Technical Director

GLOBAL RECRUITMENT & HR SPECIALISTS ACROSS THE PLASTICS, PACKAGING, PETROCHEMICALS, CHEMICALS, ENERGY AND RECYCLING SECTORS SINCE 1975

Based in Derbyshire

 

The Client:

The company is a leading manufacturer of safety critical plastic pipe products that are used in highly regulated industry sectors. It is at the forefront of innovation and product development employing a highly experienced R&D team. This role has been created to lead the operational delivery of products; ensuring NPD projects are delivered on time, developing internal resource capabilities, interfacing with customers/stakeholders and management of the technical team.

 

The Role:

Leading a team of professional engineers and technicians that span the design, development and new product introduction process for plastic pipe and fitting systems, mainly used in the utilities sector such as gas and water distribution.

 

The Person:

The Technical Director will lead the technical team and in addition, represent the company externally on all technical matters pertaining to the product portfolio. Client meetings are an important attribute of the role and technical competency is therefore vital.

Key competencies expected of the post holder would include:

Skilled in new product development process management
· Basic competency in Stage-Gate project definition and planning
· Estimating skills to support Portfolio Review c/w commercial colleagues
· Ability to deliver process leadership and achieve/sustain process adherence
· Management product compliance process with relevant utility organisations

Sector expertise in market and application engineering (client focus)
· Expertise in pressurised plastic pipeline systems is an advantage
· Alternatively, safety critical industries such as automotive, aerospace, oil & gas
· Expertise in lifetime (reliability) engineering for long life assets is an advantage
· Expertise in standards, risk management/design of tests outside standards
· Ability to deliver focused presentations & lead discussion forums with clients

Relevant experience in design for manufacturing in plastics sector
· Expertise in material selection, properties & performance
· Expertise in design for injection moulding and/or multilayer pipe extrusion
· Expertise in specification of, and contract management of, tooling purchases
· Ability to be the gate keeper and final decision on technical attributes

Proven ability to manage and deliver customer contracted R&D
· Expertise in preparation of offers, negotiating and agreeing scope of works
· Expertise in R&D contract forms, legal review and agreements
· Ability to deliver to time, quality and agreed outcomes, the contracted works

Knowledge and experience of managing intellectual property portfolio
· Expertise in identification of patent opportunities & developing patents
· Expertise in monitoring patent databases, specifically competitor activity
· Expertise linked to infringement risk mitigation/defending against infringers
· Ability to maintain an active, valued, portfolio to reasonable budgets

The ability to operate under pressure when faced with product or customer issues
· Expertise of operating in safety critical markets with AFARP/ALARP risks
· Ability to lead multidisciplinary team for containment & risk mitigation event
· Ability, with legal/contract professionals, to work through contract escalation
· Ability to sustain process until agreed outcomes achieved

To lead and motivate the teams
· 2 direct reports (Product Development Manager and Compliance and Lab Manager)
· Currently 22 engineering/support staff
· Ability to identify internal and external resource requirements
· Expertise in budget preparation, planning ahead and justification

 

Other Attributes:

· The post holder must display a high degree of emotional intelligence and provide a constructive ability to operate across a broad range of operational situations.
· A core attribute is the ability to work throughout the business to achieve operational goals, and to work with customers, suppliers, professional institutions and regulatory bodies to achieve outcomes having a direct bearing on the business reputation.
· The business expects to be seen as both technically competent, and as a leader in this respect, in its chosen segments

 

 

For reasons of better legibility, the simultaneous use of the language forms male, female and diverse (f/m/d) is avoided. All personal designations apply equally to all genders.
For EU roles, candidates must be eligible to work and live in the European Union. Proof of eligibility will be required with your application.

 

Throughout 2025, you can meet with Listgrove at the following exhibitions:
Packaging Innovations, JEC World, European Coatings Show, Kunststoffenbeurs, K2025, Plastics Live Ireland