Senior Quality Manager

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Sector: Audit
Role: Senior Executive
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time

About Network Rail
Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter.

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.

If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

Brief Description
Are you ready to take your quality expertise to the next level, influencing strategic decisions and driving real improvement across a major regional operation?

We're looking for a Senior Quality Manager to join our team - someone who's not only experienced and technically skilled, but also forward-thinking, collaborative, and passionate about embedding a culture of continuous improvement. This is a high-impact role where you'll sit at the heart of our operations, working alongside senior leadership and cross-functional teams to strengthen our quality, assurance, and governance frameworks.

If you're motivated by meaningful work, thrive in complex environments, and want to be part of a purpose-driven organisation committed to safety, integrity, and operational excellence, we want to hear from you.

We know this is a critical hire, so we're looking for someone who wants to be more than a manager - you want to be a leader in your field, with the drive to influence, inspire, and deliver excellence across the board.

About the role (External)
As Senior Quality Manager, you'll play a vital role in supporting our regional teams by integrating quality management into the wider business strategy. Working closely with safety, finance, and leadership colleagues, you'll help ensure we meet the highest standards of governance and assurance, protecting our reputation, building stakeholder confidence, and driving sustained business performance.

Your day to day:

• Champion the implementation and ongoing improvement of Network Rail's governance framework and management systems within the business unit.
• Establish and lead communication strategies that ensure governance briefings and processes are consistently followed.
• Lead the delivery of the business unit's audit plan, including integration with corporate audit programmes and third-party assessments, ensuring alignment with the 'three lines of defence' model.
• Monitor and evaluate quality performance across internal teams, consultants, and contractors through systematic auditing and compliance reviews.
• Report on key quality performance indicators, providing insights to drive strategic improvements.
• Influence and collaborate with governance and assurance forums across Network Rail to align with strategic objectives.
• Foster and develop a high-performing, quality-driven culture, supporting legal compliance, best practice adoption, and supply chain efficiencies.
• Lead the development and delivery of action plans addressing significant non-compliance issues and ensure alignment with legislation and regulatory requirements.

What You'll Bring

Essential:

• Proven success operating in complex, multi-disciplinary environments.
• Membership of the Chartered Quality Institute, IRCA Lead Auditor Certification, or similar recognised professional accreditation.
• In-depth knowledge of quality management tools and best practice frameworks.
• Strong commercial acumen and a clear understanding of business needs and drivers.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and delivering business-wide quality improvements.
• Ability to build credibility quickly and effectively communicate at all levels.
• Excellent analytical, report writing, and presentation skills.

Desirable:

• Chartered Quality Professional status.
• Knowledge of the structure and operations of the railway industry.

Company

Every day, 4.8 million people use our network. Keeping Britain moving and building a better railway for the future is full of challenges - but also tremendous opportunities.

From our commitments to your development, our range of benefits and our approach to Diversity & Inclusion, we believe there are many reasons to join the team at Network Rail.

We're proactive in empowering employees with the knowledge to help them progress. We encourage all our employees to be ambitious and offer great training and career development opportunities. As the railway becomes bigger and more technologically advanced, it's crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead.

We believe that investing in our people is one of the most effective ways of improving the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the railway.

We also know that it's vital to get each individual's training programme just right. As well as helping us to meet our immediate needs, we believe this is an approach that encourages people to stay with us and develop their careers.

Your health, wellbeing and benefits

We believe that safety and performance go hand in hand and this doesn't just mean safety on the railway! We are committed to the wellbeing of our employees and believe that should come first.

We provide access to support services such as our employee assistance program to help you with finances, family, health, and wellbeing. In addition to this, we offer excellent benefits, are sensitive to work-life balance, and encourage our employees to use their 5 volunteer days for their favourite causes.

We have a range of benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave entitlement.
• My benefits - Our discounted online shopping site.
• A range of discounted offers including childcare vouchers, healthcare offers - cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits.
• Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets.
• A range of pension schemes.
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community.

What Diversity and Inclusion means to us

'Diversity' means recognising differences between people while valuing the contribution they make. 'Inclusion' means creating safe and welcoming workplaces with fair cultures that encourage innovative and fresh ways of thinking.

Our aspiration is that the behaviours and actions that support diversity and inclusion will come from the conviction of everyone here at Network Rail - making diversity and inclusion a conscious part of how we run our business throughout Britain.

Disability Confident Leader

Network Rail is an accredited Disability Confident Leader. This means, where a disabled applicant meets the essential criteria for any of our vacancies, they will receive an interview.

Find out more about our recruitment process here.