMEA / PFMEA. ● Must be able to show a good knowledge of SPC and its applications. ● Excellent analytical and problem solving skills. ● Strong communication and interpersonal skills. ● Good analytical, critical thinking and problem solving skills and the ability to conduct root cause analyses and devise suitable preventive action plans. Desirable ● Some knowledge of NPI / LCM / Design for Manufacturing (DfM) / Six Sigma Lean Methodologies / 5-Why / Problem Solving techniques. ● Show a good practical use of measuring equipment and measuring techniques. ● Capable of making independent decisions; whilst being appreciative of existing protocols and standards. ● Attention to detail. ● Ability to prioritise workload. ● Flexible and trustworthy.
