Supplier Quality Leader

About the Improvement team

The Improvement team is part of the Quality, Customer Satisfaction and Improvement organization within Thales Netherland. The focus of the Improvement team is on structurally solving complex end-to-end issues across organizational functions and disciplines by deploying best practices and fixing the basics. The ambition is to fix root causes instead of fighting the symptoms of sub-optimal performance. In addition, we focus on behavioral change and leadership to ensure sustainable change. We use an outside-in approach by bringing customer focus and embracing industry best practices/standards.

The improvement team has several fields of expertise, such as program/project management for large Improvement Initiatives, change management, Lean and Business Process Management (PLM & ERP) and Quality Leaders linked to the different disciplines such as Engineering, Industry, Procurement (Suppliers), Services.

For the Improvement team, we are in search of a Supplier Quality Leader

About your future job 
As a Supplier Quality Leader at Thales you will ensure the implementation of processes, practices and specific tools, to make sure quality on Supplier side is in line with the Group defined processes (CHORUS) as well as the technical requirements and international regulations (ISO, AQAP, etc.).

You provide proactive support on quality topics to industrial suppliers as well as to the procurement organization on Quality evaluation of them from early stage (i.e. selection phase) to late stage (i.e. Quality performance evaluation) and upon request from Procurement and/or other relevant functions (e.g. Industrial organization)

As a Supplier Quality Leader, you have four main activities:

• Supplier Quality selection: validate the quality compliance to achieve supplier approval and qualification
• Supplier Quality Improvement: support supplier quality improvement through transverse quality methodologies in a medium/long term perspective and coordinate internal transversal improvement
• Supplier Quality Performance: contribute to Supplier Performance Management with a focus on On-Conformity Deliveries (OCD) and quality crisis management in a short term perspective
• Quality referent for the Acquisition process: support Process Owners in the process deployment and improvement

Your main tasks are:

• Lead supplier quality management activities with a group of Supplier Quality Managers (SQM) and in close collaboration with the Supplier Performance Managers (SPM)
• Manage compliance to Quality Assurance requirements and their flow down to the Suppliers
• Manage the Thales NL Supplier audit program in close cooperation with the Thales Group Supplier audit program and with the Thales NL Audit Manager
• Conduct supplier audits according Thales Group standards and track the actions raised in the audit till closure.
• Assess and qualify suppliers and their performances in collaboration with Procurement/(SPM)
• Identify structural risks for suppliers involved in the development project in collaboration with all other QAMs, and collaborate with SPM in the improvement of performances with them
• Assure that Anomalies, Non-conformities and Alerts are followed and closed through the managed Non-conformities process
• Support the internal Thales NL Certifications (AS9100, ISO9001 and AQAP2110 for process adherence)
• Exercise Alert Duty and Veto Right in case of non-resolution of problems and escalate it to the correspondent management organization, Manage and capitalize on alerts and vetoes.
• Contribute to the  Thales NL internal auditing plan by conducting internal audits and follow up the Non-Conformity raised in the Audit till closure.

Why you'd be a good match

• A bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Supplier Chain, Quality management, Engineering, Project Management).
• Proven working experience within supplier (quality) management, preferably within quality management, project management, procurement and supply chain
  management.
• Quality Standards ISO9001 / AS9100 and AQAP2110 knowledge
• Strong knowledge of quality tools and methodologies (e.g., 8D, Six Sigma/DMAIC, APQP, FMEA).
• Experience with supplier audits and process validation
• Excellent communications skills in order to communicate efficient on all organization levels, internally at Thales NL and Thales Group as well externally at Suppliers
• Ability to work in a dynamic, complex and multi-national environment wherein you manage/influence various stakeholders, create (quality) awareness, challenge the status quo and solve problems
• Ambition to strengthen Thales' operational performance in the domain of procurement, thereby balancing pragmatism and sustainability and relying on your excellent communication skills.

What's in it for you

• A challenging job in a great team within our high-tech, innovative work environment. Includes the freedom for initiative and good ideas.
• Room for personal and professional growth within our organization, for example in regards to technical, commercial or international skills.
• Valuable international collaboration with coworkers from 68 different countries around the globe.
• A comfortable work space in a modern environment, with a focus on flexibility and the right work life balance.
• You can usually work where and when you want to be able to do your work as well and efficiently as possible. Within Thales we implement hybrid working, where you can, for example, work from home two days a week if your role allows it.
• A good salary, fitting travel allowance, and the ability to personalize your employment conditions: for instance, you can trade days off for internet costs, our bicycle plan, company fitness and relocation costs.
• 40 days off per year (PTO).

*To ensure that we are a good match, we can ask you to participate in an assessment.

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