Evidence from firms recruiting Technical Managers suggests that there are several key attributes they require.
Firstly in order to succeed in this role, a Technical Manager must be able to get their team to turn around quotes for the sales team in good time. Any more than 15 days and customers will start to look elsewhere. It’s important to be a great organiser to succeed in this role.
The role of Technical Manager has become more challenging over recent years as competing manufacturers strive to win business by reducing their prices to customers. Technical Managers have to ensure designs are cost effective but also meet performance targets, which are increasingly difficult to hit due to tighter regulations. This is not always easy to do cheaply.
This problem is compounded by some companies trying to win business by excluding the cost of some equipment from their price. This makes their price seem very competitive, but it is superficially low, as subsequently the extra equipment is indeed required for the project and the price is increased. You might think how could customers fall for that one? However, sometimes there can be a delay of up to 2 years between when the design is done and the kit is required on site, so it’s not always easy to see if a supplier of kit is being disingenuous with their quote.
Successful Technical Managers can produce cost effective designs that perform well and meet regulations, as they have the required knowledge to design a well performing system within the regulations. They know when the competition is offering an unrealistic price, and can articulate to the salesforce why a cheap price will not always deliver the cheapest solution in the long run.
Technical Managers’ roles vary in terms of NPD depending on whether the products are made in the UK or abroad. However, the UK has some of the tightest regulations in Europe. This means that even if the products are made abroad, they will need to comply with UK regulations if the company wants to sell products here. It is, therefore, essential that a Technical Manager understands the regulations, and has the creative design skills to find clever ways to meet the regulations.
Lastly, being able to keep your team focussed and well motivated is essential, as they often work under lots of pressure, particularly when salespeople and customers are waiting for quotes!
Although there are other desirable skills, these are the essential attributes that Technical Managers should have. If you believe you have these skills, please get in touch with us as you might be suitable for this role.