Technical Specialist

AHK Group Ltd; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Alfred H Knight seeks a Senior Technical Specialist to provide hands-on technical support across its international laboratory network. This role travels to regional labs and client sites to troubleshoot analytical and operational challenges, implement new methods, and strengthen technical capability and service delivery.

You will lead laboratory operations, advise senior leaders, develop KPI-driven improvements, and ensure compliance with ISO 17025/9001 across the group.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in a commercial analytical laboratory environment.
• Hands-on experience with WDXRF, EDXRF, FAAS, ICP, ICP-MS, Fire assay.
• Metals/minerals industry knowledge; ISO 17025 familiarity.
• Experience supervising laboratory teams.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• BSc/Degree in Chemistry or Analytical Science preferred.
• Industry experience may substitute for formal degree; internal ISO training desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day technical leadership for laboratory operations across the global network.
• Serve as a specialist technical advisor to the Laboratory Senior Leadership Team.
• Develop project targets, KPIs, and data-driven recommendations.
• Verify testing systems and protocols maintain high-quality analytical standards.
• Ensure methods meet accuracy requirements and staff proficiency.
• Maintain knowledge of ISO 17025 & ISO 9001 and related validation requirements.
• Foster cross-cultural collaboration across regional teams.
• Communicate complex technical issues clearly to senior non-technical stakeholders.
• Drive strategic resource planning and equipment justification.
• Foster cultural sensitivity when engaging with diverse global teams.

Skills

Cross-Cultural Teamwork

Interpersonal Awareness

Communication

Strategic Awareness

Cultural Sensitivity

Education

BSc/ Degree in Chemistry or Analytical Science

Tools

WDXRF

EDXRF

FAAS

ICP

ICPMS

Fire Assay

Job description

Reporting to Senior Laboratory Management, the Senior Technical Specialist is responsible for providing hands-on technical support across the Group's international laboratory network. The role will travel to regional laboratories and client sites to investigate technical issues, troubleshoot analytical and operational challenges, support the implementation of new methods and technologies, and work alongside laboratory teams to improve technical capability, efficiency and service delivery. Acting as a technical subject matter expert, the role will provide practical solutions that strengthen laboratory performance and ensure client requirements are consistently achieved., Strategic Technical Leadership & Advisory

• Provide day-to-day technical leadership for laboratory operations across the global network, reporting to the Group Laboratory Quality and Technical Lead.
• Serve as a specialist technical advisor to the Laboratory Senior Leadership Team, supporting global development, continuous improvement programmes, and broader business goals.
• Develop achievable project targets, establish key performance indicators, and utilize technical reports to provide data-driven recommendations.

Operational Excellence & Technical Governance

• Assist the Laboratory Senior Leadership Team in verifying that all testing systems and protocols maintain high-quality analytical standards.
• Ensure selected analytical methods meet required accuracy standards and verify laboratory personnel proficiency.
• Maintain thorough knowledge of and ensure compliance with ISO standards and technical validation requirements.

Cross-Cultural Teamwork

• The ability to foster collaboration and build effective partnerships across diverse regional teams and cultural contexts.

Interpersonal Awareness

• Demonstrating the ability to understand team dynamics and adapt behaviour to foster collaborative relationships, which is essential when working across different sites.

• Functional knowledge of and understanding of the requirements pertaining to ISO 17025 & ISO9001 in the management of a commercial assay laboratory.
• Influencing without Authority: The ability to build consensus and drive change across global teams without direct line management.
• Communication: Summarizing complex technical situations, analytical challenges, or risk impacts into concise, actionable insights for senior non-technical stakeholders.
• Strategic Awareness: Providing technical justification for laboratory equipment and resource planning.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Demonstrating geographical awareness and cultural sensitivity when engaging with diverse global teams.

Required Work Experience

• Proven experience of a minimum of 10 years in a commercial analytical laboratory environment.
• Hands-on experience in relevant analytical instrumentation (e.g., WDXRF, EDXRF, FAAS, ICP, ICPMS, Fire assay).
• Proven experience in the metals and minerals industry and knowledge of ISO 17025.
• Experience in supervising teams in a laboratory setting.
• Experience using Microsoft Office and Google suite of applications.
• Education: A BSc/Degree in Chemistry, Analytical Science, or a related technical discipline is highly preferred.
• Experience Equivalence: Substantial, verified industry experience in a laboratory environment may be considered in lieu of a formal degree.
• Professional Development: Recognized internal auditor training for ISO 17025 or ISO 9001 is highly desirable. Candidates without this will be expected to complete training within the first 6 months.

• Alfred H Knight is a totally independent, family owned business spanning five generations. A global network of strategically placed offices and laboratories enable global trade by providing independent inspection, analysis and consultancy services to the metals and minerals, solid fuels and agriculture industries.
• We are offering an excellent opportunity with a salary and benefits package to match including pension, life assurance and an employee assistance programme.