| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Quality |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Quality Assurance Manager or Head of Quality |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 3 to 7 years in quality, with auditing experience |
Quality Auditor job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Quality Auditor
Department: Quality
Reports to: Quality Assurance Manager or Head of Quality
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Quality Auditor checks that processes, suppliers and the quality system actually follow the standards and procedures. They plan and conduct internal, process and supplier audits, gather evidence, write up findings, and follow up corrective actions to closure. The role is independent and evidence-based, giving management an honest view of where practice drifts from requirements. In an Indian company the quality auditor runs the audit calendar, trains other auditors, and keeps the organisation audit ready by finding gaps before external or customer auditors do.
Key responsibilities
- Plan the audit calendar for internal, process and supplier audits across the year.
- Conduct audits against the standard, procedures and control plans using checklists.
- Gather objective evidence and record conformities and non-conformities clearly.
- Classify findings by severity and agree corrective actions with the auditee.
- Follow up corrective actions and verify they are effective before closing.
- Write clear audit reports and share findings with management.
- Audit suppliers on process and system readiness where assigned.
- Track audit findings and trends to highlight systemic issues.
- Train and mentor other internal auditors on audit technique.
- Keep the organisation ready for customer and certification audits by finding gaps early.
Requirements
- A degree in engineering, science or management
- Internal auditor or lead auditor certification for the relevant standard
- Knowledge of quality standards and audit methods
- 3 to 7 years in quality, with auditing experience
KRAs and KPIs for a Quality Auditor
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Audit completion | Planned audits completed on schedule across the year |
| Finding quality | Findings backed by evidence, no valid dispute on audit conclusions |
| Corrective closure | Audit non-conformities closed and verified within the agreed time |
| Gap detection | Internal audits catch gaps before external audits, external findings reduced |
| Reporting | Audit reports issued within the agreed time after each audit |
| Auditor capability | Target number of internal auditors trained and qualified |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Audit checklists and plans, Quality management system (QMS), Non-conformance tracker, MS Excel and Word, Audit management tools.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Lead Auditor, Quality Assurance Manager, Head of Quality
Interview questions for a Quality Auditor
- How do you keep an audit objective when the auditee is a colleague?
- What makes a finding a major non-conformity rather than an observation?
- How do you gather evidence rather than relying on what people tell you?
- How do you verify that a corrective action is truly effective?
- How do you plan an audit programme that covers real risk areas?
- An auditee disputes your finding. How do you handle it?
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What does a quality auditor do?
A quality auditor checks that processes, suppliers and the quality system follow the standards and procedures. They plan and conduct internal, process and supplier audits, gather evidence, write up findings, and follow up corrective actions to closure. They give management an honest, evidence-based view of where practice drifts from requirements and keep the organisation ready for external audits.
What certification does a quality auditor need?
A quality auditor usually holds internal auditor or lead auditor certification for the relevant standard, such as ISO 9001. A degree in engineering, science or management is the common base, along with knowledge of quality standards and audit methods. Employers value objectivity, evidence discipline and a few years of quality experience.
What is the difference between an internal audit and an external audit?
An internal audit is carried out by the company's own auditors to check its processes and system and find gaps before anyone else does. An external audit is carried out by a certification body or customer to decide certification or approval. A quality auditor runs internal audits and prepares the organisation for external ones.