Quality Assurance Officer

Quality Assurance Officer (QAO)

Role Profile

Touchstar Technologies Limited / Touchstar plc

Job Title

Quality Assurance Officer (QAO)

Reporting To

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Purpose of the Role

The Quality Assurance Officer (QAO) is responsible for establishing, managing, auditing, maintaining, and continuously improving the companys integrated management systems, compliance frameworks, operational quality standards, and certification requirements across the entire business.

This is a governance, compliance, process control, and operational assurance role not a technical support or engineering support position.

The QAO will act as the central owner of all business accreditations, certifications, policies, audit readiness, procedural controls, and compliance obligations, ensuring the company operates to a consistently high and measurable standard across all divisions.

The role is critical in supporting the companys operational maturity, scalability, customer confidence, and long-term growth ambitions.

Core Responsibilities

1. Quality Management System Ownership

• Own and manage the companys Integrated Management System (IMS)
• Maintain and continuously improve all documented processes, procedures, policies, and operational controls
• Ensure operational adherence to company standards across all departments
• Develop measurable quality objectives and KPI reporting frameworks
• Maintain document control processes across the organisation
• Ensure version control and audit traceability of all controlled documents

2. ISO & Accreditation Management

Full ownership and management responsibility for all company certifications and accreditations, including but not limited to:

• ISO 9001
• ISO 14001
• ISO 27001
• ISO 45001
• Cyber Essentials Plus
• NSI Gold
• BAFE
• Safe Contractor
• Constructionline
• Achilles or future industry schemes
• Any future compliance frameworks required by customers or regulators

Responsibilities include:

• Surveillance audits
• Recertification audits
• Corrective actions
• Non-conformance management
• Internal audit scheduling
• External auditor liaison
• Management review preparation
• Continuous improvement programmes
• Certification renewals
• Compliance reporting to leadership

3. Internal Audit & Compliance Control

• Design and implement a company-wide internal audit programme
• Audit operational compliance across all divisions
• Ensure departmental adherence to:

• documented procedures,
• contractual obligations,
• quality standards,
• health & safety requirements,
• information security controls,
• environmental standards,
• and customer commitments

Produce formal audit reports with:

• findings,
• risk ratings,
• corrective actions,
• owners,
• and target completion dates

Monitor completion and effectiveness of corrective actions

4. Operational Process Improvement

• Identify operational inefficiencies, inconsistencies, and process failures
• Work with department heads to improve:

• process control,
• accountability,
• operational consistency,
• and service delivery quality

Assist in standardising workflows across divisions Support the transition from reactive operational management to structured scalable processes

5. Risk, Governance & Regulatory Compliance

• Support the companys governance and risk management framework
• Maintain risk registers relating to:

• compliance,
• operational quality,
• health & safety,
• cybersecurity,
• supplier risk,
• and business continuity

Ensure regulatory compliance obligations are maintained and evidenced Support GDPR and information governance controls alongside relevant departments Ensure audit evidence is maintained and retrievable

6. Supplier & Subcontractor Quality Assurance

• Assist with supplier qualification and compliance reviews
• Monitor subcontractor compliance requirements
• Ensure external providers meet required operational and certification standards
• Maintain approved supplier records and compliance evidence

7. Customer & Contractual Compliance

• Support customer audit requirements
• Ensure customer contractual compliance obligations are documented and controlled
• Assist operational teams in ensuring contractual processes align with company certifications and standards
• Support major customer onboarding from a compliance and assurance perspective

8. Management Reporting

Provide regular reporting to senior leadership covering:

• Audit outcomes
• Non-conformances
• Certification status
• Corrective action progress
• Compliance risks
• KPI trends
• Continuous improvement activities
• Operational quality performance

Key Deliverables

The QAO will be expected to:

• Maintain all certifications without major non-conformance
• Improve audit readiness across the business
• Reduce operational inconsistency
• Improve process adherence
• Increase organisational accountability
• Strengthen governance and compliance maturity
• Support scalable business growth through operational discipline

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• Strong experience managing ISO management systems
• Experience leading external certification audits
• Experience implementing internal audit programmes
• Strong understanding of:

• ISO 9001
• ISO 27001
• ISO 14001
• ISO 45001

Experience within technology, engineering, software, security, logistics, or service-based environments Excellent documentation and procedural writing capability Strong organisational and analytical skills Ability to challenge operational practices constructively Experience managing corrective and preventive actions Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

Desirable

• Experience with NSI Gold and/or BAFE environments
• Knowledge of cybersecurity governance frameworks
• Experience in AIM-listed or regulated businesses
• Experience building integrated management systems from fragmented environments
• Internal or Lead Auditor qualifications

Personal Characteristics

• Highly organised
• Process-driven
• Detail-oriented
• Independent and objective
• Commercially aware
• Calm under pressure
• Able to influence operational change without direct authority
• Strong sense of accountability and ownership