Technical Lead: Rubber Plastics Paints & Sealant at South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)

Purpose Statement

• To provide supervision and ensure that the overall operational plans and processes for the Laboratory within the SABS is implemented for both in-house and outsourced work and priorities.

Minimum Requirements    
Qualifications

• National Diploma / Diploma in Polymer Technology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related applied science field (NQF Level 6)

Experience

• 5 years work experience in a testing laboratory environment, with exposure to rubber, plastics, paints, coatings, sealants, polymers, or related product categories.
• 2 years of supervisory experience

Duties and Responsibilities    
Functional Management

• Implement the laboratory-specific operational plan within the Laboratory Services division.
• Monitor and continuously evaluate progress of the laboratory’s achievements against the operational objectives.
• Ensure the implementation and utilisation of all laboratory information management systems.
• Supervise operations effectively to deliver services within timelines and prescribed quality through effective resource management (human and infrastructure).
• Implement laboratory processes and schedules to deliver quality services efficiently.
• Drive an operational plan for the laboratory in line with the overall divisional operational strategy.
• Ensure the drive of continuous improvement of testing activities.
• Use insights gained through business information to compile reports, and metrics to measure success and inform the business decisions within area of responsibility.
• Provide timely operational information that will guide management to drive operational efficiency.
• Oversee and supervise the Laboratory within the cluster.

Risk and Compliance Management

• Ensure the mitigation of the laboratory’s risks through the application of fraud controls and risk prevention principles and implementing of sound governance and compliance processes and tools to identify and manage risks.
• Responsible for the coordination and maintenance of quality risk management in line with the requirements from ISO and SANAS.
• Monitor changes in the regulatory environment and ensure that appropriate operational controls are implemented to address new requirements.
• Support and provide evidence to all internal and external audit requirements.
• Oversee the maintenance and enforcement of related Service Level Agreements, policies and ISO standards to minimise business risk and ensure business continuity.
• Ensure adherence in the team to all relevant laws, policies and Standard Operating Procedures.

Financial Management

• Provide OPEX input in the planning and compilation of the annual budget aligned to the tactical delivery plans to support the implementation of set objectives.
• Ensure the effective implementation, monitoring of the Laboratory’s OPEX budget, and mitigate and report on any variances.
• Ensure the deployment of proper OPEX financial controls to manage the Laboratory budget.

People Management

• Proactively supervise all direct reports in order to ensure that the strategic objectives for the division is met.
• Maintain excellent human capital performance through employee empowerment, skills development and retention and succession planning within the team.
• Maintain an environment where employees respect and adhere to company standards of integrity and ethics by integrating these values into all processes, procedures and practices.
• Supervise and lead the laboratory by providing clarity of vision; prioritising resources; facilitating alignment of the team; setting high expectations; inspiring commitment; encouraging mutual support; and enabling development opportunities.
• Contribute to diversity management initiatives.
• Implement a learning culture within scope of control.

Deadline:2nd September,2026