Engineering Quality Auditor II

FM Approvals is an international leader in third-party testing and certification services. We test property loss prevention products and services—for use in commercial and industrial facilities—to verify they meet rigorous loss prevention standards of quality, technical integrity and performance. How? By employing a worldwide certification process that’s backed by scientific research and testing, and over a century of experience.

This is a mid-level auditor position within the Auditing and Quality Assurance department of FM Approvals.

The role will also provide quality assurance support to FM Approvals operations in Dublin and to the laboratory in Luxembourg. This will include supporting the effective implementation and maintenance of applicable quality management arrangements, assisting with internal and external audit activities, reviewing quality records and helping ensure that identified non-conformances and corrective actions are appropriately documented and progressed.

External Audits will cover manufacturers responsible for products carrying the FM Approvals certification mark and, where the individual is appropriately qualified and authorised, products manufactured under ATEX, IECEx and Construction Products Regulation certification or conformity assessment programmes. The products involved may include electrical equipment, fire protection products, building materials and other industrial products.

The successful candidate will have a solid foundation in auditing, manufacturing processes, product certification and quality assurance. They will be expected to demonstrate the competence necessary to conduct assigned audits independently and to complete clearly defined quality assurance activities with limited supervision.

The complexity and size of assignments will vary. Decisions concerning the scope and conduct of assigned work may be delegated to the individual, subject to appropriate oversight by supervisors or managers. The position will involve significant travel to customer manufacturing locations and FM Approvals facilities.

1. Conformity assessment and manufacturing audits

• Undertake audits of manufacturing locations producing FM Approved products and, subject to demonstrated competence and formal authorisation, products within ATEX, IECEx or CPR certification and conformity assessment programmes.
• Audit certification and laboratory procedures, process controls, quality systems, technical documentation and records against the applicable certification, approval or regulatory requirements.

2. Quality assurance support

• Provide quality assurance support to FM Approvals operations in Dublin and to the laboratory in Luxembourg.
• Support the implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of applicable quality management systems, procedures and controls.
• Assist with the preparation, conduct and follow-up of internal audits and external accreditation, notification or regulatory assessments.
• Support the control and maintenance of procedures, work instructions, forms, records and other quality system documentation.
• Assist in the identification, recording, investigation and resolution of non-conformances, observations and opportunities for improvement.
• Support the monitoring of corrective actions and verify, where assigned, that actions have been implemented and are effective.
• Provide quality assurance advice and practical support to operational, technical and laboratory personnel.
• Help ensure that quality-related activities are completed within agreed schedules and are supported by appropriate objective evidence.
• Escalate significant quality, compliance, impartiality or certification concerns to the appropriate manager.
• Contribute to quality reviews, process improvement activities and the preparation of quality or management information.
• Support coordination between the Dublin and Luxembourg operations where activities, records, assessments or quality processes are interdependent.

3. Planning, administration and professional conduct

• Plan and complete assignments within allocated time budgets and agreed schedules while managing multiple priorities.
• Work independently within established procedures, seeking advice from senior auditors, technical specialists or management when necessary.
• Maintain accurate, complete and timely audit, quality and administrative records.
• Maintain the competence, knowledge and authorisations required for assigned audit and quality assurance activities.
• Participate in relevant training, witnessing, standardisation and continuing professional development activities.
• Apply applicable policies relating to confidentiality, impartiality, independence, information security and professional conduct.
• Travel to customer manufacturing sites and company locations as required.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following disciplines: Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial Engineering or a science-based equivalent degree.

A minimum of five years’ experience in manufacturing processes, production quality control, product certification, conformity assessment or a related technical environment, together with substantial experience in quality assurance and quality auditing.

The candidate should be able to demonstrate practical experience conducting audits independently. Experience supporting certification-body, notified-body, inspection-body or laboratory quality systems would be advantageous.

• Practical knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality control, product inspection and conformity assessment.
• Demonstrated competence in applying audit principles, techniques and practices.
• Ability to conduct manufacturing-location audits independently.
• Ability to interpret certification requirements, technical specifications, quality plans, engineering drawings and controlled product documentation.
• Ability to obtain, evaluate and document objective evidence impartially.
• Ability to identify and report non-conformances clearly and accurately.
• Working knowledge of product certification, approval and conformity assessment programmes.
• Understanding of quality management system principles and document-control arrangements.

Additional preferred qualifications and experience

• Experience of auditing manufacturers operating under FM Approvals, ATEX, IECEx or CPR certification programmes.
• Knowledge of European product-conformity and regulatory requirements.
• Experience supporting a testing or certification laboratory.
• Experience working within a notified body, approved body, Ex certification body, certification body, inspection body or accredited laboratory.
• Experience supporting accreditation-body or regulatory assessments.
• Familiarity with non-conformance investigation, root-cause analysis, corrective action and effectiveness review.
• Experience working across multiple sites or internationally distributed operations.
• Relevant competence or auditor qualification relating to explosive atmospheres, construction products or laboratory activities.