2025-01-19

CIP global executive search has been assigned to recruit an Quality Manager for a retail company.

Note: This is a confidential recruitment, which means the information below has been slimmed down. All candidates that are being interviewed will get to take part of the full job description after signing an NDA.

Job Profile

A growing international retail company is seeking a Quality Manager to establish clear ownership of product quality, compliance and continuous improvement across the organization. This role is responsible for building scalable quality structures that support business growth, protect the brand and ensure reliable product performance in market.

The Quality Manager operates as an independent quality function, working closely with Product, Sourcing, Sustainability and Operations. The role reports to the Product Director.

The purpose of this role is to move quality from a reactive control function to a proactive, preventive discipline. Rather than focusing on material innovation, the Quality Manager sets the rules, frameworks and governance needed to ensure that quality expectations are consistently met across suppliers, product categories and markets.

You will act as the internal authority on quality standards, risk management and compliance, while enabling teams to make informed decisions through clear guidelines and data-driven insights.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a company-wide quality management system for products and suppliers

• Define quality policies, minimum requirements and acceptance criteria for finished products and components

• Own and develop quality governance across the upstream supply chain,

• Lead supplier audits, quality evaluations and performance reviews

• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action processes for quality deviations

• Develop preventive quality tools and methodologies to reduce risk early in the product lifecycle

• Ensure compliance with regulatory, safety and sustainability-related requirements

• Act as key interface between internal teams and external partners on quality and compliance matters

• Build structured reporting and KPIs to monitor quality performance and supplier reliability

• Support sourcing decisions through risk assessments and quality input

• Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives related to product quality and operational efficiency

• Educate and guide the organization in quality thinking, standards and best practices

• Leading a quality/sustainability team

Profile and Experience

• 5+ years of experience in quality management within retail or consumer products

• Hands-on experience working with quality systems, audits and supplier performance management

• Understanding of textile products, materials and manufacturing processes

• Experience managing quality in international supply chains

• Knowledge of product safety, compliance and sustainability standards

• Strong analytical skills and experience working with quality data and KPIs

• Ability to balance risk mitigation with commercial realities

• Relevant education in engineering, textiles, quality management or similar

• Fluency in English, both written and spoken

• Previous leadership experience is an advantage

Personal Profile

You are structured, methodical and confident in setting standards. You are comfortable challenging ways of working and have the credibility to influence without direct authority. You enjoy building systems, clarifying responsibilities and creating order in complex environments. With a pragmatic mindset and strong communication skills, you are able to turn quality requirements into practical, scalable ways of working.