"Non-technical", when said by a manager, usually means something like: "I don't know what you do, I don't want to know what you do, I don't respect what you do

"Non-technical", when said by a manager, usually means something like: "I don't know what you do, I don't want to know what you do, I don't respect what you do, and I'm scared of what you do." Your "avoided the osmosis" part is essentially correct.