Technical Support Team Lead (Mgr Project Management 3) - 28924

Summary

HII is seeking a Technical Support Team Lead to join our team in Australia! The purpose of this role is to lead a team of engineering and supplier quality professionals conducting Supplier Validation assessments. These assessments will guide potential Suppliers through each step of an established process for identification, qualification and entry of Australia suppliers into the nuclear-powered submarine supply chain.

This role will report to the Senior Project Manager and support all necessary activities, responsibilities and reporting to ensure contract deliverables are met and key stakeholders are informed appropriately.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish the technical (supplier assurance) function for the UK Services, ensuring Validation assessments adhere to the process and onboarding requirements.
• Key liaison to the existing team structure on how to integrate requirements into the validation process.
• Manage the Supplier Assessment Process from down-selection to close out acceptance of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs).
• Plan for and perform audits of potential suppliers per established checklists to ensure supplier personnel, facilities, and written programs meet supply chain standards.  
• Conduct field visits to interview supplier employees, review documents and observe operations.
• Write a post audit report identifying performance to the checklist, including a gap analysis of business capabilities versus UK supply chain requirements.
• Support reporting and monitoring.
• Participation in trade shows, conferences and events.
• Support proposals for additional services.
• Facilitate completion of corrective actions by the supplier through training, liaison and feedback on planned and completed actions.
• Facilitate technical data exchange.  Provide coaching through the qualification process.
• Liaise with Subject Matter Experts to identify potential products and services.
• As an on-site technical representative, perform periodic post-award assessments of suppliers to ensure performance requirements are being met.
• Assessment of suppliers for Business Maturity.
• Identify weakness in suppliers and help develop and validate corrective actions.
• Conduct and support investigations for non-conforming services and products, as assigned.
• Participate in improvement activities where assessments have identified opportunities for improvement.
• Implement quality assurance training within the Program as required.
• Maintain up to date records and documentary evidence of audits and audit findings such that these can be retrieved at any time.
• Lead, mentor, coach, and guide supplier quality assurance practitioners.
• Execute best practise supplier due diligence auditing framework.
• Ensure that standardised supplier due diligence is applied.
• Development of checklists, process and procedures that relate to validation and qualification activities.
• Develop and document a supplier technical assessment and validation process that can be applied for a trilateral nuclear industrial base.
• Other reasonable duties commensurate with classification level.
• Travel will be required – domestic and overseas.

What you need to have:

• 8 years relevant progressive experience with Bachelors in related field; 6 years relevant progressive experience with Masters in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 12 years relevant progressive experience.
• Extensive experience in a quality assurance or quality control role at management or advisor level in a similar Defence or high risk industry.
• Extensive experience in auditing quality management systems in accordance with the AS/NZS ISO 9001 series or applicable US MILSPECs and Standards.
• Developing and implementing supplier quality assurance programs.
• Experience of with US and UK Naval nuclear requirements PS highly regarded.
• Working for a multi-national company – and working across local and group level requirements.
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with employees and suppliers at all levels of the business. Experience in building and leading teams.
• Working in a ‘start-up’ environment – and so shaping and leading ‘best practice’
• Leading investigations.
• Development and monitoring of meaningful leading and lagging performance indicators.
• Knowledge of other business management system standards such as ISO 14001 Environmental Management, and AS/NZS 31000:2018 Risk Management.
• Collate, analyse and present data and performance indicators.
• Ability to comfortably work across a multi-disciplined environment.
• A sound knowledge of Business Management System auditing techniques.
• Computing skills (Microsoft Office Suite).
• ISO 9001 & ISO 45001:2018 Safety Management.
• Australian WHS and environmental requirements.
• Critical Risk Management (CRM) activities (working at heights, confined space).
• Emergency response and hazardous waste management.
• Working over water.
• SWMS development and review.
• Risk management and assessment.
• White Card (Construction & Maintenance).
• Must either hold, or be eligible to obtain and maintain an Australian Defence Security Clearance.

Bonus points for:

• Experience from working in/with or for Defence, or as a Defence Industry Partner.
• Experience working with procurement functions.
• Experience of process and onboarding requirements.
• Qualification in Safety or Environmental Management.
• Technical familiarity with castings, forgings, welding, advanced manufacturing, and other fabrication processes and products desirable.  
• Technical expertise in calibration, NDT, scaffolding, marine exposure or similar disciplines offered to submarines during maintenance availability.
• Competent in the development and delivery of training and assessment.
• Leadership, mentoring and coaching skills.