Associate Director - Quality Assurance Lead

At Mace, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We believe in creating places that are responsible, bringing transformative impact to our people, communities, and societies across the globe. To learn more about our purpose, culture and priorities, visit our strategy site.

Within our consult business, we harness our unique combination of leading-edge practical expertise and project delivery consultancy to unlock the potential in every project.

The project:

The project is a generational project providing Dublin & Ireland with a much needed world class Metro system to support the fast growing population. The project is an 18.8km fully autonomous Metro system, consisting of 16 stations, 2 significant tunnelled section and a number of significant structures along the alignment. The project will integrate existing transportation systems through the city and surrounding areas, including the Dublin airport, Irish Rail and the LUAS. The roleholder will form part of the HSSEQ team within the HSSEQ Directorate, reporting to the project quality lead. The successful candidate must lead by example and serve as a role model ensuring the highest standards are adopted across the project.

The roleholder will form part of the HSSEQ team within the HSSEQ Directorate, reporting to the project HSSEQ Lead. The successful candidate must lead by example and serve as a role model ensuring the highest standards are adopted across the project.

The quality lead will lead the quality function advising on overall compliance in matters of quality in accordance with ISO9001, the project's policies and relevant statutory provisions. The roleholder shall provide leadership in the delivery of a world class quality management system and the compliance requirements for all of the project activities.

The quality lead will act as a source of expert technical advice, providing assurance, ensuring compliance, and carrying out due diligence on matters relating to quality management to ensure that the project is delivered in-line with statutory, legal, and contractual requirements.

Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey, they are:

Safety first - Going home safe and well:

• You will be a leading advocate of Mace's value of safety first, and be accountable for leading and maintaining exceptional safety, quality, cost, programme, sustainability and project compliance standards.
• You will possess advanced technical expertise in local health and safety rules and regulations relevant to project portfolio.
• You will champion a diverse and inclusive working environment and understand the importance of the wellbeing of the people you manage.

Client focus - Deliver on our promise:

• You will ensure the successful delivery of key assignments and defined business areas, providing strategic direction and monitoring delivery aligned with overall vision and objectives.
• You will be responsible for delivery from project inception/brief, through design development and planning, contractor procurement and construction phase in accordance with the overall delivery program and agreed project milestones.
• On behalf of external/third-party clients, you will oversee the project management of the project on an individual and team basis from inception to post-completion.
• Lead the Quality team within the Safety function of the project directorate.
• Setting and implementing Quality policies and strategies.
• Ownership of the development, management and maintenance of a Quality management system maintained to ISO9001certification standard, with accountability for ensuring processes and procedures meet the standard requirements and operate effectively.
• Oversee the delivery of Quality delivery standards and the compliance requirements for all the project activities.
• Ensure a holistic approach to Quality is adopted across all aspects of delivery, including the wellbeing and culture of the the project directorate.
• Ensure appropriate tools and systems are developed, procured and implemented which provide consistent Quality reporting metrics to enable trend analysis.
• Ensuring appropriate Quality training materials and collateral are developed and delivered to support the business.
• Ensuring Quality requirements are confirmed and built into Contracts with Supply chain.
• Ensuring appropriate processes and procedures are in place to confirm contractual Quality requirements, setting expectations of the supply chain ie what good looks like, training etc.
• Directing the implementation of reporting methods to provide accurate reporting data from Supply Chain through projects to the Metrolink Directorate.
• Encouraging the forensic analysis of Quality failures where incidents occur, to ensure corrective and preventative measures are implemented.
• Encouraging a learning environment where improvement can be achieved.
• Ensure appropriate Quality forums are in place for discussion and knowledge sharing across the project.
• Lead the development and implementation of an integrated Quality audit programme including active reporting of findings and corrective actions.
• Undertake internal audits where additional or specialist resource is required.
• Ensuring up to date and relevant Quality information is communicated across the project in collaboration with the Communications team.
• Line management of Quality resource and providing a career development framework.

Integrity - Always do the right thing:

• You will be responsible for project budgets and ensure operations are fiscally and ethically viable, and meet organisational and legislative compliance obligations.
• You will support the Operations Director and other senior stakeholders to directly influence long term development of strategy for a function or Business Unit (BU), creating a sustainable business future.
• You will commit to making a positive impact for our people, our clients, and our planet, and take ownership for holding others to account who do not uphold the Mace values.

Create opportunity - For our people to excel:

• You will lead your team effectively and develop others to reach their full potential.
• You will actively network, innovate, and seek understanding of best practice, utilising the full depth of knowledge of Mace group, the centres of excellence, Mace way control centre and knowledge hub.
• You will collaborate with multiple internal and external stakeholders, up to C-Suite, to implement and manage our programmes.

You’ll need to have:

• 15+ years’ experience leading and embedding quality management systems with at least 10 years’ experience managing project quality requirements across the project lifecycle through to completion in high value metro rail projects or projects of a similar scale/complexity.
• Effective knowledge & application of integrated management systems.
• Effective knowledge of audit, risk management and mitigation in an operational environment.
• Effective knowledge of technology change and implementation.
• Digital literacy of systems and tools.
• Knowledge of ISO standards such as ISO14001, ISO45001, ISO44001, and ISO27001.
• Knowledge of the construction & consultancy industry.
• Knowledge of Audit and ISO Standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Excellent organisational skills /Project Management skills.
• Influence and Negotiation Skills.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Strong Stakeholder management and engagement.
• Enthusiastic and purpose led.
• Demonstrates Mace values and behaviours.
• Strategic thinking and change management.
• People management skills.
• Leadership skills incl motivating teams.
• Champion of the Mace brand and creates new business leads.
• Champion of Mace priorities/Diversity and Inclusion.
• Educated to Degree level (or HNC equivalent).
• Lead Auditor.
• Experience in a similar quality assurance focussed role.

You’ll also have:

• Degree in Construction or Quality Management related field.
• Membership in Professional Body eg CQI, CIOB.
• Lead Audit Qualification (or equivalent).
• Systems thinking.
• Gravitas and presence.
• Budget management.
• 15+ years’ relevant experience leading and embedding Quality Management systems into highly complex, large engineering capital delivery projects/programmes with 5+ years’ experience in metro rail projects or projects
• of a similar scale and complexity.
• Previous experience managing Quality at a corporate & programme management level.
• Experience in developing and maintaining Quality management Systems, ISO9001.
• Knowledge and familiarity with contract documents, forms of contract and specifications.
• Developing quality strategies and setting programme-wide quality performance indicators.
• Delivering within regulated and unionised environments.
• Working within regulated environments such as metro/rail would be desirable.
• Masters level education in related field.
• Chartered professional status in a quality assurance discipline or related construction/property body.
• Educated to Degree level (or HNC equivalent).
• Lead Auditor.
• Experience in a similar quality assurance focussed role.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all of the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.

We are also open to discussing part-time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable within the role.