Technical Manager

INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT & HR EXPERTS ACROSS THE PLASTICS, PACKAGING, SPECIALITY CHEMICALS, LIFE SCIENCES, BIOPOLYMER, FOOD ADDITIVES & INGREDIENTS, ENERGY AND RECYCLING SECTORS SINCE 1975.

Technical Manager
Based in Somerset, United Kingdom

Relocation Support Provided

Salary: c.£70,000

Location: Site based
Department: Technical
Reports to: Technical director – Dotted line responsibility to the Site lead.

Objective:

Responsible for the efficient management and continuous improvement of technical processes and product quality within the site. This role supports both the Extrusion and Thermoforming departments, driving profitability, innovation, and value engineering. It focuses on optimising cycle times, tool changes, and downtime, alongside managing new product implementation and ensuring effective project management. The role also encompasses supporting material developments, troubleshooting, and facilitating customer engagement to enhance business credibility and growth.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Project management and onsite support for new tool commissioning, as part of the NPI process implementation of new products and manufacturing equipment
• Implementation of process improvements related to cycle time, tool change, down time and output improvements
• Report new product commissioning actuals in comparison to commercial targets for joint review with the commercial team and trouble shoot any deviation to achieve costed manufacture levels
• Identify, plan and drive continual improvement initiatives related to Thermoform automation, machine, tool and process improvements
• Support the Extrusion manager and extrusion team for NPD, material developments and troubleshooting.
• Deliver improved profitability to the business through value engineering projects
• Ensure the quality of tooling purchased and correct technical specifications are in place with suppliers
• Support the operational teams to deliver CI projects.
• Support the sales team with supply chain reviews and customer visits where needed to increase credibility with target customers
• Support the innovation pipeline for ideation
• Comply with all policies and procedures to ensure a safe and healthy working environment is maintained
• Abide by the company’s environmental and quality management procedures
• Carry out any reasonable duties we request that are within your abilities, irrespective of grade/skill level

Key Working Relationships:

The jobholder will work under the supervision of the management but will also be expected to work under their own initiative. Interfaces with Management, Employees, Customers and Suppliers, must represent the company in a professional manner at all times.

Person Specification & Skills and qualifications:

• Degree level qualified in an manufacturing or engineering field
• 10+ years of plastics manufacture experience. Thermoforming preferred. Extrusion experience a benefit.
• A working knowledge of polymer processing
• SPC knowledge. Process control techniques. Stage gate process experience.
• Able to travel with in the UK and EU when required.

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 UK roles, candidates must be eligible to work and live in the United Kingdom. Proof of eligibility will be required with your application.

Throughout 2026 & 2027 you can meet with Listgrove at the following exhibitions:
Interpack, France Innovation Plasturgie, Interplas UK, Plast Milan, Fakuma, ArabPlast, NPE 2027.

Listgrove Limited Registered in England No: 01197713