Technical Manager

Required outputs: Functional

To provide strategic and technical leadership across the manufacturing facility, ensuring effective coordination between Operations, Quality, Laboratory, Engineering, R&D, Commercial and customers. The role oversees product and process quality, technical governance, laboratory performance, problem-solving, audits and the transfer of new products and technologies into manufacturing, while leading technical teams to achieve operational, quality and business objectives.

Required functional outputs

• Provide overall technical leadership across Laboratory, Quality, QC, Process Engineering and technical operations.
•  Establish and maintain technical standards, systems, governance and KPIs.
• Manage and continually improve the Quality Management System and ensure ISO and regulatory compliance.
• Lead internal audits, corrective actions, non-conformance management and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure effective document control and maintenance of technical and quality documentation.
• Coordinate technology transfer, product development, plant trials and scale-up from R&D into Operations.
• Lead complex technical investigations involving product failures, process instability, quality deviations and manufacturing problems.
• Lead investigations into significant customer complaints and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Provide technical leadership to Laboratory Technical Superintendents, QC Managers and other technical teams.
• Ensure products consistently meet specifications and support process capability, optimisation and variability reduction.
• Provide technical support to Operations and Process Engineering, including process improvement, Management of Change and CAPEX projects.
• Identify and manage technical, quality and process risks affecting safety, compliance, customers and business continuity.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, automation and the use of data and statistical analysis.
• Develop technical capability through training, coaching, mentoring, knowledge transfer and succession planning.
• Provide technical input into SHEQ investigations, risk assessments and regulatory/customer audits.
• Manage technical budgets, resources, external testing and specialist technical services.
• Monitor technical and quality performance through appropriate KPIs and ensure measurable improvement.

Qualifications and Experience

• BSc, BTech, BEng or equivalent in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Process Engineering, Materials Science or a relevant technical discipline.
• Minimum 10–15 years' experience in technical, manufacturing, process engineering, quality or R&D environments.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a technical leadership or management role.
• Proven experience in chemical/process manufacturing.
• Experience managing technical, laboratory and quality teams.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems, ISO standards and internal auditing.
• Experience in product development, technology transfer and scale-up.
• Experience in technical investigations, customer complaints and manufacturing troubleshooting.
• Experience with process optimisation, CAPEX/project implementation and Management of Change.
• Postgraduate qualification, MBA/PDBA, Lean/Six Sigma, Project Management or ISO Lead Auditor qualification would be advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of chemical/process manufacturing, quality systems, laboratory operations, process optimisation, statistical analysis, root-cause analysis and technical risk management.

Competencies

• Strong technical leadership and strategic thinking.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Systems thinking and sound decision-making.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong quality and customer focus.
• Ability to lead, coach and develop technical teams.
• Strong knowledge transfer and knowledge-management capabilities.
• Commercial awareness and business acumen.
• Change leadership and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to manage complex technical issues and make evidence-based decisions.
• Strong accountability, attention to detail and commitment to technical excellence