UK

United Kingdom · Compliance, quality and safety · Principal/Manager (12-16 years)

Manager, Global CQHS Systems

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  • Experience bandPrincipal/Manager (12-16 years)
  • Reports toDirector, Global Compliance & Integrated Systems
  • UK framework levelUsually a manager, or the deepest specialist in a team

Also advertised as Integrated Management Systems Lead · Head of Compliance Systems · Global Quality & Safety Manager

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards
GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician) GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Certificate in Laboratory Technical Skills GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
ProQual Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Quality Management ProQual Awarding Body · Level 6 · covers 1 of 10 standards
IAO Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management Innovate Awarding · Level 5 · covers 1 of 10 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Level 5 Diploma in the Practice of Process Safety Management
Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Diploma for a Bulk Storage Operator (Technician)
Good Manufacturing Practice GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Certificate in Laboratory Technical Skills
Principles of Safe Manufacture of Quality Medicines in the Pharmaceutical Environment Open Awards Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians (Diploma)
Quality Management Systems and Standards ProQual Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Quality Management
Managing quality and quality systems IAO Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Sustainability Fluency building care for people and planet into the work
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Manager, Global CQHS Systems

6 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
  2. Comply with External and Internal Obligations within a Bulk Storage Operations Environment GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
  3. Good Manufacturing Practice GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
  4. Principles of Safe Manufacture of Quality Medicines in the Pharmaceutical Environment Open Awards · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
  5. Quality Management Systems and Standards ProQual Awarding Body · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 6
  6. Managing quality and quality systems Innovate Awarding · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Manager, Global CQHS Systems?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • AI Governance & Ethical Compliance
  • ESG Reporting & Assurance Integration
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Manager, Global CQHS Systems plan as you set up, starting with the free Automation Fluency module. No card.

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3What this role really is

This job involves building and maintaining a global integrated management system covering quality, safety and environmental performance across all sites. It means making sure compliance works in practice, day to day, while managing budgets and developing a team.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

EHSQ Platforms (Intelex, Cority, Enablon) Strategic

Leading platform selection and procurement, defining enterprise data architecture, overseeing integration with ERP/HRIS systems, and using high-level dashboards to report on global performance.

GRC Platforms (ServiceNow GRC, Archer, OneTrust) Architect

Designing the enterprise GRC framework, defining control taxonomies, and presenting GRC insights to the board or executive leadership team.

Data & Analytics (Power BI, Tableau, Advanced Excel) Strategic

Defining the enterprise CQHS analytics strategy, commissioning new dashboards from your team, and using data to justify strategic investments in compliance and safety initiatives.

Document Control Systems (SharePoint, Veeva QualityDocs) Strategic

Setting enterprise-wide document control and records retention policies, approving system architecture, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements for controlled documentation.

Regulatory Intelligence Platforms (Enhesa, Compliance & Risks) Strategic

Using these platforms to perform jurisdictional analysis for market entry, briefing leadership on emerging regulatory risks, and guiding your team on impact assessments for significant regulatory changes.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
IMS Strategic Direction Escalate all strategic questions to supervisor for guidance. Propose tactical improvements within existing strategy; consult manager on major deviations. Recommend strategic shifts for specific workstreams; consult Director on overall IMS strategy.
Budget Allocation (CQHS Systems & Programmes) No budget authority; track expenses against assigned tasks. Propose cost-saving measures for specific processes; seek approval for minor expenses (<£1K). Manage project budgets up to £50K; recommend larger investments to Director.
Team Hiring & Performance No direct reports; provide peer feedback. No direct reports; offer informal guidance to new joiners. Mentor 0-2 junior specialists; provide input on their performance reviews.
External Audit Response & Communication Provide requested evidence; escalate all auditor interactions to supervisor. Respond to routine auditor questions; draft responses to minor findings for review. Lead discussions with external auditors on specific workstreams; draft responses to significant findings for Director review.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

External Audit Performance
Number of major and minor non-conformities identified during external certification audits.
Target · Zero major non-conformities; <3 minor non-conformities per audit cycle (global average)

In 2024, our global average was 0.5 major and 2.1 minor non-conformities per site audit, showing consistent improvement from 2023's 0.8 major and 3.5 minor.

Integrated Audit Programme Efficiency
Reduction in the total cost and time spent on internal and external audits by combining standards and optimising schedules.
Target · 15% reduction in audit programme costs year-over-year

By implementing a combined ISO 9001/14001/45001 audit schedule this year, we've cut external audit days by 20% and internal audit travel costs by £25,000.

CAPA Effectiveness Rate
Percentage of Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPAs) that effectively prevent recurrence of the original non-conformity within 12 months.
Target · >90% effectiveness rate for critical CAPAs

Of the 50 critical CAPAs closed in Q1, 47 showed no recurrence of the issue by Q4, hitting a 94% effectiveness rate. That's a solid win.

IMS Platform Adoption & Utilisation
Percentage of global sites actively using the EHSQ/GRC platforms for all relevant processes, and depth of feature use.
Target · 95% active user rate; 80% feature utilisation for core modules

Our Q2 report shows 98% of sites are logging incidents in Cority, and 85% are using the CAPA module end-to-end, which is a big step up from last year.

Strategic Influence & Collaboration
How often you're proactively consulted on major business changes (e.g., new product launches, M&A) for compliance impact, and your ability to get diverse teams working together.
  • Regular invitations to strategic planning meetings
  • specific examples of influencing project design to embed compliance early
  • positive feedback from cross-functional leaders on collaborative efforts and problem-solving.
Team Development & Mentorship
The growth and engagement of your direct reports, and their ability to operate more autonomously and take on bigger challenges.
  • Formal and informal feedback from team members
  • measurable improvements in individual performance and project ownership
  • successful internal promotions or increased scope for team members
  • reduced team attrition rates.
Proactive Risk Identification
Your ability to spot emerging compliance risks or systemic weaknesses before they become major problems, and to get leadership to act on them.
  • Examples of risks identified and mitigated pre-emptively
  • inclusion of your insights in executive risk registers
  • successful implementation of new controls based on your recommendations
  • positive feedback from the Director on your foresight.
Process Harmonisation & Simplification
The extent to which you've reduced redundancy and complexity within the global IMS, making it easier for sites to comply.
  • Documented examples of merged procedures or eliminated steps
  • positive feedback from site-level users on system ease-of-use
  • quantifiable reductions in administrative burden for compliance tasks.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Solving Complex Systemic Problems

You'll spend your days figuring out how to integrate disparate processes, streamline global compliance, and make our IMS genuinely robust. You get a real kick out of seeing a messy, inefficient system become a well-oiled machine.

Successfully merging the quality management systems of a newly acquired company into our existing global IMS, reducing duplicate efforts by 30% and achieving seamless integration within 12 months.

Building and Developing a High-Performing Team

A big part of your role is coaching, mentoring, and empowering your specialists. You love seeing them grow, take on more responsibility, and deliver great work. Their success is your success, and you'll actively create opportunities for their development.

One of your Senior Specialists successfully leads a complex ISO 27001 certification project from start to finish, demonstrating significant growth in project management and stakeholder influence, directly due to your guidance.

Driving Tangible Business Impact

You're not just about compliance for compliance's sake. You want to see your work lead to real improvements in safety, quality, and efficiency. You'll track metrics like Cost of Poor Quality and audit efficiency, always looking for ways to add value.

Your team's analysis of incident data leads to a revised safety procedure that reduces near-misses by 10% across all manufacturing sites, directly contributing to a safer workplace and lower insurance premiums.

What frustrates people
  • The 'compliance for compliance's sake' mindset, where people care more about the certificate than actual improvement.
  • Dealing with significant resistance to change from entrenched operational teams or senior leaders.
  • Budget battles for necessary system upgrades or additional team resources.
  • The constant challenge of harmonising processes across diverse global sites with different cultural norms.
  • The political tightrope walk of delivering audit findings without alienating key stakeholders.
What this role does not give you
  • A purely hands-on technical role; you'll be more focused on strategy, oversight, and people management.
  • A static, predictable environment; expect regular shifts in regulatory landscapes and business priorities.
  • Complete autonomy over budget and resources without needing to justify and advocate for them.
  • A role where you can avoid difficult conversations or challenging established ways of working.

8Who you work with

This role directly shapes the organisation's capability to meet global compliance obligations and manage operational risks. You'll define how we approach quality, safety, and environmental management at a systemic level, influencing everything from daily operations to strategic market entry decisions. Your work ensures we maintain our licences to operate and our reputation for responsible business practices, directly impacting our bottom line and long-term sustainability.

Inside the business
  • Heads of Operations (Global & Regional)
  • Legal and HR Leadership
  • Site Directors and Plant Managers
  • Finance Leadership (for budget and cost of quality)
  • Product Development and Engineering Teams
Outside the business
  • Certification Bodies (e.g., BSI, SGS)
  • External Auditors
  • Regulatory Authorities (e.g., HSE, Environment Agency)
  • Key Suppliers and Contract Manufacturers

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Demonstrable experience (12-16 years) in managing Integrated Management Systems (IMS) across multiple sites or a global organisation.
  • Proven track record of leading and developing a team of CQHS professionals.
  • Extensive experience in managing external certification audits and engaging with certification bodies.
  • Deep expertise in at least three core ISO standards (e.g., 9001, 14001, 45001) at a Lead Auditor level.
  • Strong understanding of EHSQ/GRC software platforms, including selection, implementation, and optimisation.
  • Experience managing programme budgets (e.g., £500K+) and vendor relationships.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced Data Analytics & Visualisation for Risk

Moving beyond basic dashboards, you'll need to understand how to use advanced analytics to predict risks, identify systemic failures, and present compelling, data-driven insights to the board. This involves understanding complex statistical models and machine learning outputs, even if you're not building them yourself.

Predictive Modelling for Incidents · Network Analysis for Compliance Gaps · Data Storytelling for Executives

  • This quarter: Review existing data analytics capabilities within the CQHS department; identify gaps in risk prediction.
  • Next 6 months: Work with a data scientist or external consultant to explore advanced analytics techniques for a specific compliance challenge.
  • Next 12 months: Commission and oversee the development of a new, predictive risk dashboard for leadership.
  • Ongoing: Regularly review academic papers and industry best practices in data science for compliance applications.

Quick win: Challenge your team to move beyond descriptive analytics ('what happened') to diagnostic ('why it happened') and predictive ('what might happen') when presenting their findings. Ask for the 'so what?' and 'what next?'.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attending industry conferences and webinars on emerging CQHS trends, regulatory changes, and new technologies (e.g., AI in compliance).
  • Participating in professional networks and forums to share best practices and learn from peers in other global organisations.
  • Undertaking advanced training in areas like change management, strategic leadership, or advanced data analytics for risk.
  • Mentoring junior professionals, which is a great way to solidify your own knowledge and develop your leadership skills.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI Governance & Ethical Compliance

As AI becomes more embedded in business operations (from predictive maintenance to automated decision-making), the need to ensure these systems are compliant, ethical, and safe is paramount. Regulators are already catching up, and we need to be prepared.

  • AI Act (EU)
  • Algorithmic Bias Detection
  • Data Privacy in AI
  • Explainable AI (XAI)

ESG Reporting & Assurance Integration

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance is no longer just a 'nice-to-have'; it's a critical business imperative driven by investors, customers, and new regulations (e.g., CSRD). Our IMS needs to feed directly into robust ESG reporting and assurance processes.

  • CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)
  • GHG Protocol & Carbon Accounting
  • Social Metrics & Human Rights Due Diligence
  • Assurance Standards (e.g., ISAE 3000)

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Integrated Management System (IMS) Architecture
  • ISO 19011 Auditing Guidelines & Programme Management
  • Risk-Based Thinking & Enterprise Risk Management
  • Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) Lifecycle Governance

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Senior CQHS Integration Specialist (Internal Promotion)

    3-5 years as a Senior Specialist

    Skills to master

    • Leading complex, multi-site projects
    • mentoring junior team members
    • managing stakeholder expectations
    • developing a strategic understanding of the entire IMS.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully led at least two major certification projects (e.g., new ISO standard, new site).
    • Consistently delivered high-quality audit reports and effective CAPA management.
    • Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
    • Actively mentored junior colleagues and contributed to team development initiatives.
  2. 2

    Lead IMS Specialist (External Hire)

    Coming from a similar Lead role in a large, complex organisation (e.g., manufacturing, pharmaceuticals).

    Skills to master

    • Designing and improving IMS architecture
    • expert-level knowledge of multiple ISO standards
    • strong external audit engagement experience
    • programme management skills.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Managed a significant IMS programme or system for a division or large site.
    • Proven experience in facing off with external auditors and regulatory bodies.
    • Demonstrated ability to drive systemic improvements and efficiencies within an IMS.
    • Strong references highlighting leadership potential and strategic thinking.
  3. 3

    CQHS Consultant (External Hire)

    Moving from a senior consultancy role with 10+ years of experience.

    Skills to master

    • Broad exposure to different industry IMS implementations
    • strong client management and advisory skills
    • ability to quickly diagnose and solve complex compliance problems.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully advised multiple clients on IMS design, implementation, and certification.
    • Developed and delivered training programmes on CQHS standards and best practices.
    • Strong project management skills, often managing multiple client engagements simultaneously.
    • Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical requirements into practical business solutions.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to roles such as VP of Global EHS, Quality and Compliance, or Chief Risk Officer, shaping compliance and risk strategy at a senior level.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Manager, Global CQHS Systems is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety, worked against Manager, Global CQHS Systems.

Understand how to comply with the relevant Regulations, Industry Standards and Management Requirements for Process Safety Level 5

Applied to your work in Manager, Global CQHS Systems

The objective of this unit is to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the regulations, industry standards, and management requirements for process safety. Learners will understand the role of the Process Safety Leadership Group, relevant frameworks, legal duties, and the role of the Competent Authority.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Manager, Global CQHS Systems
  • Integrated Management System (IMS) Architecture
  • ISO 19011 Auditing Guidelines & Programme Management
  • Risk-Based Thinking & Enterprise Risk Management
  • Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) Lifecycle Governance
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Manager, Global CQHS Systems is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Director, Global Compliance & Integrated Systems

    3-5 years in the Manager role

    Level 6 (Director/VP)

    • Defining multi-year CQHS strategy and roadmap.
    • Leading major organisational transformation initiatives.
    • Managing relationships with global certification bodies at a strategic level.
    • Overseeing the entire CQHS function, including other managers and their teams.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, managing a global IMS is complex and time-consuming. Imagine if you could cut down on the tedious, repetitive tasks and free up your team for more strategic, high-value work. That's exactly what AI is starting to do for Compliance_Quality_Health_Safety professionals.

We're not talking about replacing your expertise; we're talking about augmenting it. AI can handle the heavy lifting of data analysis, regulatory scanning, and initial report drafting, leaving you and your team more time to focus on what truly matters: strategic oversight, complex problem-solving, and driving genuine improvements across the organisation. Think of it as having a highly efficient, tireless assistant for your entire department.

Regulatory Change Automation

AI platforms can now scan global regulatory databases (e.g., new EPA rules, EU directives) and automatically cross-reference them against our internal IMS documentation. This flags specific procedures that need review and impact assessment, saving your team countless hours of manual tracking and ensuring we don't miss critical updates.

Predictive Risk & Incident Analysis

Instead of just reacting, AI can analyse thousands of historical incident reports, near-misses, and audit findings to identify hidden correlations and predict the next likely area for a major safety or quality failure. As a manager, you'd use these insights to proactively allocate resources and implement preventive measures, moving from reactive to predictive risk management.

Standard Deconstruction & Gap Analysis

Imagine ingesting a new, complex standard (like a new sustainability framework) into an LLM and having it instantly generate a summary of key requirements. Then, it performs a clause-by-clause comparison against an existing standard (like ISO 14001) to create a preliminary gap analysis checklist. This drastically reduces the initial analysis time for your team, letting them focus on validation and implementation.

Procedure & Training Draft Generation

AI can draft initial versions of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, or toolbox talks by combining a process map, a list of critical control points, and relevant compliance requirements. Your specialists then refine and finalise these drafts, cutting down on the time spent on initial content creation and ensuring consistency across documents.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Manager, Global CQHS Systems?

Common routes in include Senior CQHS Integration Specialist (Internal Promotion) (3-5 years as a Senior Specialist), Lead IMS Specialist (External Hire) (Coming from a similar Lead role in a large, complex organisation (e.g., manufacturing, pharmaceuticals).) and CQHS Consultant (External Hire) (Moving from a senior consultancy role with 10+ years of experience.). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Manager, Global CQHS Systems progress to?

This role can lead on to Director, Global Compliance & Integrated Systems (3-5 years in the Manager role), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Manager, Global CQHS Systems?

Increasingly, AI Governance & Ethical Compliance and ESG Reporting & Assurance Integration. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

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17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 5

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in compliance, quality and safety

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

Skills in integrated management systems, risk management and global compliance transfer across manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy, logistics and technology companies with complex operations.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free Automation Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.