Lead Quality Auditor
Full Time | Permanent | Up to £36,000 + Benefits
Matlock - DE4 5A
Are you passionate about building a “quality first” culture? Do you thrive on turning systems and standards into real-world results? If you’re ready to lead, influence, and make a lasting impact on a heritage British brand, this is your opportunity.
At John Smedley, we’re renowned for craftsmanship, consistency, and care. As we move towards ISO9001 accreditation, we’re looking for a Lead Quality Auditor to take ownership of our quality framework — ensuring every product, process, and person reflects our uncompromising standards.
This is a hybrid role that blends strategic thinking with hands-on leadership. You’ll shape our systems, mentor our people, and keep us audit-ready — every single day. From coaching production teams to leading internal audits and customer assurance reviews, you’ll be the guardian of quality and the driver of improvement.
What You'll Do:
You’ll be an essential part of our small Finance team, ensuring invoices are processed accurately, suppliers are paid on time, and records are kept up to date. Your responsibilities will include:
- Lead and develop the Quality function, embedding best practice across all areas.
- Drive our ISO9001 journey — from preparation through to certification and beyond..
- Conduct internal audits and champion a culture of compliance, consistency, and improvement.
- Partner with design, production, and customers to ensure every product meets our high standards.
- Use data and insight to identify issues, reduce waste, and improve performance.
- Be a visible, hands-on leader — challenging, coaching, and inspiring others to deliver excellence.
Who You'll Bring:
- Experience in quality management systems (ideally ISO9001).
- Proven auditing and process improvement expertise.
- A collaborative leadership style — confident, clear, and customer-focused.
- The ability to balance detail with the bigger picture, influencing stakeholders at every level.
- A genuine passion for craftsmanship, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
Why John Smedley?
- We’re Britain’s oldest manufacturing brand — proudly crafting premium knitwear in Derbyshire since 1784.
- Our commitment to quality runs deep: from the finest materials and meticulous processes to the people who make it happen. You’ll join a close-knit team where tradition meets transformation, and where your expertise will shape the next chapter of our story.
If you’re ready to lead quality from the front — and make a real difference in a heritage business with a modern mindset — we’d love to hear from you.