General Manager in Fort William

Employer

AJ Engineering & Construction Services Ltd, part of the RSK Group, acquired Northern Engineering & Welding Company (NEWCo), which is based in Fort William, in 2015. As part of the RSK Group, one of the UK's leading engineering, environmental and technical services groups, NEWCo combines the strengths of a well‑established local business with the support, resources and long‑term investment of a successful national organisation. This provides employees with the opportunity to contribute to a growing business while benefiting from the stability, expertise and career opportunities available through a wider group structure.

The Vacancy

The General Manager will implement, lead, manage and continually grow the business and work closely with the management and support staff based in Forres. The successful candidate will report directly to the Group Managing Director and have full autonomy of the Fort William facility.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that the company's vision, values, policies and procedures are always adhered to.


• Ensure the workshop and site‑based personnel comply with Health and Safety policies and procedures.


• Ensure compliance with quality standards and requirements, analysing results and ensuring corrective action is implemented to continuously improve the working environment.


• Produce quotations for clients and agree rates for works.


• Co‑ordinate the production of information necessary for invoices to be issued.


• Assist the Accounts team with credit control when necessary.


• Effectively plan, organise and coordinate resources to meet production requirements and client contract specifications.


• Develop, propose and agree functional budgets with the Managing Director, monitoring, managing and controlling all activities in accordance with the agreed budget, investigating and resolving any variances.


• Work with the Managing Director to develop strategic plans for all operational activity and capital requests.


• Lead, manage, control and develop all employees, including absence management, performance management, grievances and Health and Safety training.


• Liaise and work with other departments to ensure issues are resolved as quickly as possible.


• Liaise with customers where appropriate to ensure service commitments are realised.

The Successful Applicant

The successful candidate will be able to implement and lead the following:

• Experience of management in steel fabrication, manufacturing, construction or a similar industry.


• Excellent communicator with firsthand direct people management knowledge.


• Ability to listen to and influence others.


• Knowledge of leading, motivating and recruiting a high‑performance team.


• Proactive customer‑focused approach to service delivery.


• Ability to plan, organise and implement through teamwork and delegation.


• Financial knowledge covering budget forecasting.


• Good analytical skills.


• Good written and verbal communication skills.

This role would suit an ambitious and commercially minded leader with a strong engineering, steel fabrication, manufacturing or construction background who is capable of taking full responsibility for the Fort William operation and driving its continued success.

Additional Desirable Attributes

• Strong commercial awareness with experience of preparing quotations, negotiating rates and managing profitability.


• Demonstrable leadership experience with responsibility for operational performance and business growth.


• Strong understanding of Health & Safety and quality management within an engineering or manufacturing environment.


• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders.


• Experience of resource planning and managing multiple projects or workstreams simultaneously.


• A hands‑on management style with the ability to balance strategic planning and day‑to‑day operational delivery.


• Commitment to continuous improvement and developing a positive, high‑performing workplace culture.

#Engineering #Recruitment

About Us

AJ Engineering & Construction Services is a multidisciplinary engineering firm delivering specialist services across a broad range of sectors. We focus on complex structural steelwork and cladding projects, access steelwork, bridge fabrication and mechanical engineering. Our reputation for excellence is built on our ability to deliver challenging projects in demanding geographical and environmental conditions, notably in Antarctica, where we installed cladding and erected structural steelwork for the British Antarctic Survey’s Discovery Building.

We support clients across the energy, water, rail, defence and construction sectors. Recent projects include constructing a hangar facility for SaxaVord at the UK Spaceport in Unst, Shetland; installing membrane support steelwork at Bolton Wastewater Treatment Works; and the structural steel and cladding package for the water treatment building at Witches Oak Water Treatment Works in Derbyshire.

As an equal opportunities employer, AJ Engineering provides a supportive, inclusive workplace with a comprehensive employee benefits package. We pride ourselves on being a friendly, collaborative and values‑led organisation, committed to acting responsibly, ethically and professionally. We invest in learning and development and actively promote a healthy work–life balance, recognising that people perform at their best when they feel valued, supported and empowered.

AJ Engineering is part of the RSK Group, a leading integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services business providing dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors. RSK was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since then.

At RSK, we operate as a group of businesses that work together seamlessly, aiming for growth through diversification. Our strategy helps us build a strong and resilient business, capable of weathering external challenges, while also providing greater value to our clients and more opportunities for our employees.

Since the beginning, our philosophy has remained the same: employ, develop and reward talented individuals. People are crucial to our company, and we recognise that our success hinges on our colleagues' growth. We're committed to preserving RSK's people‑first culture, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive and caring environment for collaboration. At RSK, we want you to be part of our successes and help you reach your career aspirations. We take pride in offering employees fulfilling and challenging careers by promoting ongoing growth and empowering individuals to excel.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the diversity in our workforce makes us a stronger and more innovative company.

By providing workplace adjustments, we make it easier for people to confidently explore and pursue our career opportunities and recognise that flexibility is key to fostering a dynamic and thriving workplace. Many of our office‑based positions benefit from a flexible working arrangement, allowing our team members to achieve a balance between professional and personal commitments.

We actively encourage applications from candidates of all genders, races, ethnicities, ages, neurotypes, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities.

If you're passionate about making a difference, join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable, and sustainable future for all. Do you have what it takes?