Technical Manager (Automation)

Our Automation & Digitalisation teams deliver projects in various industries including Nuclear, Food & Beverage, Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Energy/Renewables, Metals and Utilities.
Our teams across Chesterfield, Fareham and Warrington deliver solutions using a wide array of technology including Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider, AVEVA and many more.
These solutions include PLC, HMI, SCADA, MES, Batch, Functional Safety, OT Cyber Security and Industry 4.0.

As part of our continued growth in Automation, we are looking for a Technical Manager to join our team in Chesterfield.

The Technical Manager will:

•    be responsible for providing technical and quality leadership to our team of 25 engineers based at Chesterfield.
•    work closely and collaboratively with the Head of Automation, Head of Projects, Project Managers, Technical Managers and Engineering teams.
•    have responsibility for the successful delivery of technical aspects of projects delivered by the Automation team.
 

Key Activities

•    Responsible for the line management of Engineers (appraisals, PDPs, one-to-ones, development & training planning, SQEP & competence management, recruitment, employee welfare & wellbeing etc.)
•    Provide Technical Assurance
•    Carry out Project Surveillance audits (design validation, solution reviews and informal project audits)
•    Ensure engineers are following best practice guidelines where appropriate
•    Provide Quality Assurance
•    Ensure standards, policies and procedures are being followed on projects
•    Training of team on quality system and its use
•    Review and update quality system (periodically and as part of continuous improvement)
•    Play an active role in internal and external audits (ISO 27001, ISO 9001 and TickIT plus)
•    Promote and facilitate knowledge sharing and learning from experience
•    Promote and facilitate continuous improvement (technical, delivery and quality)
•    Support HoA, PM and Engineers in the development and execution of project strategies (technical and standard adherence)
•    Maintain awareness and knowledge of new technologies. This will include the evaluation of products on the market and prototyping these new technologies where appropriate
•    Identify training and recruitment requirements to meet technological advances and strategic requirements. 
•    Manage OEM partnerships (maintain close relationship, manage licences and certification, attend events/webinars and cascade information to team)
•    Support Business Development team on opportunities (client meetings, presentations/demo, solution optioneering etc.)
•    Support Proposals (technical solution optioneering, supporting bid production, reviewing bids technically).
•    Responsible for Industry 4.0 solution development and supporting external digitalisation projects
•    Responsible for managing internal digitalisation projects (development of tools/software as part of continuous improvement or Transformation workstreams)
•    Deputise for Head of Automation as required
•    Demonstrate Health and Safety and Compliance leadership 
•    Responsible for the line management of Engineers (appraisals, PDPs, one-to-ones, development & training planning, SQEP & competence management, recruitment, employee welfare & wellbeing etc.)
•    Provide Technical Assurance
•    Carry out Project Surveillance audits (design validation, solution reviews and informal project audits)
•    Ensure engineers are following best practice guidelines where appropriate
•    Provide Quality Assurance
•    Ensure standards, policies and procedures are being followed on projects
•    Training of team on quality system and its use
•    Review and update quality system (periodically and as part of continuous improvement)
•    Play an active role in internal and external audits (ISO 27001, ISO 9001 and TickIT plus)
•    Promote and facilitate knowledge sharing and learning from experience
•    Promote and facilitate continuous improvement (technical, delivery and quality)
•    Support HoA, PM and Engineers in the development and execution of project strategies (technical and standard adherence)
•    Maintain awareness and knowledge of new technologies. This will include the evaluation of products on the market and prototyping these new technologies where appropriate
•    Identify training and recruitment requirements to meet technological advances and strategic requirements. 
•    Manage OEM partnerships (maintain close relationship, manage licences and certification, attend events/webinars and cascade information to team)
•    Support Business Development team on opportunities (client meetings, presentations/demo, solution optioneering etc.)
•    Support Proposals (technical solution optioneering, supporting bid production, reviewing bids technically).
•    Responsible for Industry 4.0 solution development and supporting external digitalisation projects
•    Responsible for managing internal digitalisation projects (development of tools/software as part of continuous improvement or Transformation workstreams)
•    Deputise for Head of Automation as required
•    Demonstrate Health and Safety and Compliance leadership 

Skills/Experience

A minimum 10 years’ experience of integrated control system solutions (PLC, SCADA, DCS, MES, Batch etc.)

The following experience is essential:
•    Experience of delivering engineering projects in a variety of industries (from Nuclear, Food & Beverage, Chemicals & Pharmaceutical, Energy/Renewables, Metals and Utilities).
•    Broad multi-vendor technical knowledge (for example Siemens, Schneider, AVEVA, Rockwell, Copa-Data)
•    Experience in Technical Management role or equivalent technical lead role.
•    Experience of Line Management and development of engineers
•    Experience of working with multidiscipline project teams
•    Experience of providing Health and Safety and Compliance leadership
•    Experience of industrial protocols (for example CIP, DNP3, Modbus, Profinet, IEC61850).
•    Detailed experience of the full project life cycle from system specification through design, development, testing, and commissioning 
•    Strong documentation skills (production and review)
•    Experience of working within and supporting the continuous improvement of a Quality system.

Experience of some or all of the following is desirable:
•    Knowledge of ISO 27001, ISO 9001 and TickIT plus standards and their application.
•    Knowledge of Industry standards such as ISA95 (IEC62264), IEC62443, IEC61511, IEC61508, IEC61131, IEC61499
•    A thorough practical appreciation of control panels, electrical installation and Instrumentation solutions.
•    Strong presentation skills with ability to communicate effectively at all levels including executives and senior management
•    Industry 4.0 solutions experience

Qualifications:

•    Degree or equivalent in Electrical / Electronic Engineering, Control Systems or relevant discipline
•    Chartered Engineer with Engineering Council (IET or equivalent professional body)