Technical Manager – Asphalt & Aggregates, MPA Asphalt/MPA Aggregates

Job Title 

Technical Manager – Asphalt & Aggregates, MPA Asphalt/MPA Aggregates

Line Managers

Malcolm Simms, Director Asphalt
Mike Wharton, Technical Director Aggregate & Concrete Standards

Base Location

Home-based, requirement to attend the London office 

This is an exciting opportunity to support the UK minerals industry in its standardization and decarbonisation journey. 

Technical Manager – Asphalt & Aggregates will primarily provide technical expert support to the MPA’s work on standards and specifications relating to asphalt and aggregates. Changes in the European and UK Standards and Specification arenas and their evolution in the fields of decarbonization, innovation and sustainability make this an even more exciting time to join MPA, with scope for growth within the role.

The range of aggregates supplied by MPA members include is broad and includes quarried rock, land and marine sand and gravel, slags and recycled aggregates; for use in unbound mixtures, concretes, asphalt, railway ballast, armourstone, mortar and other applications. The use of asphalts extends across not just highway applications, but also airfields, sports and play areas, and to commercial, industrial and housing developments. 

The role will also help MPA and members in the development and assessment of ‘carbon footprints’, and e.g. product and Sector EPD’s for a variety of asphalt and aggregate products. 

Reporting to the Director of Asphalt & Technical Director Aggregate & Concrete Standards the role will be based in the MPA Asphalt team but will provide some support to all MPA product groups on common technical issues

• Support the Asphalt & Aggregates Teams in the delivery of industry objectives on technical, standards and sustainability issues;
• Assist in monitoring standards and specifications relating to asphalt, aggregates and general construction products to ensure MPA members views are understood and acknowledged;
• Represent MPA as an expert on standardisation committees relating to asphalt and aggregate product and testing standards;
• Support MPA staff and members through technical representation with a range of specification and regulatory stakeholders;
• Provide technical support to members and external enquiries relating to Asphalt, road Construction and Aggregates, through existing and new communications plans, platforms/channels and events;
• Build networks with relevant key organisations to ensure sector representation is maintained, reported and the key challenges are known and understood;
• Work with colleagues across MPA as required to deliver workplans and projects;
• Involvement with development of Environmental Product Declarations to demonstrate product sustainability impacts;
• Input and present to MPA Committees and members;
• Represent MPA at external meetings as required including presentations to key industry stakeholder groups as necessary;
• Collate and provide input to, and lead, MPA responses to relevant consultations.

The scope of the role is assigned/agreed via annual objectives, monthly reporting and regular project and working group meetings. 

The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is the Trade Association for the aggregate, asphalt, cement, concrete, lime, mortar and silica sand industries. It represents over 400 members in the UK who supply over £9 billion worth of materials which underpin the UK’s £120 billion construction sector.

The appointed individual should have an established technical knowledge and background in construction and/or materials ideally with relevant qualifications to at least FHEQ Level 4, preferably in science or engineering. 

The candidate should possess:

• Strong administration skills, including experience of managing committees or teams to deliver agreed outcomes;
• Strong IT literacy including a sound knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint, Word, MS Teams and SharePoint;
• Knowledge and experience of UK and EU legislation, regulations and standardisation processes in relation to Asphalt & Aggregates;
• An understanding and experience of the processes involved in development of standards in both the UK & EU is desirable;
• Excellent organizational skills, effective time management, the ability to work independently, excellent attention to detail, positive client service attitude, the ability to multitask, and the ability to be flexible with changing priorities;
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;
• Ability to foster effective working relationships and build consensus;
• Ability to interact and influence a variety of users and senior management.

The successful candidate will need to be an enthusiastic self-starter, highly motivated and able to work effectively with minimal supervision. They will form part of a small but highly effective and agile team as well as work closely with MPA member company representative, central/devolved government departments and the regulatory agencies.