Quality Lead

About the Opportunity

Based in Cairns, the Quality Lead, reporting to the Senior Quality Manager – Australasia, is a key leadership position responsible for driving the strategic quality agenda across the Business Unit. The role partners with Business Unit leaders and operational management to embed a culture of quality excellence, strengthen quality governance, and ensure the effective implementation of quality management systems, standards, and assurance frameworks. In addition to the above, the Quality Lead provides direction, coaching, mentoring and support for all day-to-day business activities to quality team members

About Austal

Austal is Australia’s global shipbuilder, Defence prime contractor, and maritime technology partner of choice. We design, construct, and support defence and commercial vessels for the world’s leading operators with operations spanning Australia, the USA, Philippines, and Vietnam. With operations spanning multiple sites, Austal offers diverse career opportunities in trades, maintenance, engineering support, project services, corporate functions and operational delivery.

Learn more at  Careers at Austal Australia | Austal: Australia

This is your opportunity to contribute to projects of national significance. The maritime is now.

What’s Involved

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring compliance with ISO 9001, customer, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
• Provide quality governance and assurance by overseeing compliance, maintaining quality documentation, and conducting audits and reviews to ensure adherence to organisational standards.
• Drive a culture of quality and continuous improvement by coaching and mentoring teams, delivering quality training, and promoting best practices across the organisation.
• Act as the primary quality subject matter expert, managing customer quality requirements, supporting internal and external audits, and resolving customer quality issues effectively.
• Manage non-conformance, corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes, investigating quality issues, implementing corrective actions, and verifying their effectiveness.
• Develop, monitor, and report on quality KPIs and performance metrics, providing management with insights into quality risks, compliance, and continuous improvement opportunities.

You’ll Need 

• Lead Auditor qualification in ISO 9001 (or equivalent).
• Minimum 5 years' experience in quality assurance or quality management.
• Proven experience developing and maintaining Quality Management Systems (QMS).
• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001, quality assurance, and compliance requirements.
• Experience leading internal and external audits and managing audit programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing non-conformances and CAPA processes.
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and continuous improvement skills.
• Experience developing and reporting quality KPIs and performance metrics.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and report writing skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and business management systems.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• A supportive and dynamic work environment.
• Opportunities for career advancement within our growing organisation.

At Austal we are committed to providing a safe and inclusive work environment for all. We believe that achieving greater diversity will enhance our operations and as such we actively encourage Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders, people of all backgrounds, ages, sexual orientation, and those with Disability to apply. Veterans are also encouraged to apply.

Learn more at https://www.austaljobs.com/australia