Technical Manager

Technical Manager – Plastics Manufacturing

Locations for Positions Available:

South West England or

Southern Ireland

Salary: circa £70,000 (UK) / €80,000 (Ireland)

Relocation Support Available

Reference: AZ/64849

A well-established and highly regarded plastics manufacturer is seeking 2 experienced Technical Managers to join its leadership team at two key production sites. This is a confidential appointment within a growing organisation that supplies high-quality packaging and engineered plastic solutions to major customers across multiple sectors.

This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of technical performance, process optimisation, and new product introduction, supporting both extrusion and thermoforming operations. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in improving manufacturing efficiency, introducing innovation, and ensuring the successful delivery of new products into production.

Working closely with the Technical Director, Site Leadership Team, and commercial teams, you will act as the technical authority on site while driving continuous improvement and supporting strategic growth.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and manage new tool commissioning and implementation as part of the NPI process

Provide technical leadership for the introduction of new products and manufacturing equipment

Drive process optimisation, focusing on cycle time improvements, tool change reduction, downtime reduction and output improvements

Monitor new product commissioning performance, comparing operational results against commercial targets and resolving deviations

Identify and deliver continuous improvement initiatives across thermoforming automation, tooling and process performance

Support the extrusion team with material developments, NPD projects and process troubleshooting

Deliver value engineering and cost improvement initiatives that enhance site profitability

Ensure tooling suppliers meet the required technical standards and specifications

Partner with operations teams to deliver CI and manufacturing improvement projects

Support commercial teams with customer visits and technical discussions, strengthening credibility with key clients

Contribute to the organisation’s innovation pipeline, supporting new ideas and product development initiatives

Candidate Profile

Degree qualified in Engineering, Manufacturing, Polymer Science or a related discipline

10+ years’ experience in plastics manufacturing, ideally within thermoforming environments

Experience working with extrusion processes would be highly advantageous

Strong knowledge of polymer processing and materials behaviour

Experience with SPC, process control techniques, and structured NPI / stage-gate processes

Proven track record delivering process improvement and manufacturing efficiency projects

Comfortable working cross-functionally with operations, suppliers, and customers

Willingness to travel within the UK and Europe when required

Why Apply

Opportunity to join a technically advanced manufacturing operation

Strategic role influencing manufacturing performance and innovation

Strong support from senior leadership and investment in process improvement

Relocation support available for the right candidate

Competitive salary and long-term career development prospects

For reasons of better legibility, the simultaneous use of the language forms male, female and diverse (f/m/d) is avoided. All personal designations apply equally to all genders.

For UK roles, candidates must be eligible to work and live in the United Kingdom. Proof of eligibility will be required with your application.

If you wish to apply for this position and have further details, please email your full CV and salary information to:

Andy Zanin - Business Director

T: +44 (0) 1789 207070

E: [email protected]

CONNECT WITH ME ON LINKEDIN.

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