General Manager

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 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:

• 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.

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.

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.

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.