Technical Cluster Manager, Engineering & Manufacturing

The Technical Quality & Governance function work to ensure that LRQA has the appropriate global licenses to operate its business.  This is achieved by ensuring that our quality management system, accreditations, technical competencies and technical support are governed correctly per the LTO standards, specifically ISO 9/14/45k and the ISO 17000 standards.  The TQG team are also responsible to ensure that complaints are fairly considered from SME’s, to support internal technical investigations, to support the marketing team for product development launch to ensure that global services can be delivered to customers consistently and repeatedly aligned to external regulatory or delivery requirements

With the recent changes to our OneTQG structure, we are seeking a Technical leader for our Engineering & Manufacuring product suite.  You'll be responsible for leading a team of 7 across several products and services within the Engineering and Manufacturing space such as PED, ASME, CPR, Renewables, NDT etc,  ensuring that the business, governance, technical needs and commercial development goals are supported.  You'll work with the team to ensure the development and implementation of global product frameworks, delivering a consistent, repeatable service to both internal and external clients.  You will be focused on leading the product cluster training, integration and communication across the LRQA group to ensure products/scheme compliance and governance by effectively interfacing with key business partners.

We're looking for someone with a relevant degree, leadership experience within a technical area of specialism (ideally within a product/scheme identified above).   You'll be skilled at providing technical support and advice within a technical and field auditing/surveying environment.  You'll have good up to date knowledge of external audit requirements for accreditation bodies, scheme/product owners and regulators.

Closing date for applications : 2nd January 2025

What will you do?

• Accountable for the technical management of LRQA product cluster group to support delivery of LRQA global strategic objectives
• Lead the development and implementation of the overall global cluster product frameworks within BA and champion thought leadership / strategic direction aligned to the future product management, growth and compliance needs.
• Lead the effective end to end technical management of global cluster products, including liaison with the external product/scheme owner.
• Line Management responsibility for the *CLUSTER* group of SME’s, globally.
• Ensure oversight of scheme performance is managed and reported. When internal and external KPI’s are at risk or have been missed, take appropriate action to resolve and, where necessary, escalate.
• Support the establishment of steering groups for LRQA BA strategic products, working proactively to ensure the groups are functioning effectively to deliver product and scheme requirements.
• Ensure each product within the cluster group has defined CPD criteria and ongoing calibration training/activities scheduled to maintain ongoing Auditor and Technical Review competency.
• Ensure changes/updates to products/schemes within cluster group have clearly defined implementation plans to ensure operational readiness.
• Implement mechanisms for product technical support and interpretation of legislation and product requirements, management system processes, products and procedures to global Region and Operational Teams, Auditor communities and other Business Partners i.e. Sales.
• Provide input into global product technical strategies and business plans. Working with the Global Technical Product Manager to translate plans and goals into cluster group objectives and implement these within agreed principles, approach and budgets.
• Interpret cluster product / scheme specific rules to ensure technical decisions strike a balance between meeting client and business needs and adherence to scheme and accreditation requirements.
• Coach and mentor a commercial mind-set and culture through the leadership of the technical product cluster group to support business growth and diversity.
• Support the improvement of customer experience including driving the resolution of unresolved 3rd party complaints, certification disputes and accreditation / sector scheme non-conformities ensuring they are resolved in line with LRQA processes and timescales.
• Oversight of Product Review activity completion for each product within specific cluster; identified issues resolved and opportunities for improvement socialised.
• Provide support & technical requirements input to Sales & Global/Key Accounts in preparation of RFP’

What will you bring?

• Degree or business qualification, with management experience within a technical area of specialism, ideally across a product within the product cluster group is desirable.
• Experience in providing technical support and advice within a technical and field auditing environment.
• Experienced in developing, delivering and integrating technical and product frameworks, building and sustaining positive commercial and internal and external relationships.
• Experienced in development, delivery and needs based analysis of training requirements and processed ideally within a global environment is an advantage and using a variety of electronic media.
• An assertive approach to problem solving with strong communication and diplomacy skills to guide, negotiate, influence and persuade at all levels., working collaboratively across a group of key Business Partners.
• Proven experience and knowledge of effective and timely management of projects with varying degrees of complexity, including prioritisation and ensuring compliance with processes, systems and product/scheme/accreditation requirements.
• Experience of external audit requirements for Accreditation Bodies, Scheme/Product Owners and Regulators.
• Line Management experience, mentoring of direct & indirect team members, contributor to individual team development plans. Monitoring of Team goals and objectives.
• Adaptable and well organised with a practical minded approach and proven ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Likely to hold a Chartered/Professional qualification and a member of a relevant professional institution is desirable.