What to Expect
The Perceived Quality Manager is responsible for building and managing the Perceived Quality team at McLaren. Perceived Quality (PQ) is a collection of subjective and objective factors which have an influence on the customer’s perception of the overall worth of the vehicle, with respect to its intended purpose and benchmark competitors. The PQ team find and deliver design and engineering solutions for Perceived Quality factors on future vehicle programmes. The Perceived Quality Manager reports to the Head of Product Quality Standards. The individual will not receive direct supervision and is ultimately accountable for building and coaching the team, managing the budgets and timing plans, and for setting and achieving Perceived Quality targets.
What You'll Do
- Build and lead a team of engineering principals and seniors, who are responsible for the Perceived Quality attribute development activity, across all future vehicle programmes at McLaren Automotive, including running changes (series) and personalisation (MSO) projects.
- The Perceived Quality Manager has ultimate accountability for achieving PQ targets across all programmes, and is personally responsible to drive resolution of any PQ concerns where they threaten programme delivery.
- These targets and departmental objectives are set annually by the PQ Manager to meet company imperatives.
- This role represents PQ at the highest levels within McLaren, and is expected to drive the technical and delivery narrative in the company through good business relationships and positive influence. This may include the requirement to present programme PQ gateway deliverables at gateway events.
- Implement a climate of best-practice and continuous improvement in PQ procedures and solutions. This includes evolving or refreshing all current Design Guides, PQ documents, and McLaren standards.
- Responsible for developing the capability and direction of the PQ attribute function in McLaren which includes tasks such as:
- Create and maintain a PQ implementation roadmap.
- Evolve the PQ assessment methodology and scoring process including statistical analysis of assessors.
- Author and approve PQ processes in McLaren standards library (MSL).
- Oversee and approve PQ design memoranda as a reference to design for PQ.
- Communicate the principles of PQ to the McLaren engineering community to encourage adherence.
- Success will come from individually building and developing a team to become a world-class engineering outfit, through motivating, managing behaviours, fostering new talent and maximising the potential of all staff.
- Oversee the creation of a PQ database of best-in-class examples and best-practice solutions.
- Lead technical presentations and training seminars to roll out and establish PQ best practice to the Engineering community in McLaren
- Introduce an appearance approval process by extending McLaren benchmarking to enable further understanding of the needs of the customer to identify and cascade the specification requirements. Working with suppliers to ensure the delivery meets these expectations and achieves sign off.
- Work closely with Marketing and Product to define and propose for study in scope of delivery new features and technologies to enhance the customer experience.
- Lead the Interior departments (20 heads currently) succession planning and personal development strategies
- Deliver a robust PQ strategy encompassing OEM benchmark platform strategy with unique McLaren DNA to prepare the business for our next range of BEV vehicles
- Deliver through communisation of PQ strategy consistent design through Sports, GT & Ultimate vehicle ranges a saving of 5% on the investment budget support Platform parts
- Deliver a 10% reduction on ongoing changes post G3 as a result of late change when delivering the required PQ level
What You'll Bring
- Degree qualified or has similar qualification in either Design, Consumer, Engineering, Marketing or related fields.
- 5 years+ Proven industry experience in Perceived Quality or Customer Research / Product development
- Must demonstrate a level of design (aesthetic) empathy, through work experience or personal projects.
- Has a functional knowledge of a variety of production and prototype fabrication methods.
- Is competent in Microsoft Office software products.
- Able to use Adobe Photoshop and InDesign to create convincing imagery and documents.
- Knowledge of CATIA CAD software or Alias/ICEMSurf CAS software would be a benefit.
What We'll Do for You
- Clarity: Clear thought process; a highly organised mind; and the ability to communicate concisely.
- Intelligence: Sharp and quick intelligence; the capability to deeply analyse bringing new insights; and the ability to think on their feet.
- Impression: A self-assured presenter; with well-founded self-confidence; and with personal affability.
- Nature: Instinctively curious; resilient to set-backs; and always behaving with integrity.
- Approach: Motivated by the challenge; technically brave; personally, self-driven; and relentlessly positive.
Who Are We?
No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.
It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks.
McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.