Technical Manager (Keyline Civils Specialist)
As a Technical Manager within the Technical Team at Keyline, you will provide specialist technical support to our National and Regional sales teams across multiple infrastructure sectors including housebuilding, highways, commercial, rail, energy, and utilities. Your primary responsibility is to respond to technical enquiries from branches, key account managers, and customers, translating complex technical requirements into practical product solutions. You'll work closely with the Head of Technical and fellow Technical Manager to process enquiries efficiently, ensuring our sales colleagues have the expert knowledge they need to support customer conversations and identify commercial opportunities.
A significant part of your role involves working on infrastructure projects through our optioneering process. When customers present projects to Keyline, you'll be contacted to assist by understanding their brief and specification requirements, conducting research to identify products that meet design criteria, and presenting multiple options with impartial technical advice. You'll produce outline designs, options reports, and material alternatives summaries that help contractors and consultants make informed decisions. This engineered solutions approach positions Keyline as more than a merchant – you'll ensure solutions are affordable, buildable, and meet design specifications whilst identifying opportunities for value engineering and carbon savings.
Innovation and supplier engagement are core to the Technical Manager role. You'll actively work with manufacturers and suppliers to identify innovative products and materials, developing relationships that bring new solutions to market. This includes evaluating new suppliers, assessing product performance and carbon credentials, coordinating technical trials, and managing supplier partnerships across our extensive supply chain. You'll be expected to stay current with industry developments, understand emerging technologies, and proactively present innovative alternatives to both internal teams and external customers. Your supplier relationships will be critical in ensuring Keyline maintains its position as the UK's leading civils merchant.
Training and knowledge development represent a key pillar of your work. You'll create sector-specific product guides, deliver internal training sessions to sales teams, and develop technical resources that elevate product knowledge across the business. This includes conducting CPD sessions, organising supplier training events, arranging site visits and factory tours, and producing technical communications. You'll also engage with external industry groups and working bodies to help develop design guidance and contribute to industry best practice. Your ability to translate technical expertise into accessible training materials will directly impact our colleagues' confidence and capability.
The role requires regular engagement with Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors to promote innovative products and build Keyline's technical reputation in the infrastructure market. You'll attend project meetings, provide on-site technical support, engage with consultants and designers at the specification stage, and position the Technical Team as a collaborative partner rather than just a supplier. This contractor engagement drives early involvement in projects, creates faster lines of communication, and provides early visibility of technical challenges. Your success will be measured by your ability to convert technical expertise into commercial opportunities, support sales growth across multiple sectors, and strengthen Keyline's reputation as a technically-led civils merchant.
The position is based at our head office in Northampton, though the nature of the role requires significant flexibility in working location. You'll be expected to work from branches, national offices, and from home as required to support the business effectively. Regular travel across the UK is essential, both by car and train, to attend customer sites, supplier facilities, training sessions, and contractor meetings. The role will require overnight stays on occasion, within reason, to fulfil project and engagement commitments. A full UK driving licence is therefore essential.
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