Head of Quality Assurance

Head of Quality Assurance

Job Purpose

This role is responsible for supporting the QA/QC Manager and managing the Quality Assurance function of major projects, ensuring that robust quality systems, processes, and procedures are developed, implemented, and consistently applied. The position provides strategic direction and oversight to safeguard compliance with contractual, regulatory, and company requirements, while driving a culture of continuous improvement and excellence. The role ensures alignment of project execution with organizational strategy, objectives, and commitments, particularly in relation to Occupational Health & Safety, Environment, Energy, and Quality standards. The role-holder provides leadership to QA/QC teams, fosters collaboration across engineering, procurement, and construction disciplines, and ensures that quality risks are effectively identified, mitigated, and managed throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and assist project leadership in all QA aspects of the project.
• Take full ownership of the Quality Assurance function across engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning phases.
• Ensure implementation of major projects contract requirements in the QA domain and report any deviations.
• Review and approve the contractor's Project Quality Plan, ensuring alignment with contractual obligations and standards.
• Monitor and follow up on contractor's implementation of the accepted Quality Plan, reporting non-conformities and initiating corrective actions.
• Lead the development, review, and maintenance of the Project Information Manual (PIM), ensuring it reflects current project governance, quality requirements, and procedural standards.
• Develop and implement all internal project procedures related to quality assurance, ensuring alignment with the Project Quality Management System.
• Lead and manage QA Engineers and Quality Coordinators, ensuring effective execution of QA activities and fostering a culture of quality and accountability.
• Oversee and conduct quality surveillance during engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning phases.
• Review and follow the contractor's Quality Gates Process to ensure engineering development aligns with project quality assurance requirements.
• Develop and implement a Project Quality Audit Plan covering all phases and stakeholders.
• Conduct scheduled and unscheduled quality audits on internal project teams, contractors, and subcontractors.
• Prepare audit documentation and maintain an Audit Report Register to track non-conformances, observations, and agreed actions.
• Follow up on audit findings and ensure timely closure of recommendations.
• Review and approve project procedures to ensure they incorporate adequate quality assurance requirements and are aligned with contract and PIM requirements.
• Monitor implementation of procedures across all project activities.
• Identify, report, and track quality-related risks within the QA domain and manage the Project Risk Register.
• Provide inputs to monthly progress reports, committee updates, and board presentations.
• Support in reviewing and finalizing Lessons Learned reports and promote continuous improvement initiatives.
• Follow up on project schedule and progress, including detection of deviations from the contract schedule.
• Ensure project close out with the contractor in line with PIM and project procedures, and document and submit Lessons Learned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum 10 years' relevant work experience, with at least 5 years in major projects.