Deputy Manager - Construction Materials Department

We are seeking an experienced and technically capable Deputy Manager to support the management and day-to-day operation of the Construction Materials Department. The role will combine technical expertise, project coordination, customer liaison, technical reporting and team support, with responsibility for ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, to the required technical standards and within agreed timescales.

The Role

The Construction Materials Department at Sandberg undertakes a range of mechanical and physical testing on a range of construction materials including concretes, aggregates, renders, mortars, stone, brick, screeds and flooring materials (including slip resistance testing). The department undertakes testing both on site, in the lab and additionally taking samples for later testing. This role is to provide support on producing technical reports and coordinating the work of the department. This will include:

• Support the Department Manager in the effective management, planning and day-to-day operation of the Construction Materials Department, including resource planning, workload management, operational performance and departmental development.
• Review customer enquiries and liaise directly with clients to understand their requirements, establish appropriate testing programmes, provide technical guidance and prepare detailed quotations and proposals defining the scope, costs and anticipated timescales.
• Manage and coordinate projects from initial enquiry and quotation through to site or laboratory testing, technical reporting and invoicing, ensuring customer requirements, technical objectives, commercial expectations and agreed deadlines are met.
• Plan and coordinate site investigations and testing activities, ensuring appropriate personnel, equipment, transportation, samples, documentation and supporting information are available and that work is delivered safely and efficiently.
• Work closely with the laboratory and site teams to prioritise and coordinate workloads, allocate resources and ensure testing and reporting are progressed efficiently and within agreed timescales.
• Provide day-to-day technical and operational support to departmental staff, including technical guidance, work allocation, problem solving, mentoring, supervision and identification of training and competency requirements.
• Produce, review and issue accurate and professional technical reports based on site and laboratory test results, ensuring appropriate technical and quality control checks are completed prior to issue.
• Ensure testing and reporting activities are undertaken in accordance with relevant British and European Standards, customer requirements, company procedures and applicable accreditation requirements.
• Support the Department Manager in maintaining and continually improving the department's quality management system, technical procedures, work instructions, forms, reporting standards and quality processes.
• Coordinate the calibration, verification, inspection, servicing and maintenance of laboratory and site-testing equipment, ensuring equipment remains fit for purpose and within required calibration and verification periods. Maintain accurate records and ensure appropriate action is taken where equipment is damaged, defective or found to be out of calibration, including assessing any potential impact on previous work.
• Assist with the planning, completion and close-out of internal quality audits, technical audits and departmental inspections, and support external accreditation, surveillance and customer audits by ensuring relevant records, documentation and evidence are maintained and available.
• Investigate non-conformances, customer complaints, test anomalies and quality issues, undertaking root-cause analysis and implementing appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor the quality, consistency and effectiveness of testing and reporting activities, including participation in proficiency testing, inter-laboratory comparisons and other quality assurance activities where applicable.
• Prepare, review and maintain appropriate Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS), ensuring relevant health and safety requirements are understood, communicated and implemented by site and laboratory personnel.
• Ensure effective communication is maintained between customers, site teams, laboratory personnel, management and other internal departments throughout the delivery of projects, addressing technical, logistical, resourcing or programme issues at an early stage.
• Maintain accurate and complete project, technical, quality, equipment, calibration, training and other departmental records in accordance with company procedures, accreditation requirements and relevant standards.
• Attend customer sites as required to undertake or oversee investigations, testing and sampling, provide technical input and support customer discussions.
• Identify and implement opportunities for continual improvement across the department, with a focus on technical quality, efficiency, customer service, safety, compliance and commercial performance.