Head of Quality Assurance & Compliance

Head of Quality Assurance & Compliance

We are excited to announce an opportunity for a Head of Quality Assurance and Compliance for our GM and Clothing at Poundland and Dealz.

Based at our Customer Support Centre in Walsall, this pivotal role drives quality assurance across diverse product categories. You'll support our growth ambitions while ensuring evolving safety and quality standards compliance. Working collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders, you will deliver high-level representation and safeguard our brand's integrity, all while influencing strategic decisions and promoting our sustainability goals. 

It could be your perfect role if you're passionate about quality and ready to lead in a fast-paced environment.

We uphold three core behaviours that guide all our actions:

Love Our Customers: We strive to delight our customers, listening and responding to their needs because they are our priority.

Care for Our Colleagues: We support each other to foster a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Protect Our Pounds/Euros: We are committed to cost-efficiency and value, ensuring every penny counts.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Why choose us?

• Professional development: A comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in-house development programmes to set you up for success or to pursue QUALIFICATION through our apprenticeship programme.
• Bonus Potential: Unlock the possibility of earning additional bonuses, rewarding your hard work and achievements.
• Car Allowance: Enjoy the advantage of a car allowance, allowing you to choose your own vehicle while reducing commuting costs.
• Free On-Site Parking: Enjoy the convenience of free parking, making your daily commute hassle-free.
• Onsite Coffee Lounge: Take advantage of our onsite coffee lounge, a perfect space to relax and recharge during breaks.
• Exclusive Store Discounts: Receive a 10% discount on most in-store purchases, enhancing your shopping experience.
• Family-Friendly Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits are designed to support your and your family’s needs.
• My Staff Shop: Gain exclusive discounts through our ‘My Staff Shop’ portal, saving on various products and services.
• Life Assurance Cover: Enjoy peace of mind with our life assurance cover, securing your family’s future.
• Health & Wellbeing Programme: Benefit from an employee assistance programme that supports your health and wellbeing.
• Generous Holiday Allowance: Start with a generous leave entitlement of 33 days per year, with the option to buy additional holidays annually. Celebrate your special day off work every year with an extra day of holiday because we believe birthdays are important.
• Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our contributory pension scheme, helping you save for a secure retirement.

Your Impact and Responsibilities…

• Champion Quality Assurance: Lead initiatives ensuring compliance, safety, and quality standards while safeguarding our products' integrity across the UK and EU markets.

• Strategic Influence: Advise and engage with Trading Directors and Board-level committees on risk management, upcoming legislation, and quality-related strategies.

• Sustainability Advocate: Support our packaging and waste reduction goals while expanding our environmentally friendly product ranges.

• Team Development: Mentor and grow a high-performing QA team, offering coaching, development plans, and regular one-to-one support.

• Quality Measures: Establish and monitor metrics such as customer complaints, supplier audits, and goods-in inspections, driving continuous improvement.

• Crisis Management: Lead incident responses calmly and composedly, protecting our brand and maintaining consumer trust.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilise insights to inform quality, safety, and legal standards, balancing commercial awareness with rigorous governance.

Skills and Knowledge…

• Technical Mastery: Comprehensive knowledge of UK and EU legislation, labelling standards, and product lifecycle management (PLM) systems.

• Leadership: Proven experience coaching and managing high-performing teams alongside a collaborative, "roll your sleeves up" leadership style.

• Crisis Preparedness: Adapt in crisis management, navigating complex situations with resilience and strong communication.

• Sustainability Insight: Familiarity with ESG/CSR practices and a proactive approach to promoting environmentally responsible initiatives.

• Commercial Acumen: Balanced understanding of business priorities, combining quality assurance with sound commercial strategies.

If you're ready to influence quality and safety at one of the UK's most dynamic retailers, apply now to join us in creating amazing value every day!

About us...

Since our humble beginnings in 1990, Poundland has evolved into a retail powerhouse with over 900 stores and nearly 18,000 dedicated colleagues across the UK and Republic of Ireland. The addition of Dealz in 2011 further solidified our presence, enabling us to reach millions of customers with our unparalleled value offerings. 

At Poundland & Dealz, we don't just offer products at unbeatable prices; we cultivate an environment where every colleague can thrive and contribute to our mission of providing amazing value to millions of customers.

Our commitment to excellence, inclusion, and sustainability forms the foundation of our culture, empowering our team members to be the best versions of themselves while making a meaningful impact on the communities we serve. Our behaviours and the hard work, commitment and passion of our wonderful colleagues make it all possible.

We like to keep things simple, so we have just three behaviours that lie at the heart of everything we do and keep us on track. They are Love our customers, Care for our colleagues, and Protect the Pounds and Euros. By living our behaviours every day, we've created a land that is fun, friendly, and full of surprises—a place where our people can truly be the best versions of themselves!