Technical Manager, Asphalt
Downer Thin Surfacing WA | Gosnells and Hope Valley, with regional coverage
Downer's WA asphalt business is changing what its technical function does. Our two NATA accredited laboratories at Gosnells and Hope Valley each have a supervisor running the bench, supported by mobile testing capability across regional WA. With day-to-day operations in capable hands, the labs now need direct technical leadership and strategic management. We are looking for a Technical Manager to take the function beyond testing and turn it into a capability that wins work, protects margin and builds people.
About the role
Reporting to the Production Manager and acting as second in charge, you are accountable for all laboratory operations across both laboratories and our mobile capability. The operational needs of the labs are managed through your supervisors, which frees you to focus on what the function achieves: process control that shows variation as it happens, mixes that meet specification, perform on site and cost less to make, products of our own, and a lab business that grows.
The role is autonomous in how it gets there. The first six months are spent establishing baselines and real numbers, with targets then set against those figures and a staged action plan agreed for delivery.
What you will own
- Overall accountability for laboratory operations, NATA accreditation and quality systems, delivered through the laboratory supervisors
- Assessment and improvement of QA systems, moving from retrospective checking to process control charting, and holding material suppliers to account against their ITPs
- The mix design register and review cycle. Meeting specification is the floor, not the target. The work is designing the lowest cost mix that meets it and that crews can place and compact and customers want to buy again, then proving the saving against actual production cost rather than a model
- A proprietary product pipeline, with sustainability first: high RAP, warm mix, recycled and modified binders, and lower embodied carbon backed by an EPD
- An investigation into what an R&D capability would take, including WARRIP and AfPA funding channels, grants and university partnerships, with a recommendation either way
- Growth of external testing revenue through business development: identifying who is not being served well, building an offering around turnaround, NATA scope, regional coverage through Albany and technical advice, and owning the client relationships
- The case for bringing outsourced testing in-house, costed on equipment, NATA scope and technician time, and a continuous improvement approach across the labs applying Lean Six Sigma where it fits
- A training needs analysis, training plan and succession plan behind every critical position, so that no test and no site depends on one person
Test methods, mix design approvals, laboratory systems, technician development and the decision to stop production or supply on technical grounds sit with you. Second in charge responsibilities bring exposure to pricing, tender review and capital cases.
About you
- Deep expertise in asphalt and bituminous materials, mix design and MRWA specifications
- Current or recent NATA Approved Signatory for asphalt and bituminous materials testing
- Experience leading a NATA accredited laboratory or technical function under ISO/IEC 17025
- A commercial mindset: you can cost a case, price an offering and hold a client conversation
- A track record of improving something, not just maintaining it
- Comfort with data, statistical process control and building the reporting that lets a team act on it
- Tertiary qualification in engineering, materials science, chemistry or a related field, or equivalent experience
- Current driver's licence and White Card
Downer is a company that believes people are our greatest asset. We take pride in providing career opportunities, work-life balance and above benchmark services. We also offer a range of benefits including:
- Tool of trade vehicle
- Career development opportunities, including leadership programs like Thrive and Own Career
- Being part of an industry-leading company committed to safety, innovation and operational excellence
- Access to Perks@Downer, offering discounts on retail, travel and entertainment
To join the Downer team please "apply now". We respectfully request no recruitment agency approaches. Please be advised that email applications will not be accepted.
