Materials Specialist Manager at Mayfly Agri (Pty) Ltd

• A well-established manufacturer with a diverse portfolio of unsaturated polyester resins, solvent-borne resins, dispersions, and additives is seeking an experienced Material Science Manager to manage the Material Science Laboratory while maintaining a high level of technical competence in analytical and physical testing. The successful candidate will be responsible for independently performing, interpreting, and validating analytical and physical analyses, while providing expert technical support for product development, manufacturing, quality assurance, procurement, and customer applications.

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Must have a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Honours degree in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or a related scientific discipline (NQF Level 8)
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a technical or laboratory management role, including at least 2 years' experience in a technical customer service or product development environment
• Must have experience managing analytical and physical testing laboratories
• Proven expertise in polymer formulation, materials characterisation, and laboratory instrumentation
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management systems
• Demonstrated experience supervising technical personnel and laboratory operations

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Providing technical leadership through first-hand experience in analytical and physical testing, independently performing testing, critically interpreting data, and making informed technical decisions without reliance on subordinate staff.
• Managing the daily operations of the Analytical and Physical Property Testing Laboratory.
• Leading and developing laboratory personnel to maximise productivity and technical capability.
• Supporting Technical Services with analytical investigations, formulation support, and competitor benchmarking.
• Supporting Operations, Procurement, QHSE, and Sales through technical investigations and problem-solving.
• Managing national and international product testing, approvals, and certifications.
• Maintaining approved raw material and supplier qualification systems.
• Developing and validating new analytical and physical testing methods.
• Maintaining laboratory instrumentation, calibration, and preventative maintenance programmes.
• Coordinating external testing where specialised analyses are required.
• Ensuring compliance with ISO 9001 requirements and laboratory best practices.
• Managing laboratory budgets, consumables, and capital equipment requirements.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance laboratory efficiency and turnaround times.
• Providing technical leadership in material characterisation and technology development projects.