We're a specialist paper mill producing high-performance medical packaging and surgical draping papers for global healthcare customers. As part of our continued product development programme, we're looking for a hands-on Technical Manager to lead development projects from concept through to customer approval.
The Role
You'll take ownership of active development programmes — including heat-sealable medical pouch papers and extensible crêpe sterilisation papers — working across chemistry, process, and regulatory compliance. You'll be the primary technical point of contact for key customers, building relationships face to face and translating their requirements into practical development briefs. The role includes periodic travel to visit customers in the UK and internationally.
Day to day this means:
- Designing and running mill trials, interpreting results, and iterating formulations
- Working with surface chemistry, wet-strength systems, sizing, and specialty coatings
- Benchmarking against competitor products and relevant standards (EN ISO 11607, BS EN 868-2)
- Managing cytotoxicity and other regulatory testing requirements
- Producing clear technical documentation — trial reports, product specifications, customer-facing data packs
- Training and mentoring technical officers on shift, building practical capability across the team
- Liaising with external suppliers and technical partners (chemical suppliers, equipment manufacturers, testing labs)
What We're Looking For
- Degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, paper science, or a related discipline
- Proven experience in a technical development role in papermaking, specialty coatings, or a related process industry
- Confident working with coating chemistry, binders, wet-strength resins, sizing agents, and similar systems
- Comfortable in a mill environment — you'll be on the machine when it matters, not observing from a distance
- Strong written and verbal communication; able to present technical work clearly to customers and senior stakeholders
- Self-directed, methodical, and at ease managing multiple concurrent projects
Experience in medical or food-contact papers and familiarity with ISO 11607 or EN 868-series standards would be an advantage, but isn't essential — we'll value the right technical foundation and mindset over a narrow specialism.
How We Work
We have a set of principles we call the Pelta Credo, and this role embodies them directly.
We believe you cannot manage what you don't understand — our leaders operate at all levels, stay close to the details, and no task is beneath them. If you're the kind of person who'd rather understand exactly why a trial failed at a molecular level than accept a vague explanation, you'll fit in here.
We value speed and execution. An idea is 5%; getting it done is 95%. We expect people to take ownership of problems and drive them through to resolution — if you spot an issue, you own it until it's fixed.
We believe the customer pays our wages and they have other options. Quality isn't a department — it's everyone's responsibility at every stage of the process. In this role that means delivering what you've promised to customers, every time, and having the courage to flag and fix problems before they leave the building.
And we pick up the phone. Complex problems get resolved through conversation, not email chains. You'll be expected to communicate directly — with customers, with suppliers, and with your own team on the shop floor.
Package
- £40,000–£50,000 depending on experience
- Company pension scheme
- Standard benefits package
- Travel as required to meet customers in the UK and internationally
Why Pelta
Small team, real responsibility, technically interesting work. You'll have direct input into products that end up in operating theatres and sterile packaging lines worldwide. No layers of bureaucracy — if you have a good idea, you'll be able to act on it.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £40,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Milnthorpe LA7 7AR: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Do you meet BOTH of the following requirements: (1) a 2:1 or above in a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or a closely related scientific discipline from a UK university, AND (2) A-Level Chemistry at grade B or above with strong grades in your other A-Levels?
Education:
Language:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: In person
