Technical Manager
£70,000 per annum
Chester
Monday to Friday
We are recruiting on behalf of a leading industrial manufacturing organisation for a Technical Manager to oversee end-to-end technical delivery across a diverse engineering and production environment. This is a key leadership role responsible for shaping technical strategy, driving operational excellence, and leading a growing engineering team through a significant period of development and investment.
The successful candidate will take ownership of product design, CNC programming, and manufacturing engineering activities, ensuring robust processes are in place from concept through to full production. This role will also play a central part in the development and implementation of a new ERP system and the establishment of standardised ways of working across the technical function.
With responsibility for a small but expanding team (currently 4 direct reports, growing to circa 6 within 12 months), this position requires both strategic leadership and hands-on technical capability.
Key Responsibilities The Technical Manager will:
Lead and develop a multidisciplinary technical team covering design, CNC programming, and manufacturing engineering
Oversee the full lifecycle of new and existing products, from early development and prototyping through to production and customer delivery
Own and govern manufacturing processes across a wide range of operations including casting, rolling, extrusion, machining, and fabrication
Drive the New Product Introduction (NPI) process, ensuring seamless transition from commercial award to production readiness
Develop and implement PFMEA, control plans, and standardised work instructions to ensure robust and repeatable processes
Work closely with Health & Safety to ensure all process designs are safe, compliant, and consider human factors
Collaborate with commercial teams to align production capability with demand requirements, including capacity planning, factory layout, and CAPEX input
Support the design and rollout of a new ERP system, ensuring it meets current and future technical and operational needs
Define and implement technical standards, engineering governance, and change control processes
Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to improve cost, quality, and efficiency
Lead root cause analysis and resolution of complex non-conformance and quality issues
Support budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimisation activities across the technical function
Develop capability within the team through structured training, skills assessment, and competency development planning
Contribute to medium and long-term operational and technical strategy, including future growth and scaling requirements
Support R&D and innovation activities, driving new ideas through to implementation and stable production
Provide technical input into bids, estimates, and customer or stakeholder discussions where required
Collaborate cross-functionally with maintenance, quality, and production teams to improve overall operational performance
Skills & Experience The ideal candidate will bring:
A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent significant experience)
Proven experience leading technical engineering teams in a manufacturing environment
Strong background in end-to-end production process ownership, including design, CNC programming, or manufacturing engineering
Demonstrable experience delivering successful NPI projects, including PFMEA and control plan development
Strong understanding of factory layout, process flow, line balancing, and operational efficiency
Experience operating in a Lean manufacturing environment, with application of Six Sigma and continuous improvement tools
Knowledge of ISO9001 quality systems and engineering standards
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings confidently
Experience managing technical projects through to completion
Strong problem-solving skills with a structured root cause analysis approach
Experience with ERP or MES system implementation is highly desirable
Commercial awareness with experience supporting budgeting and cost control activities
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage across technical and non-technical stakeholders
Additional Information Location: Chester
Salary: £70,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 36 hours per week
Employment type: Permanent, full-time staff position
Reporting to: Operations Director
Direct reports: 4 (growing to approximately 6 within 12 months)
This is a high-impact leadership role suited to a technically strong, commercially aware engineering leader who thrives in a dynamic manufacturing environment and is motivated by building capability, structure, and long-term operational success.
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