Chief Technical Officer in Bingley

Chief Technical Officer

Field-based (UK) with very regular travel to key engineering sites ( Cockermouth, Bingley, Gourock) at least over the first few years of tenure.

About James Walker

A dynamic global manufacturing organisation supplying a vast range of high performance fluid sealing products and associated knowledge-based services to virtually every industry sector.

With state-of-the-art skills in materials technology, particularly relating to elastomers, polymers, composites and engineering plastics plus extensive expertise in precision machining of exotic alloys for metallic seals, and tension control fasteners for bolted joints.

The Chief Technical Officer (CTO)

• The CTO will lead on research, development and application engineering, ensuring the James Walker Strategic Business Unit (JWSBU) develops products, solutions and technologies in a timely and effective way to ensure product vitality and future revenue opportunities.
• Accountable for the technical strategy, thinking 3-5 years ahead into the next strategic cycle, to influence how technology will differentiate James Walker and add value to our customers, positioning the business for growth in existing markets and emerging sectors.
• Ensures all products and services meet the highest standards of quality and comply with relevant regulations and industry standards. Sets the quality strategy, and develops and manages systems and KPIs to ensure delivery.
• Responsible for the continued development of the technical and quality teams, developing and motivating them to meet the JWSBU objectives and customer needs.

Key responsibilities

Leadership

• Provide strategic direction to support the JWSBU Board in developing and implementing the long-term technical vision and direction for the JWSBU.
• Provide direction and support to the technical and quality leadership teams for the development of their resources to meet the current and future business strategy and activity needs, ensuring robust succession and development plans are in place. Foster a culture of engagement, performance, motivation to deliver high performance.
• As a board member for the JWSBU, attend regular meetings and strategic reviews, providing accurate and timely reporting.

Product Innovation

• Create and execute a clear vision and strategy to drive innovation within James Walker, using insight from the voice of our customers and collaborating cross-functionally to deliver customer-focused solutions that meet the demanding requirements of our industries.
• Use appropriate KPIs to track and evaluate the success of new product development initiatives, reporting on progress to key stakeholders at all stages of the development lifecycle
• Develop existing relationships and forge new external partnerships that add value and expertise, using research and insight to identify emerging technologies and market opportunities

Engineering Competence and Application Engineering

• Be an expert in a technology or industry area relevant to James Walker and have a broader mechanical and/or materials engineering understanding
• Provide guidance and leadership to resolve technical challenges, ensuring appropriate resources are aligned to projects where needed

Quality

• Maintain compliance to the company's accreditations, Corporate policy and other certification requirements, stipulated by customers or regulatory authorities
• Analyse and report on product and process performance
• Identify, investigate and resolve major customer concerns
• Liaise with all operations to ensure quality standards are being met

About you

• Experience with leading change and continuous improvement.
• Know how to get the right balance between Research, NPD, Product Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Application Engineering.
• Ideally have managed engineering in an engineering to order, make to stock, configuration to order businesses.
• Experience with managing teams across multiple sites (ideally including outside of the UK)

Experience and Qualifications

• STEM degree, or evidence of working at master’s degree level through on the job engineering experience.
• Proven leadership with understanding of management practices
• Business acumen with broad understanding of business principles
• Setting and delivery of a technical strategy
• Delivery of technical presentations for customers or at conferences / scientific forum
• Experience of implementing and promoting a continuous improvement culture
• Experience in materials and their development would be advantageous but is not essential