Technical Manager

Aeciworld; Sasolburg; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Job summary

AECI Mining Chemicals seeks a high‑caliber technical leader to drive strategic leadership across Laboratory, Quality, QC and Process Engineering. You will ensure ISO compliance, oversee audits, technology transfer and scale‑up from R&D, and mentor technical teams to improve product quality and process robustness.

Responsibilities include establishing standards, governing KPIs, managing budgets, and leading investigations into complex issues while partnering with operations and engineering to

Qualifications

• BSc, BTech, BEng or equivalent in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Process Engineering, Materials Science or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 10–15 years' experience in technical, manufacturing, process engineering, quality or R&D environments.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a technical leadership or management role.
• Proven experience in chemical/process manufacturing.
• Experience managing technical, laboratory and quality teams.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems, ISO standards and internal auditing.
• Experience in product development, technology transfer and scale-up.
• Experience in technical investigations, customer complaints and manufacturing troubleshooting.
• Experience with process optimisation, CAPEX/project implementation and Management of Change.
• Postgraduate qualification, MBA/PDBA, Lean/Six Sigma, Project Management or ISO Lead Auditor qualification would be advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of chemical/process manufacturing, quality systems, laboratory operations, process optimisation, statistical analysis, root-cause analysis and technical risk management.
• Strong technical leadership and strategic thinking.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Systems thinking and sound decision-making.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong quality and customer focus.
• Ability to lead, coach and develop technical teams.
• Strong knowledge transfer and knowledge-management capabilities.
• Commercial awareness and business acumen.
• Change leadership and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to manage complex technical issues and make evidence-based decisions.
• Strong accountability, attention to detail and commitment to technical excellence

Responsibilities

• Provide overall technical leadership across Laboratory, Quality, QC, Process Engineering and technical operations.
• Establish and maintain technical standards, systems, governance and KPIs.
• Manage and continually improve the Quality Management System and ensure ISO and regulatory compliance.
• Lead internal audits, corrective actions, non-conformance management and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure effective document control and maintenance of technical and quality documentation.
• Coordinate technology transfer, product development, plant trials and scale-up from R&D into Operations.
• Lead complex technical investigations involving product failures, process instability, quality deviations and manufacturing problems.
• Lead investigations into significant customer complaints and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Provide technical leadership to Laboratory Technical Superintendents, QC Managers and other technical teams.
• Ensure products consistently meet specifications and support process capability, optimisation and variability reduction.
• Provide technical support to Operations and Process Engineering, including process improvement, Management of Change and CAPEX projects.
• Identify and manage technical, quality and process risks affecting safety, compliance, customers and business continuity.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, automation and the use of data and statistical analysis.
• Develop technical capability through training, coaching, mentoring, knowledge transfer and succession planning.
• Provide technical input into SHEQ investigations, risk assessments and regulatory/customer audits.
• Manage technical budgets, resources, external testing and specialist technical services.
• Monitor technical and quality performance through appropriate KPIs and ensure measurable improvement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Quality management

Audits & regulatory compliance

Statistical analysis

Continuous improvement

Stakeholder management

Root-cause analysis

Project management (CAPEX/MOC)

Technical risk management

Coaching and mentoring

Education

BSc / BTech / BEng or equivalent

MBA / Lean Six Sigma / ISO Lead Auditor (advantage)

Tools

Quality Management System (QMS)

ISO standards knowledge

Job description

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To provide strategic and technical leadership across the manufacturing facility, ensuring effective coordination between Operations, Quality, Laboratory, Engineering, R&D, Commercial and customers. The role oversees product and process quality, technical governance, laboratory performance, problem-solving, audits and the transfer of new products and technologies into manufacturing, while leading technical teams to achieve operational, quality and business objectives.

Required functional outputs

• Provide overall technical leadership across Laboratory, Quality, QC, Process Engineering and technical operations.
• Establish and maintain technical standards, systems, governance and KPIs.
• Manage and continually improve the Quality Management System and ensure ISO and regulatory compliance.
• Lead internal audits, corrective actions, non-conformance management and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure effective document control and maintenance of technical and quality documentation.
• Coordinate technology transfer, product development, plant trials and scale-up from R&D into Operations.
• Lead complex technical investigations involving product failures, process instability, quality deviations and manufacturing problems.
• Lead investigations into significant customer complaints and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Provide technical leadership to Laboratory Technical Superintendents, QC Managers and other technical teams.
• Ensure products consistently meet specifications and support process capability, optimisation and variability reduction.
• Provide technical support to Operations and Process Engineering, including process improvement, Management of Change and CAPEX projects.
• Identify and manage technical, quality and process risks affecting safety, compliance, customers and business continuity.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, automation and the use of data and statistical analysis.
• Develop technical capability through training, coaching, mentoring, knowledge transfer and succession planning.
• Provide technical input into SHEQ investigations, risk assessments and regulatory/customer audits.
• Manage technical budgets, resources, external testing and specialist technical services.
• Monitor technical and quality performance through appropriate KPIs and ensure measurable improvement.

Qualifications and Experience

• BSc, BTech, BEng or equivalent in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Process Engineering, Materials Science or a relevant technical discipline.
• Minimum 10–15 years' experience in technical, manufacturing, process engineering, quality or R&D environments.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a technical leadership or management role.
• Proven experience in chemical/process manufacturing.
• Experience managing technical, laboratory and quality teams.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems, ISO standards and internal auditing.
• Experience in product development, technology transfer and scale-up.
• Experience in technical investigations, customer complaints and manufacturing troubleshooting.
• Experience with process optimisation, CAPEX/project implementation and Management of Change.
• Postgraduate qualification, MBA/PDBA, Lean/Six Sigma, Project Management or ISO Lead Auditor qualification would be advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of chemical/process manufacturing, quality systems, laboratory operations, process optimisation, statistical analysis, root-cause analysis and technical risk management.
• Strong technical leadership and strategic thinking.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Systems thinking and sound decision-making.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong quality and customer focus.
• Ability to lead, coach and develop technical teams.
• Strong knowledge transfer and knowledge-management capabilities.
• Commercial awareness and business acumen.
• Change leadership and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to manage complex technical issues and make evidence-based decisions.
• Strong accountability, attention to detail and commitment to technical excellence