Operations, Quality & EHS Manager

About the role

At Mel Aviation Components, we are an agile and growing aerospace business, combining specialist expertise with a hands-on collaborative approach. We are entering an exciting phase of growth and are creating a new, enhanced leadership role to strengthen our operational, quality, and compliance foundations, ensuring we meet the standards expected within the aerospace industry. We are seeking an experienced Operations, Quality & EHS Manager to take ownership of our warehouse operations, Quality Management System and Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) compliance. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring someone who can quickly understand the business, identify gaps and implement robust, scalable processes. You will be instrumental in establishing structure, driving accountability and ensuring operational, quality and safety standards align with aerospace and customer requirements. We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in aerospace or similarly highly regulated environments, where quality, traceability and compliance are critical.

Responsibilities

• Operational & Warehouse Leadership
• Lead and oversee all warehouse activities including receiving, inspection, storage, picking, packing and dispatch
• Ensure high standards of inventory control, traceability and ERP discipline
• Establish, maintain and improve standard operating procedures across all activities
• Drive continuous improvement in efficiency, accuracy and operational performance
• Coordinate with customers, suppliers and logistics partners to support reliable delivery
• Quality Management System (QMS)
• Own and manage the Quality Management System
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001:2015 , with alignment to aerospace standards (e.g. AS9100)
• Maintain audit readiness, supporting customer and regulatory audits
• Oversee quality controls across incoming, in-process, and outgoing products
• Lead non-conformance management, root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)
• Ensure robust documentation control, traceability and record retention
• Drive continuous improvement of quality performance and process robustness
• Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)
• Own and develop the company's HSE framework in line with UK legislation
• Implement and review risk assessments and safe systems of work
• Lead investigations into incidents, near misses, and hazards
• Promote and embed a proactive, compliant safety culture
• Maintain HSE reporting, records, and audit documentation
• Facilities Management
• Oversee the safety, maintenance and functionality of the company's premises and equipment
• Manage external contractors and service providers (e.g. maintenance, waste, utilities)
• Ensure facilities support safe, efficient and compliant operations
• Coordinate site improvements and maintenance activities
• People Leadership & Development
• Lead, coach, and develop the warehouse and operations team
• Set clear standards, expectations, and accountability
• Identify skills gaps and implement training and development plans
• Build a culture of discipline, ownership and continuous improvement
• Support the ongoing development of team capability as the business grows
• About You
• Proven experience in operations, quality and HSE within the aerospace industry , or a closely related highly regulated sector
• Strong working knowledge of aerospace quality and compliance expectations , including traceability and audit readiness
• Experience working to ISO 9001:2015 standards (essential); AS9100 experience highly desirable
• Demonstrable experience leading and developing teams in an operational environment
• Strong understanding of quality systems, audits and compliance frameworks
• Solid knowledge of UK health & safety legislation and best practice
• Hands-on, proactive and capable of identifying issues and implementing effective solutions
• Experience establishing or improving processes within a growing or evolving business
• Structured, detail-oriented and a clear, confident communicator

Benefits

Additional Information

Location: Crawley, West Sussex Salary: Salary in the region of £45,000 - £50,000, depending on experience, with scope for progression as the role and business grow Hours: 37.5 hours, Monday-Friday 9.00 - 5.30pm Full-time, permanent contract.

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