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