Head of Technical Authorities

Location: Cambridge

Department: R&D

 

About Xaar

Inkjet Innovator. Trusted Partner. Sustainable Future. Xaar is here to create a world where you can print anything you can imagine.

For more information, visit www.xaar.com.

Xaar Values:

Xaar has defined 5 values which are vital to our business; each represents an area of essential importance to us. Their existence is intended to guide difficult decisions and shape behaviour.

Creative – we push the boundaries of what’s possible

Collaborative – everyone is a partner; we help each other freely and willingly

Innovative – we always strive to constantly improve

Integrity – we deliver on our promises

Passion – we care about our technology, our products, our partners and each other

 

Purpose of Role

  • Head the Technical Authority Team
  • Ensure all Development projects within Xaar and being delivered at high technical quality and following robust, high-quality processes.
  • Personally technically lead one or more strategic R&D projects.
  • Direct the evolution of our Development Technical Quality Assurance processes in line with industry best practice.
  • Maintain and build resource capacity and capability within the team in support of our 3-year plan.
  • Represent Xaar externally to gather information about our industry and communicate to the external world about our products and technologies.

 

Scale

  • The role is likely to involve line management of a team of three to ten people.  The role will be responsible for making key architectural decisions on multi-million pound Development projects and ensuring that the projects result in products of Xaar quality.
  • Freedom to make decisions
  • The role will line manage the personnel within the team and own the working processes which the team follow.
  • The role will, whilst working with Project Managers, define R&D projects and steer the project work to ensure that the team run successful projects.
  • The role will, whilst working with a Project Manager, technically steer strategic projects to ensure successful project delivery.
  • The role will work closely with the Commercial team to ensure the ongoing work is well aligned with the business commercial priorities.
  • The role will proactively foster collaboration between Development and other non-Development functions (Field Applications, Product Management, Business Development, Operations) to support knowledge sharing. 
  • The role will work closely with the Commercial team and the Technology team, to identify new industry sectors and applications which our technology could be applicable to.
  • The role will manage the Technical Authority budget; deciding how to spend the budget and working with the Finance team to track spend, update forecasts and allocate budget where felt necessary.
  • The role will own R&D project technical governance processes to ensure that projects deliver appropriate level of quality.

 

Complexity

  • The role will be required to work with, and clearly communicate to, multiple functional areas and stakeholders – some non-technical.
  • The role will need to work closely with Project Managers; balancing project technical quality with “on-time” and “on-budget” delivery.
  • The role will need to steer key technical decisions on projects whilst being mindful of the three-year roadmap.
  • The role will need to stay aware of industry trends, and competitor developments.
  • The role will need to stay on top of the R&D Project Portfolio to ensure that all development projects are delivering appropriate technical quality, including tracking and reporting methods.

 

Planning horizon 

  • Mostly working to a set of annual targets related to approved projects
  • Contribute to the organisational 3-year plan – bringing new project ideas to the team for review and discussion.

 

Key Accountabilities

On a typical day you’ll be expected to:

  • Line manage the Technical Authority team members – ensuring good people management practice is in place.
  • Develop a positive team culture in line with the Group’s values and behaviours.
  • Work with Project Managers to steer Development Projects related to new product development
  • Track the technical quality of the live Development Project Portfolio, ensuring key technical issues are being correctly progressed and key technical risks being correctly managed.
  • Stay abreast of technical developments within the inkjet industry
  • Support the Commercial team with application knowledge
  • Communicate with new and existing customers

 

Knowledge, experience and qualifications:

  • Degree level educated in an engineering or scientific field
  • Significant experience in inkjet – ideally with a broad understanding of print head operation, waveform fundamentals, ink chemistry, media handling, drying techniques, colour management, fluidic systems.
  • Strong experience of line management
  • Experience of line management
  • Experience of leading innovation within a technical organisation

 

Skills & behaviours:

  • Able to communicate clearly and effectively in conversation and in writing, even to non-technical people
  • Highly collaborative
  • Dynamic, able to react to changing situations
  • Able to think analytically and apply skills and knowledge in new environments
  • Ability to proactively research into novel applications
  • Commercially aware and results orientated – comfortable of representing Xaar in front of key clients.

 

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