Ford & Stanley Executive Search (Part of the Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group) are a leading Executive search and talent advisory firm specialising in the following sectors:

Rail & Transportation
Civils & Construction
Manufacturing & Supply Chain
Technology & Cyber Security
Logistics & Intermodal Freight
Defence

Our search directors, search consultants and in-house research team specialise in retained opportunities at the highest level of organisational leadership and management.

Our success is based upon a blend of trust-driven relationships, robust market knowledge, and working practices that ensure the best possible alignment of organisational need with experience and personal ambition.

Working with business leaders on bespoke assignments for over a decade, we understand exactly what our customers expect from an executive search and talent advisory service – whether there is a pressing business need for an executive interim or that of a long-term permanent appointment - Ford & Stanley Executive Search provide the solution.

We have been exclusively appointed on a retained search for a Head of Quality.

This brief is designed to give candidates a deeper insight into the opportunity inherent within the role, the challenges the role presents, and provide access to the details that sit behind the job specification.

Client Opportunity Statements:
“We have embarked upon a journey of modernisation to ensure that we remain head and shoulders above our competition over the coming years, transitioning from full vehicle overhaul to specialising in our OEM sub-system capability. A critical part of this journey is hiring a UK Quality Leader who can not only build relationships internally but can also be client-facing with a relationship-led approach, understanding what’s keeping our clients awake at night. It is vital that we secure a Leader who can lead from the front defining and implementing Quality excellence.”

“It’s of paramount importance that our new leader recognises the importance of the difference between fixing quality problems and leading the team. We have a highly capable quality team that needs mentoring, developing and provided clear direction.”

“In addition to our business-wide objectives that will see us continue to grow as an organisation, there is a targeted initiative within the function to ensure we develop and mature our quality management capability to ensure it remains at a high standards as the business grows and develops”

Client Company Overview:
A leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on over 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether its freight, transit, mining, industrial or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people – together – are accelerating the future of transportation.

Our people, with their extraordinary collective talent, vision and experience, are our biggest asset. Our dynamic leadership team has a proven strategy to empower over 27,000 employees in over 50 countries around the world.

Our Offering

Passenger, freight and road vehicle overhaul, upgrade and maintenance provision: -DMU, EMU and passenger coach overhaul, refurbishment, upgrade, life extension, maintenance, C6 and C4 exams - Rail and freight locomotive – new, rebuild, repower, overhaul and maintenance - Industrial locomotive and shunting locomotive – new and overhaul - Road and rail vehicle.
System and component provision: - Passenger power/trailer and underground car bogie and gearbox– overhaul - Freight bogie – new and overhaul - Freight and passenger wheel – new, overhaul and maintenance - Engine, transmission and cooler group – overhaul and upgrade - Traction motor – overhaul and upgrade - HVAC – overhaul and maintenance - Door, step and ramp - Brake, coupler and buffer - CCTV, passenger information and pantograph.
Service provision: - Fleet spares management including obsolescence management and reverse engineering - Freight vehicle on depot service provision - Passenger vehicle on depot service provision.

Culture

We’re always looking for people who can bring fresh perspectives and life experiences to our teams. If you’re looking for a place that values your curiosity, passion and desire to learn, then you’ve come to the right place!
You will work with some of the most talented and passionate professionals in the industry. Our global team is committed and results-oriented and that has helped us remain highly competitive in our industry. We recognize the value of having a diverse team and an inclusive culture. We seek out people with diverse backgrounds, skills and perspectives because we believe a diverse team produces better ideas and is more successful at meeting the needs of our customers.
Regardless of your role, you’ll collaborate with a team of people who share your passion and help you succeed. A great place to work for anyone who naturally focuses on continuous improvement, who feel ownership for their work and who take pride in exceeding customer needs.

Challenges expected within the first 12 months include:

Many of the quality teams are currently operating within ‘siloed’ functions that have evolved during acquisitive history. It will be a challenge to harmonize all of these teams and processes and ensure consistency where appropriate.
We are expecting some resistance to change as the business continues to transform. It will take a credible and charismatic leader to unify all areas of the team with a common goal.
Although the team is particularly strong at identifying areas to improve the business and processes there have been weaknesses identified in the ability to pull a plan together to deliver these improvement. This is something the incoming Head of Quality will need to lead from the front.

Key deliverables within the first 12 months include:

To have developed a robust improvement plan.
Complete a thorough harmonization of quality processes between multiple sites and teams .
Ensure that the quality function has evolved into a team that has the right balance between adopting Group protocols and protocols that make sense for the business unit.

Essential Hard Skills (Skills & Experience)

Proven ability leading a quality function from a senior position.

Able to demonstrate their track record operating within a multi site environment.

Successfully operated within a business that has a large (~£100m) spend

Proven ability within a similar industrial, manufacturing or high integrity environment

Able to articulate their experience in both a strategic and hands on manner

Desirable: Proven ability to lead transformation

Essential Soft Skills (Attributes & Behaviours)

Charismatic leader

High levels of energy and ‘get up and go’

Keen to lead from the front and set a strong example

Autonomous and keen to take the initiative

Working Arrangements & Location:

This role will be based out of Burton on Trent at 3 days per week with some flexibility to work from home.

Key Responsibilities

To have developed a robust plan for the evolution of the Quality Function.
Complete a thorough harmonisation of quality processes between multiple sites and teams.
Ensure that the quality function has evolved into a team that has the right balance between adopting Group protocols and protocols that make sense for the business unit.

Good to know:

The Head of Quality UK is a new role within the Group structure designed to take ownership of the quality procedures within all UK Business areas and Business units.
The incoming Head of Quality UK will take on full ownership Audits, Reviews, Supplier Quality, compliance and quality processes and procedures in addition to being involved with customers.
We are looking for this role to bring in some energy and a proactive approach to being ‘right first time’.
As it stands the quality team is 25 – 30 split in an almost siloed manner between different sites and historical product lines.
The key customers for the business are Rolling Stock OEM’s, ‘ROSCO’s’, and Train Operators.

Supporting benefits

Car Allowance
Holiday Allowance
Sick Pay
Pension
Life Assurance
Salary Reviews
Perks

About Ford & Stanley Executive Search:

Please see the supporting appendix: Executive Search Candidate Journey.

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an ongoing basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective of sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs, and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy. Services advertised by Ford & Stanley Executive Search are those of an executive search and talent advisory business.