Quality Lead

• United Infrastructure is a dynamic and rapidly expanding business, focused on delivering critical infrastructure projects, across the utility and social infrastructure sectors.
• Our team of highly skilled and hardworking specialists deliver innovative solutions to the complex challenges our clients face.

Our company is split into two business areas

Utility Infrastructure –

Our team of Utility Infrastructure specialists design, build and maintain critical water, energy (gas), power and telecoms infrastructure, for the UK’s largest network owners and operators.

Social Infrastructure -

Our team of Social Infrastructure specialists revitalise homes and communities by carrying out a wide range of work, from retrofit to refurbishment, and maintenance.

Equal Opportunities Statement - At United Infrastructure, we are committed to making every interaction a positive and inclusive experience. If there is anything we can do to support you, remove barriers, or make the process more accessible, please let us know — we want this to be the best possible experience for you.

Job Description – Quality Lead

Business: United Infrastructure – Power T&D

Job Title: Quality Lead

Reporting to: SHEQ Manager

Location: Project-based, with travel between offices, construction sites and supplier locations as required

Function: Safety, Health, Environment and Quality

Role Purpose

The Quality Lead will support the effective implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of quality management arrangements across UI Power T&D projects.

Reporting to the SHEQ Manager, the role will provide visible quality leadership and work closely with project teams, engineering, construction, commissioning and the supply chain to ensure works are planned, delivered, inspected and recorded in accordance with contractual, client, statutory and company requirements.

The Quality Lead will promote a right-first-time culture, identify and address emerging quality risks, support the effective management of non-conformances and ensure that complete and accurate quality records are available throughout the project lifecycle and at handover.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Leadership and Culture

• Promote a positive quality culture focused on right-first-time delivery, defect prevention and continual improvement.
• Provide practical quality leadership, advice and support to project teams and the supply chain.
• Encourage early identification and escalation of quality risks, defects and non-conformances.
• Support project leaders in embedding quality accountability across engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning activities.
• Communicate quality expectations through briefings, workshops, lessons learned and project engagement activities.

Quality Planning and Assurance

• Support the SHEQ Manager in implementing UI Power T&D’s Quality Management System.
• Develop, review and maintain Project Quality Plans in accordance with company, client and contractual requirements.
• Ensure quality requirements are identified and incorporated into project execution plans, work packages, inspection arrangements and subcontract scopes.
• Establish and maintain project quality assurance and inspection schedules.
• Support the development and implementation of Inspection and Test Plans, check sheets, hold points and witness points.
• Verify that current specifications, drawings, procedures and technical standards are available and being followed.
• Monitor compliance with ISO 9001 and applicable client quality management requirements.

Inspection and Quality Control

• Coordinate and undertake quality inspections and assurance activities across project sites.
• Verify that inspection and testing activities are completed by competent personnel and accurately recorded.
• Review completed works and supporting records against drawings, specifications, standards and acceptance criteria.
• Monitor the quality of civil, structural, electrical, mechanical and transmission-related works appropriate to the project scope.
• Support the inspection of materials, equipment and fabricated items at site and supplier locations.
• Ensure measuring and test equipment is suitable, calibrated and appropriately controlled.
• Coordinate with client representatives and independent inspectors regarding hold points, witness points and acceptance activities.

Non-Conformance and Defect Management

• Lead or support the identification, recording and management of non-conformance reports, defects, concessions and technical queries.
• Ensure immediate containment actions are implemented where quality issues are identified.
• Facilitate proportionate root-cause analysis and the development of corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor actions through to effective and timely close-out.
• Identify recurring issues and trends and escalate significant or systemic concerns to the SHEQ Manager and project leadership.
• Verify the effectiveness of corrective actions and share relevant learning across projects.
• Support the reduction of rework, defects, waste and associated costs.

Documentation and Project Handover

• Establish and maintain project quality records in accordance with contractual and company requirements.
• Monitor the timely completion, review and approval of inspection and test documentation.
• Ensure quality records are accurate, traceable, controlled and retrievable.
• Coordinate the compilation and review of manufacturing record books, lifetime quality records, completion dossiers and handover packs.
• Work with engineering, construction and commissioning teams to ensure progressive completion of handover documentation.
• Identify documentation gaps early and coordinate their resolution before project completion.
• Support the management of snagging, punch-list items and final acceptance requirements.

Supply-Chain Quality

• Communicate quality expectations to subcontractors, suppliers and manufacturers.
• Review supplier and subcontractor quality plans, Inspection and Test Plans, procedures and supporting documentation.
• Support supplier prequalification, onboarding and quality risk assessments.
• Undertake or coordinate supplier audits, surveillance visits and source inspections.
• Monitor supply-chain quality performance and ensure identified issues are appropriately addressed.
• Work collaboratively with procurement, commercial and project teams to improve supplier performance.
• Ensure non-conforming products or materials are identified, segregated and controlled.

Auditing, Performance and Improvement

• Plan and undertake project and supply-chain quality audits and assurance reviews.
• Support internal, client and certification-body audits.
• Maintain an audit and assurance programme based on project risk and performance.
• Produce quality performance reports, dashboards and trend analysis for the SHEQ Manager and project leadership.
• Monitor indicators including defects, non-conformances, rework, audit findings, handover status and action close-out.
• Identify improvement opportunities and support the implementation of standardised good practice.
• Capture and share lessons learned across UI Power T&D projects.
• Support quality initiatives, working groups and improvement programmes as required.

Key Working Relationships

The Quality Lead will work closely with

• SHEQ Manager
• Project Directors and Project Managers
• Construction and Site Managers
• Engineering and Design teams
• Commissioning teams
• Quality Inspectors and wider SHEQ personnel
• Procurement and Commercial teams
• Document Control and project support functions
• Clients and client representatives
• Subcontractors, suppliers and manufacturers
• Independent inspectors, auditors and certification bodies

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Relevant experience in a quality assurance or quality control role within power transmission and distribution, utilities, construction, civil engineering or another regulated infrastructure environment.
• Practical knowledge of ISO 9001 and quality management principles.
• Experience developing or implementing Project Quality Plans and Inspection and Test Plans.
• Experience managing inspections, non-conformances, corrective actions and quality records.
• Good understanding of construction assurance, traceability and handover requirements.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary project teams and supply-chain partners.
• Strong written reporting, communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, procedures and technical standards.
• Competent in Microsoft Office and electronic document management systems.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between project locations.

Desirable

• Degree, HNC, HND, NVQ or equivalent qualification in quality, engineering, construction or a related discipline.
• Chartered Quality Institute membership or progress towards professional membership.
• ISO 9001 Internal or Lead Auditor qualification.
• Root-cause analysis or incident investigation qualification.
• Experience working on substations, overhead lines, underground cables or major transmission infrastructure projects.
• Experience working within National Grid, SSEN Transmission or another electricity network owner’s quality framework.
• Knowledge of integrated management systems covering quality, health and safety, and environmental management.

Skills and Behaviours

The successful candidate will demonstrate

• Visible and credible quality leadership.
• A proactive, practical and solutions-focused approach.
• Strong attention to detail without losing sight of wider project priorities.
• The confidence to challenge unacceptable standards constructively.
• The ability to influence operational teams and supply-chain partners.
• Good planning, organisation and prioritisation skills.
• Sound judgement and the ability to make evidence-based decisions.
• A collaborative approach to resolving technical and quality issues.
• Personal integrity, professionalism and accountability.
• A commitment to continual improvement and right-first-time delivery.

Authority

The Quality Lead is authorised and expected to

• Challenge work that does not meet specified quality or acceptance requirements.
• Recommend that work is paused where continuation could conceal defects, compromise quality or result in significant rework.
• Raise non-conformance reports and require appropriate containment and corrective action.
• Escalate significant or repeated quality concerns to the SHEQ Manager and project leadership.
• Reject or quarantine materials, products or records that do not meet specified requirements, subject to project procedures.
• Engage directly with project teams and the supply chain to secure timely resolution of quality issues.

Performance Measures

Performance will be assessed against measures including

• Compliance with Project Quality Plans and Inspection and Test Plans.
• Timely completion and acceptance of quality records.
• Audit and assurance programme delivery.
• Number, age and effective close-out of non-conformances.
• Defect, rework and repeat-failure trends.
• Supply-chain quality performance.
• Completion and acceptance of handover documentation.
• Closure of audit and assurance actions.
• Client feedback and quality performance.
• Evidence of lessons learned and continual improvement.

General Responsibilities

• Comply with all UI Power T&D policies, procedures and standards.
• Actively support UI’s Zero Harm and right-first-time objectives.
• Maintain professional competence through appropriate training and continuing professional development.
• Protect confidential company, client and project information.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the nature and level of the role.

This job description provides an overview of the principal responsibilities of the role. Duties may evolve to reflect project requirements and the continued development of UI Power T&D.

Join us at United Infrastructure and be part of our mission to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to the complex infrastructure needs of the UK.