Section Manager, Production LAB & GPS | EXA Ceramics

NCSL International; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 100,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

alfanar Building Systems seeks an experienced Laboratory & Glaze Manager in Riyadh to lead the Production Laboratory and Glaze Preparation sections, ensuring quality and efficiency in raw materials testing, glaze formulation, and process optimization.

The role requires a Bachelor Degree in Ceramic Engineering or related field and 4–6 years of relevant experience; you will supervise lab activities, manage glaze processes, and collaborate with R&D and production teams to maintain high standards

Qualifications

• Supervise lab activities including raw material analysis, chemical testing, and quality issue correction advice.
• Develop and implement testing protocols for new materials and formulations.
• Maintain calibration and upkeep of lab equipment.
• Manage glaze formulation, mixing, and application processes.
• Collaborate with R&D and design teams to develop new glaze effects and finishes.
• Monitor glaze performance during production and troubleshoot issues.
• Ensure accurate documentation of glazing recipes and process parameters.
• Monitor shade variation and take corrective action when deviations are identified.
• Obtain approval from the R&D Manager for product changes and adjustments before commercial production start-up.
• Communicate required information to related departments from body preparation to kiln regarding developed bodies, glazes, and pilot run production.
• Ensure specified parameters are communicated, included, and maintained in the concerned departments.
• Control pigments and raw materials related to glazes and regularly check related inventory.
• Analyze production data to identify areas for improvement.
• Support trials and pilot runs for new products and processes.
• Prepare regular reports on lab results, glaze performance, and production KPIs.
• Maintain accurate records of tests, formulations, and process changes.
• Participate in audits and contribute to quality assurance documentation.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and cultivate high performers and develop a robust second line of management.
• Ensure delegation of authority per company policy.
• Take full responsibility for operations and deliverables in line with business goals.
• Proactively identify and prevent problems.
• Make timely, proper decisions.
• Deliver required results with quality and cost targets.
• Transform corporate goals into actionable plans and monitor performance.
• Provide progress reports and manage budgets for cost efficiency.

Skills

Laboratory Management

Glaze Formulation

Process Optimization

Quality Assurance

Education

Bachelor Degree in Ceramic Engineering

Tools

Lab equipment

Job description

Requisition ID: 28066

Job Country: Saudi Arabia (SA)

Job City: Riyadh

Group Overview

Headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, we operate construction and manufacturing businesses, design & development centers and a host of facilities in the Middle East and other countries.

alfanar Building Systems

alfanar Construction is classified as a Grade I contractor by the Contractors Classification Committee of the Government of Saudi Arabia.

alfanar Building Systems manufactures and markets a variety of building construction products and systems. .

Core manufacturing activities of the industries operating under alfanar Building Systems are:

• Ceramic wall and floor tiles
• Façade cladding, glazing systems and architectural aluminum products
• Precast concrete products and architectural elements
• Office & home furniture and interior décor products

Job Purpose

To lead and manage the Production Laboratory and Glaze Preparation sections by ensuring consistent quality, process efficiency, and production innovation through raw material testing, glaze formulation, process optimization, and team development to meet production targets and quality standards.

Key Accountability Areas

Laboratory Management

• Supervise lab activities including raw material analysis, chemical testing, and quality issue correction advice.
• Develop and implement testing protocols for new materials and formulations.
• Maintain calibration and upkeep of lab equipment.

Glaze Preparation Management

• Manage glaze formulation, mixing, and application processes.
• Collaborate with R&D and design teams to develop new glaze effects and finishes.
• Monitor glaze performance during production and troubleshoot issues.
• Ensure accurate documentation of glazing recipes and process parameters.

Production Monitoring, Adjustment & Follow-Up

• Monitor shade variation and take corrective action when deviations are identified.
• Obtain approval from the R&D Manager for product changes and adjustments before commercial production start-up.
• Communicate required information to related departments from body preparation to kiln regarding developed bodies, glazes, and pilot run production.
• Ensure specified parameters are communicated, included, and maintained in the concerned departments.
• Control pigments and raw materials related to glazes and regularly check related inventory.

Technology, Process Optimization & Innovation

• Analyze production data to identify areas for improvement.
• Support trials and pilot runs for new products and processes.
• Control pigments and raw materials related to glazes and regularly check related inventory.

Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare regular reports on lab results, glaze performance, and production KPIs.
• Maintain accurate records of tests, formulations, and process changes.
• Participate in audits and contribute to quality assurance documentation.

Role Accountability

HR Proficiency

• Ability to recruit, recognize and cultivate high performers and expose them in order to create a robust second line of management.
• Ability to recognize low performers and guide them to improve or release them.
• Ability to treat subordinates equally without any discrimination.
• Assessment criteria of subordinates is performance that leads to planned results.
• Ensure availability of delegation of authority matrix to have sufficient delegations as per company policy.

Responsibility

• Must take full responsibility for his operation as per the job description and the required deliverables from this position, taking into consideration the general company guidelines.
• Able to anticipate problems and make the necessary proactive steps to prevent them
• Ability to take necessary and proper timely decisions.

Delivery

• Deliver the required results in timely manner with required quality and cost.
• Making a Tangible Difference:
• Must make a tangible difference to his area of operation. and exceed business expectations.

Business Planning and Performance

• Able to transform the corporate goals into business plans.
• Able to Plan, follow-up and execute those plans, whether they are annual or development plans.
• Monitor the plan performance and initiate action to strengthen results and take the corrective action accordingly.
• Provide periodic work progress reports.
• Responsible for monitoring and controlling budgets and expenses to achieve the optimum cost efficiency.

Organizational Development

• Develop the organizational structure according to the current requirements taking into consideration future and development plans.
• Ensure availability of job descriptions for all job roles and deployment.

Business Process Improvements

• Develop, coordinate well-defined written systems, policies, procedures, and seek automations opportunities as much as possible.
• Should be conversant and able to navigate through IT solutions especially those relevant to his job and business.
• Promote the automated systems and using them fully, to spread its culture.

Quality

• Quality is considered as alfanar's prime competitive advantage as such, managers are expected to act accordingly.

Adaptation

• Adapt to new and alternative techniques, technologies, management structures, and business models.

Health, Safety and Environment

• Ensure a safe, secure, and legal work environment as per the standard regulations.

Academic Qualification

Bachelor Degree in Ceramic Engineering or Any relevant field

Work Experience

4 to 6 Years

Technical / Functional Competencies

• Safety Awareness and Compliance
• Reporting
• Product Development