Technical Manager

Our client is a leading designer, manufacturer and established expert in LED lighting technology, based in Newbury. Founded in 2002 they are a highly successful, independent British company with global reach throughout Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia.
Role: Technical Manager
Key Purpose:
To support the Managing Director (Technical) in improving the technical performance of products, meeting the requirements of standards, regulations and directives, maintaining technical documentation, offering technical support and assisting in fault investigations.
Key points
- Salary up to £35k (DOE) + performance bonus & benefits
- Location - Newbury RG14
- Must hold electrical qualification (e.g. C&G 2365 level 2 or 3 Diploma or Electro Technical Level 3 NVQ Diploma for installations and equipment (within commercial settings).
- Must have driving license and willing to travel to customer sites to resolve issues
- Ideally have lighting experience but not essential, but must have some electrical trade background
- Must enjoy problem solving, dealing with customers on all technical queries, experience of working with Regulations to ensure we are compliant, product testing and produce test reports and data sheets, comfortable working with manufacturers in China to getall the technical information required, management and control of all technical data.
Key Areas of Responsibility
Knowledge and Skills Product Management
- Working with the design/product development team to gain understanding of current and upcoming product range
- Test, evaluate and manage new products from a technical viewpoint
- Take charge of specifications and technical approvals of the product and product data sheets and other sources of information
- Understand the potential of the products and trends in market
- Liaise with the product development team in China from QA and technical perspective and ensure product meets EU regulations and standards.
Technical reporting/ documentation
- Produce and maintain product data sheets and other technical documents and files
- Maintain a knowledge base of product issues
- Maintain technical folders for declarations, test reports and other necessary documents which are required for compliance with European Regulations
- Prepare manuals and instructions for products
- Manage audit process with LIA.
Complaints & fault Management
- Be the point of contact and advisor for customers with complex technical issues
- Visit customer sites where faults have been reported and investigate and resolve issues
- Complaints and returns, where appropriate liaise with colleagues in China for testing, and complete test reports.
Technical support and lighting regulations
- Keep up to date of knowledge of industry regulations and put plans in place to ensure compliance.
- Support the sales team answering complex technical questions and prepare FAQ documents
- Provide technical product training to the sales team and colleagues, especially on new products
- Act as the company representative, visit installation sites with problems and provide solutions where possible
- Keep up to date with evolving technologies in industry
- Follow LIA bulletins and announcements and update colleagues on regulation and standard developments.
Investigating & testing
- For new products developed and/or imported perform initial checks and advise the development engineer or supplier of any apparent problems and necessary changes to allow the product to be conformant to relative EU standards
- Perform verification testing for product compatibility
Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications
- Strong electrical knowledge in the lighting industry - at least 2 years
- Ability to understand technical performance of products and translate this into commercial propositions
- Ability to communicate with customers and colleagues as a technical expert
- Understand the needs of customers and market trends
- Solid understanding of industry regulations and QA requirements
- Strong communication skills, ability to relate to audience and translate technical knowledge.