Workshop Production Manager

Job Title: Workshop Production Manager

Location: Manufacturing Facility

Reports to: Managing Director

Direct Reports: Workshop Supervisors, Team Leaders, and up to 35 Industrial Engineers

Contract: Full‑time, Permanent

Role Overview

The Workshop Production Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of production operations within a specialist vehicle manufacturing environment. The role provides overall leadership of workshop activities, ensuring vehicles are manufactured to specification, on time, and in full compliance with homologation and industry safety standards .

The postholder will lead and manage a team of approximately 35 industrial engineers , covering fabrication, assembly, and production support functions. Using industrial engineering principles , the Workshop Production Manager will drive productivity, efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement , while maintaining the highest standards of health and safety .

Key Responsibilities

Workshop & Production Management

• Lead the day‑to‑day operation of the manufacturing workshop, ensuring production targets, quality standards, and delivery deadlines are met
  
• Translate production plans into clear daily and weekly schedules for fabrication and assembly teams
  
• Monitor workflow, identify constraints, and implement corrective actions to maintain throughput
  
• Ensure effective utilisation of labour, materials, equipment, and space
  
• Drive a culture of accountability, discipline, and operational excellence
  

Management & Leadership of Industrial Engineering Team

• Provide direct leadership and management of a team of approximately 35 industrial engineers
  
• Set clear objectives, performance expectations, and accountability aligned to business and production goals
  
• Allocate workloads, balance capacity, and ensure resources are deployed effectively
  
• Conduct regular one‑to‑ones, performance reviews, and annual appraisals
  
• Identify skills gaps and ensure appropriate training, certification, and development plans are in place
  
• Build and sustain a high‑performing team culture focused on quality, safety, and continuous improvement
  

Safety Leadership & Compliance

• Act as a visible and proactive safety leader across the workshop and engineering teams
  
• Ensure full compliance with HSE legislation , company policies, and safe systems of work
  
• Oversee risk assessments, method statements, and safe operating procedures for engineering and fabrication activities
  
• Promote a strong safety culture through toolbox talks, training, and behavioural safety initiatives
  
• Investigate incidents and near misses, ensuring root causes are identified and corrective actions implemented
  
• Ensure all machinery, tools, and fabrication processes are operated safely and compliant with regulations
  

Industrial Engineering & Process Optimisation

• Apply industrial engineering principles to optimise workflows, layouts, and production processes
  
• Define, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions
  
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and increase repeatability
  
• Conduct time studies, capacity planning, and process reviews
  
• Support new product introductions and changes to build processes
  

Sheet Metal Fabrication & Vehicle Assembly

• Oversee all sheet metal fabrication activities , including cutting, forming, bending, welding, and finishing
  
• Ensure fabrication and assembly activities meet engineering drawings, tolerances, and quality standards
  
• Coordinate fabrication, sub‑assembly, and final vehicle build operations
  
• Work closely with engineering and design teams to resolve build issues and improve manufacturability
  

Quality, Compliance & Homologation

• Ensure all vehicles manufactured are compliant with relevant industry safety standards and homologation requirements
  
• Support preparation of technical documentation, build records, and evidence packs for regulatory approval
  
• Liaise with quality, engineering, and external authorities during audits, inspections, and certification activities
  
• Ensure non‑conformances are addressed promptly and corrective actions verified
  
• Maintain full traceability and production records to support compliance and quality assurance
  

Productivity, Efficiency & Performance Management

• Drive productivity and efficiency across the workshop using data‑driven decision making
  
• Monitor and report on KPIs including output, labour efficiency, quality, downtime, rework, and safety performance
  
• Balance cost, quality, delivery, and safety to achieve optimal production performance
  
• Report regularly to senior management on production status, risks, and improvement actions
  

Materials, Equipment & Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with procurement and planning teams to ensure material availability aligns with production schedules
  
• Manage workshop equipment maintenance and support capital investment decisions
  
• Work closely with operations, quality, engineering, and compliance teams to deliver integrated manufacturing outcomes
  

Requirements

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Essential Experience

• Proven experience as a Workshop Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or equivalent in a vehicle, engineering, or fabrication environment
  
• Demonstrable experience leading large industrial engineering or production teams (30+ employees)
  
• Strong background in specialist or low‑volume vehicle manufacturing or major accident repair
  
• Hands‑on experience with sheet metal fabrication processes
  
• Solid understanding of industrial engineering principles
  
• Experience supporting homologation and compliance to vehicle safety standards
  
• Track record of driving productivity, safety, and continuous improvement in a regulated environment
  

Essential Skills & Knowledge

• Strong leadership, people management, and decision‑making skills
  
• Excellent planning, scheduling, and problem‑solving abilities
  
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications
  
• Strong working knowledge of UK/EU HSE and vehicle safety regulations
  
• Data‑driven approach with experience using KPIs to drive performance
  
• Confident communicator across engineering, production, and senior leadership teams
  

Desirable Qualifications

• Degree or HNC/HND in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering
  
• Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma qualification
  
• IOSH or NEBOSH Health & Safety qualification
  
• Experience working within ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems
  

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Production output versus plan
  
• Labour efficiency and productivity
  
• Quality and first‑time‑right build performance
  
• Homologation and audit success
  
• Health & Safety performance metrics
  
• Continuous improvement and waste reduction outcomes
  

Benefits

£80,000 OTE

Hours 7am to 4pm Mon-Fri

Company Pension

Holiday allowance