Technical Lead - Footwear

Technical Lead - Footwear Testing
Kettering
Hours - Monday to Friday 37.5 hrs
Salary up to £42k plus great benefits


An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Technical Lead to join a well-established organisation within the testing and certification sector. This role is ideal for someone with strong leadership skills, technical knowledge, and a passion for delivering high standards within a customer-focused environment.

Working within a specialist footwear testing department, you will be responsible for supervising a team of technicians and technologists while ensuring quality standards, workflow efficiency, and customer expectations are consistently achieved.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a team of technical staff within the laboratory/testing environment
• Manage workloads, scheduling, and departmental priorities
• Support staff development through training, mentoring, and performance management
• Ensure compliance with quality systems and health & safety procedures
• Monitor KPIs and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Liaise directly with customers regarding projects, results, and technical queries
• Prepare technical reports and presentations
• Support seminars, customer meetings, and occasional international travel

Candidate Requirements

Essential:

• A-Level education in Maths or Science (or equivalent)
• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience
• Strong organisational and planning skills
• Experience in a technical, testing, laboratory, or quality-focused environment
• Excellent communication and customer-facing skills
• Confident using Microsoft Office packages including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Strong problem-solving ability and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Desirable:

• Degree in Maths, Science, or related discipline
• Experience within a commercial or customer-focused technical environment
• Footwear industry experience
• Experience presenting technical information or seminars
• Full UK driving licence
• Exposure to sales, marketing, or business development activities

Benefits

• Competitive salary up to £42,000
• 25–30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Flexible working hours
• Free onsite parking

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a respected organisation offering long-term career development, technical progression, and the opportunity to work within an innovative and collaborative environment.