Technical Director

Role details

Technical Director

Position Type: Direct Hire

Salary: $120,000-$140,000

Location: Detroit, MI

About the Opportunity

APEX Placement and Consulting is seeking an experienced Technical Director to oversee laboratory operations, quality assurance, chemical process control, and regulatory compliance within a specialized manufacturing environment. This leadership role is ideal for a professional with extensive chemical and quality experience who can manage compliance initiatives, maintain quality systems, and support continuous improvement across technical operations.

What Your Day Will Look Like

• Serve as the company’s safety officer, developing safety rules, regulations, procedures, work instructions, and training programs. Conduct safety audits as required.
• Prepare laboratory operations for external regulatory inspections, customer audits, and certification processes.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including the timely completion and submission of required reports, SMRs, and permits.
• Oversee investigations into product and equipment nonconformances, including root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and risk assessments.
• Oversee the facility’s quality management system, including NADCAP and other certifications.
• Act as solution controller by monitoring, maintaining, and correcting anodizing and coating baths.
• Ensure periodic titration analyses are performed according to established procedures and schedules and properly documented.
• Participate in internal control reporting systems and prepare 8D reports, ITAR documentation, and recommendations as directed.
• Process, update, and maintain material certifications.
• Write, revise, and maintain quality system procedures to meet customer, contractual, and governmental requirements.
• Ensure internal specifications remain current, communicate procedural changes to appropriate personnel, and provide training.
• Assist and support production and sales teams with troubleshooting and problem-solving to improve processes and support business growth.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the President.

What We’re Looking For

• Approximately 10 years of experience in chemical operations, quality, and industrial environments.
• Previous supervisory or management experience in a regulated chemical or manufacturing setting.
• Strong knowledge of chemical processes, quality systems, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience managing laboratory operations, chemical control activities, and quality assurance functions.
• Knowledge of root cause analysis, nonconformance investigations, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and risk assessments.
• Experience preparing for regulatory inspections, customer audits, and certification reviews.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop procedures, maintain documentation, and communicate technical requirements.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with production, sales, and other internal teams.

Education & Technical Qualifications

• Education: Typically requires a Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a closely related scientific field. A bachelor’s degree may be considered with extensive relevant experience.
• Experience: Approximately 10 years of chemical, quality, and industrial experience, including direct supervisory or management experience in a regulated chemical or manufacturing environment.
• Technical Skills: Familiarity with analytical instrumentation, statistical process control (SPC), data integrity, and enterprise software systems.
• Quality & Compliance: Experience with quality management systems, NADCAP and other certifications, regulatory reporting, and audit preparation.
• Additional Experience: Knowledge of ITAR documentation, 8D reporting, anodizing and coating bath control, and titration analysis is beneficial.

Standards of Performance

• Provide effective direction and support for chemical process control and compliance activities.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date internal documentation.
• Support compliance with applicable governmental regulations and help prevent fines, penalties, or other regulatory sanctions.
• Complete assigned functional objectives accurately and according to established schedules.

If you have extensive experience in chemical operations, quality management, and regulatory compliance and are ready to take on a technical leadership role, we encourage you to apply today!

APEX Placement and Consulting is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

At Apex, we actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups. Your unique experiences and perspectives are valuable to us, and we’re excited to see how you might contribute to our team. While we have outlined a set of qualifications for this role, we recognize that experience and skills can come from a variety of backgrounds. If you meet most of these qualifications and are eager to learn and grow with us, we invite you to apply.