New Product Development / Lab Technical Manager

Salary: £36,000 – £39,600 per year

Ibstock plc is a market leading manufacturer and partner of choice for innovative clay and concrete building products, building the face of Britain for over 200 years.

We are no ordinary manufacturing business. Through our principal products of clay bricks, brick components, concrete roof tiles, concrete stone masonry substitutes, concrete fencing, pre-stressed concrete and concrete rail products, we are committed to providing new solutions to today’s social and environmental challenges for the new build housing and domestic repair, maintenance, improvement markets (RMI) and infrastructure.

Many of our long-standing customer relationships have lasted over 40 years. Our customer focus is based on quality, service and consistency and our service-led ethos is one of the key drivers in the growth of our market share over the past 10 years.

Responsible for: The NPD Technical Manager will be responsible for all aspects of concrete, material and mix development to support the group’s plans for both new and existing product development.

The role will work closely with both the Group Technical Manager and the Group New Product Development Project manager to support the groups ambitious plans to grow the concrete business and support the group strategy for product development utilising the latest advances in sustainable material technologies. The role will also work closely with the materials R&D and product development teams to ensure smooth transition of new products in to production.

Role Summary: Responsibility for all aspects of new product development, materials development and materials technology within the Group liaising with the Group Technical Manager as necessary regarding resources to achieve this aim. 

Specific responsibilities include:

Responsibility for the Central Laboratory, liaising either through the concrete technicians or directly with Factory Managers on all issues affecting the laboratory together with maintaining product quality standards. Management of the concrete technicians to ensure that every concrete product within the Group has an optimised mix design, taking into account availability of aggregates, their price and other factors which affect mix design.

Supporting the Group NPD Project Manager with all aspects of the companies NPD Strategy.

Materials research and development including the use and implementation of sustainable alternatives.

New and existing product development working within and supporting the NPD process.

Researching, visiting and building relationships with materials suppliers both in the UK and overseas.

Where necessary supporting the sites and Technical managers with the implementation of new products into live production environments.

Generating ideas/concepts and developing new, alternative and enhanced mix designs.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

Diploma level qualification in Concrete Technology or Materials Science related subject combined with significant relevant, industry experience.

Significant knowledge of Material properties and testing procedures

Significant knowledge of construction and hard landscaping based products.

A minimum of 5 years industry experience in a related field combined.

Please note, it is our policy to verify all relevant qualifications. You will be required to provide substantive proof of your qualifications, that we can verify them with the awarding body.

Ibstock PLC are committed and passionate about building a diverse environment. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. You will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, national origin, disability or age.