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Technical Director • Technical Director Technical Director Board level leadership role with ownership of technical strategy & innovation with a fast-moving, commercially ambitious specialty lubricants business. This role offers full autonomy, direct technical influence on commercial success, and an opportunity to deliver meaningful impact without bureaucracy and constraints. About the Company Our client is global, privately-owned specialist industrial lubricants manufacturer. They deliver high-quality, performance-driven solutions, pioneering “firsts” in industry and a focus on sustainability. Approximately 35% of workforce operate in technical functions. Recent investment has seen existing facilities upgraded in R&D to a genuine world-class tech setup. They have opened up new facilities and operations in new locations to support new market and product entry too. A culture of respect, collaboration, and long-term thinking defines how they do business. Role Overview The Technical Director will operate at the intersection of science, engineering, and commercial strategy. Sitting on the Executive Leadership Team, this individual will define the company’s technical direction across molecular IP development, process engineering, product portfolio strategy, and OEM relationship management. The role is strategic in nature, with a team of direct reports who manage day-to-day operations and technical departments. The Technical Director focuses on where the business needs to go and how technical excellence will get it there, with a team to deliver and execute. Key Responsibilities • Lead the business beyond reliance on standard additive packages by developing a deep, molecular-level understanding of its formulations • Identify, develop, and protect patentable intellectual property, with a particular focus on speciality industrial product expansion • Negotiate joint-development agreements with major additive suppliers, positioning the company as a strategic development partner rather than a standard customer • Sit on the Board and SLT, acting as the technical bridge between Sales, Operations and the Laboratory • Steer the R&D pipeline to ensure resources are directed towards commercially viable, high-return projects • Champion a Good–Better–Best portfolio strategy to maximise return on R&D investment • Serve as the executive technical ambassador for the business, securing OEM read-across approvals and leading high-level technical engagements with global partners and key accounts • Contribute to the development of customer-driven technical services that leverage the company’s expertise beyond product supply • Own the end-to-end scale-up process, translating laboratory chemistry into full-scale production engineering • Identify, build the business case for, and execute major capital expenditure investments, which could focus on improving things like batch efficiency, energy performance, and process agility • Provide strategic direction to the Quality Control function, enabling faster production techniques without compromising standards • Serve as a high-level mentor to direct reports, developing their strategic thinking and cross-functional leadership capabilities • Support the Technical Service function to ensure it operates as a seamless, effective enabler for the Sales team Candidate Experience We are seeking an accomplished technical leader from the finished lubes sector with the following background: • 15+ years of progressive experience in the specialty lubricants or greases sector, with leadership experience gained at a major multinational • Demonstrated SLT or Board-level experience or clearly evidenced readiness to operate at that level, with a track record of building CapEx business cases, managing P&L impact, and driving commercial growth through chemistry • Exceptional tribological knowledge across industrial lubricants and greases, with the ability to engage at a molecular level • Strong process engineering acumen, including hands-on experience with plant scale-up and the practical realities of production environments • Proven ability to act as a technical authority in OEM and key account relationships, including securing approvals and managing complex joint-development programmes JOB DETAILS Sector: Specialty Lubricants Location: UK (Relocation assistance available) MORE JOBS MORE INFORMATION James Moorhouse Director The right career might be just a step away. Don’t miss your chance and contact us today. Share: Close this module Count yourself in. Join the Lubricants Talent Survey and make your perspective part of the industry's most trusted talent report.