Coating Technical Manager

Forward Assist Recruitment; Burnley; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Assist Recruitment is seeking a Coating Technical Manager to lead a team of coating engineers, QC inspectors, and support staff. Reporting to Global Technical Director, you will drive operational excellence, talent development, and continuous improvement across the coating function.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to manage budgets, stakeholder relationships, and regulatory compliance while delivering performance improvements and aligned with

Qualifications

• Experience managing a technical, operational, or specialist department.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in departmental or functional management.
• Science-based bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical documentation and Testing activities with the project teams.
• Oversee day-to-day departmental operations, ensuring efficiency and quality.
• Review, develop, and improve departmental processes and workflows.
• Maintain understanding of regulatory environment and trends in coatings.
• Ensure compliance with policies, health and safety regs, and industry standards.
• Monitor expenditure, approve spending and manage budgets.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations of staff.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and development with HR.
• Represent the department in cross-functional meetings with senior leaders.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, suppliers, and partners.
• Ensure effective internal and external communication flow.
• Report departmental performance to senior management and suggest improvements.
• Mentor technical staff and discuss health and safety, production, and customer needs.
• Promote continuous, controlled process improvement through preventive actions.
• Up to 10 direct reports

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Budget management

People management

Organization

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional

Process improvement

Education

Science-based bachelor’s degree

Job description

Coating Technical Manager

Reporting to the Global Technical Director, the Coating Technical Manager will provide operational and people management for a team consisting of Technical Subject Matter Experts, including Coating Engineers, Coating QC Inspectors, a Document Controller, and a Laboratory Testing Coordinator.

The role holder will ensure departmental goals align with company-wide objectives, oversee day-to-day operations, develop talent, and drive continuous improvement across the function.

Major Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Global Technical Director and project teams, identify the appropriate Coating Engineer to lead technical documentation and testing activities for each project.
• Oversee day-to-day departmental operations, ensuring efficiency and quality of output.
• Review, develop, and improve departmental processes and workflows.
• Maintain a critical understanding of the regulatory environment and current and emerging trends relating to coating materials, technologies, and applications that are of strategic importance.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, health and safety regulations, and relevant industry standards.
• Monitor departmental expenditure, approve spending, and manage budgets in line with agreed constraints.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations of departmental staff.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and development activities in partnership with HR.
• Represent the department in cross-functional meetings and collaborate with other senior leaders.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with clients, suppliers, and external partners.
• Ensure effective communication and information flow within the department and across the wider business.
• Report departmental performance to senior management and recommend improvements where required.
• Effectively lead, coach, and mentor technical staff through regular engagement, including discussions on health and safety, production issues, material issues, and customer-specific requirements.
• Promote continuous, controlled process improvement through the implementation of preventive actions.
• Up to 10 direct reports

Requirements

Job Specific Education Required

Science-based bachelor's degree or equivalent.

Work Experience Required

Experience managing a technical, operational, or specialist department. Minimum of 10 years' experience in departmental or functional management.

Skills and Knowledge Required

• Strong leadership and strategic planning capability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; confident presenter.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and allocate resources effectively.
• Proven ability to lead teams, resolve conflict, and drive performance.
• High levels of organisation, attention to detail, and problem-solving capability.
• Strong influencing and people management skills, with credibility at senior level.
• Ability to work effectively across disciplines and build internal and external relationships.
• Ability to translate market and client needs into material and process performance requirements.
• Experience operating within structured business management systems and translating high-level organisational strategy into realistic, actionable plans.

Forward Assist Recruitment is an Equal Opportunities employer; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds