PRODUCT LINE QSE MANAGER

Join Akwel and be part of our adventure in a family-run, independent group with a long-term vision. A first-class automotive equipment and systems manufacturer specialising in fluid management, mechanisms, and structural parts, Akwel offers state-of-the-art industrial and technological expertise in applying and processing materials (plastics, rubber, metal) and mechatronic integration. Our culture of industrial performance, efficiency, results and customer satisfaction is what drives the progress of our group. To respond to our clients’ needs, our employees are free to be pragmatic in order to come up with the perfect solution for every problem in the spirit of creativity and agility. Want to push yourself? Interested in stepping up to the challenge of working in an industrial and technological environment at the cutting edge, making your day-to
- day work extremely worthwhile and enriching? We value diversity by encouraging applications from people of all genders, backgrounds and experiences. Join Akwel and our 8.000 employees in more than 20 different countries And together GROWING + MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES : The Quality, Safety, Environment and Energy Manager is the customer representative and the manager of the QSE2 team: Customer representative in project development and in change management:
- Control that the customer expectations are taken into account in the project development through the CPP reviews (Project Steering Committee) and in the Engineering Change Requests (ECRs).
- Coach managers in charge of the continuous improvement plans (QSE² scope) in the entity and challenge and verify their consistency.
- Control the effective implementation of the AKWEL QSE² management system, monitor impact analysis of new documents and propose improvements to the AKWEL QSE² management system.
- Plan and coordinate the activities to prepare customer audits, and external and internal QSE² management system audits, working closely with the DQSE² Coordinator. Verify the robustness of the analysis of the deviations and the implementation of an effective action plan.
- Plan the internal audits at entity level (process, product and LPA, when applicable). Verify that they are conducted and their deviations properly analysed. Verify that corrective actions are implemented in an effective manner. Assess internal auditors to ensure the accreditation rules.
- Verify that customer incidents and other relevant issues are considered in the entity QRQC and deadlines are known, respected and consistent with the 8D database.
- In case of deviations (concessions), control that both AKWEL’s requirements and customer’s requirements are respected.
- Coach the team in the use of the problem-solving tools and challenge the conclusions and results presented to make sure they are robust and aligned with customer’s expectations. AKWEL representative in face of internal and external suppliers for QSE² topics:
- Verify the accuracy and suitability of reporting data concerning suppliers
- Verify that the escalation process is initiated when the supplier response is not at the expected level.
- Support Purchasing to gather all available information in case of disputes with suppliers.
- Organize and verify the collection of the documentation applicable to sourced parts (external and internal). Manage the organisational chart of the QSE2 function in terms of competences and resources by applying the premises of the AKWEL QSE2 management system with respect of the AKWEL mission, culture and values:
- Assign key tasks, responsibilities and authorities of his/her area of concern using the elements available in the QSE² management system.
- Assess the skills of his/her employees with the aid of the skill matrix, consolidate the data of the department and deal with the gaps identified (induction, training plan, recruitment and overstaffing).
- Coach the QSE² team on their duties to take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work.
- Coach and develop the QSE² team on skills, behaviour, mission and tasks with the support of annual individual appraisals and other tools.
- Conduct flash audits regularly.

REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications et

Experience:
Either A-level (High School Diploma) + 5 years of superior technical education strengthened with 10 years of experience preferably, in the automotive industry, or technical education oriented towards quality strengthened with strong equivalent experience. Professional abilities:
•  Leadership and coordination skills, integrity, managerial skills
•  Autonomy, organizational abilities and interpersonal skills
•  Synthetic and analytical thinking, rigor, and tenacity
•  Oral and written competencies; ability to communicate succinctly the quality standpoint and to represent AKWEL
•  Ability to train
•  Good IT skills (MS Office, PDM, AKWEL Portal and customer portals)
•  Proficiency in English; knowledge of some other customer language(s), such as French, German, Spanish, Chinese, is recommended Technical knowledge:
•  Project Development phases, Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)
•  Technical skills to analyse and understand all technical information, explanations and decisions
•  IMDS, REACH, conflict minerals and substance declaration
•  Functional Analysis and design FMEA
•  Risk assessment and process FMEA
•  Control Plan and special characteristics, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
•  8D problem solving and QRQC approach
•  QSE2 audit supports, especially those for process audits (based on VDA 6.3, Run@Rate, capacity, panel integration, CQI, …) but also for product audits
•  AKWEL QSE² management system, including AKWEL Manufacturing System
•  Automotive customer specific requirements (CSR) affecting the entity and customer special audits (Q1, QSB+, etc…)
•  QSE2 management system standards (IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001…) Localization:   Paredes de Coura, Portugal Contract type:  Permanent Department:  Product Line Europe D Starting date:  1st of November 2026