The Opportunity
Miswa Chemicals is an ambitious, growing business with a track record stretching back 47 years. We continue to build on this heritage with a strong focus on innovation, quality and expansion across our transportation and industrial chemical portfolio.
We are seeking a high-calibre Head of Technical, to join the business and act as a technical authority supporting Miswa's commercial and sourcing activities. This role provides client-facing technical expertise while contributing to strategic purchasing decisions, production optimisation and regional sourcing strategy.
Key Responsibilities (This list is not exhaustive)
1. Customer & Technical Representation
- Represent Miswa at a technical level to customers, distributors and partners.
- Provide technical support for customer queries, claims and product positioning.
- Support Sales and Commercial teams in technical discussions and presentations with key accounts.
- Build strong technical relationships with customers to support retention and growth.
2. Strategic Purchasing & Regional Sourcing
- Contribute technical expertise to strategic purchasing decisions for raw materials and additives.
- Support regional sourcing strategy, identifying and evaluating alternative suppliers and materials. Both internationally and domestically.
- Evaluate the technical suitability and quality of new and existing raw material sources.
- Work closely with Procurement to balance technical requirements with cost and supply security.
3. Production Optimisation
- Contribute technical input to production optimisation initiatives, supporting cost reduction and quality improvement.
- Work with Production to resolve technical issues arising during manufacturing.
- Support scale-up and technical troubleshooting from formulation to production, in collaboration with R&D.
4. Technical Documentation & Support
- Support the preparation and review of technical documentation, specifications and customer-facing technical materials.
- Provide technical guidance to internal teams on product performance and specifications.
- Liaise with R&D on technical matters relating to formulation, specifications and performance standards.
5. Reporting & Cross-Functional Alignment
- Report directly to the Operations Director.
- Work closely with R&D, Tech Ops / Production, Procurement and Sales to ensure technical alignment across the business.
- Note: this role does not manage the day-to-day laboratory function and carries no responsibility for COMAH compliance.
6. Safety and Compliance
- Ensure systems and processes are followed to minimise the environmental impact of the operations.
- All activities on site are carried out in a safe manner, in line with policies, ensuring that all Health, Safety and Environmental statutory requirements are met.
- Compliance to all other HSE & HR Policies & Procedures.
Candidate Profile
- Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline required.
- Strong emphasis on relevant industry experience over formal qualifications.
- Extensive technical experience within the automotive/transportation chemicals or lubricants sector.
- Experience engaging with customers, suppliers and production teams at a technical level.
- Understanding of base oils, additive chemistries and raw material sourcing.
Personal Attributes
- Strong technical credibility with the confidence to represent Miswa externally.
- Commercially aware, able to balance technical rigour with business priorities.
- Strong problem-solving capability across sourcing, production and customer-facing issues.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-growing, independent manufacturing environment.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills across internal and external stakeholders.
Job Details
- Onsite working
- 08:00 to 16:30 Monday to Friday
- Further details regarding the benefits package for this role will be discussed at interview.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Northampton NN4 7PW: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Language:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
