Director of Technical Services

The Director of Technical Services is responsible for developing and maintaining excellent technical services for customers, leading the technical team, implementing corrective actions, and ensuring accountability in meeting annual objectives. This role also requires collaboration with the Development team to improve product performance and productivity, along with promoting external relations in the steel industry.

To be considered for the Director of Technical Services role, candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, or Metallurgy, with a Master’s degree preferred. Additionally, candidates should have over ten years of relevant experience in the steel or refractory industry, including five or more years in management or leadership roles.

The Director of Technical Services enhances customer satisfaction by serving as the voice of the customer, identifying areas for product and service improvement, and overseeing technical team performance to ensure objectives are met. This leader also collaborates on technology improvements that directly impact customer productivity.

Essential skills for the Director of Technical Services include strong leadership and management abilities, excellent problem-solving skills, business acumen, and analytical expertise. Experience with EAF technology is also beneficial, along with a solid understanding of industry economics and competitive dynamics.

This role provides numerous opportunities for professional development, including leading technology advancements, attending and presenting at industry seminars, and participating in technical conferences. The Director of Technical Services will also take the lead in nurturing team skills and knowledge for both short and long-term success.

In your response, focus on specific instances where you've led a technical team, highlighting your leadership style, how you motivated team members, and any measurable outcomes achieved under your guidance.

Share your approach to engaging with customers to gather insights, including any tools or methodologies you've used to analyze their feedback and translate that into actionable improvements.

Discuss your strategies for addressing performance issues, including providing constructive feedback, offering professional development resources, and setting clear performance expectations.

Provide examples of your experience with EAF technologies and how that knowledge has influenced your decision-making in past roles, emphasizing its impact on product and service improvements.

Outline a specific project where you played a key role, detailing the objectives, processes, challenges faced, and the successful outcomes to reinforce your problem-solving capabilities.

Explain your prioritization process, including the criteria you use to assess urgency and importance, and how you ensure stakeholder alignment throughout the prioritization phase.

Talk about your experience with continuous improvement methodologies and how you've implemented specific strategies in the past to elevate product performance and gain customer satisfaction.

Describe techniques you've used to foster a collaborative environment, such as team-building activities, setting clear goals, and recognizing achievements that enhance team motivation and engagement.

Emphasize the importance of external communication in your role and how you utilize seminars, technical presentations, and partnerships with other companies to promote innovation and collaboration in the industry.

Discuss how you've stayed informed about industry trends and changes, and provide examples of how you've adapted strategies or processes in response to shifts in market dynamics or customer needs.