Manufacturing Manager

Location: Palestra, London Underground Ltd Company: TfL, GLA or OPDC

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Key Information:

• Contract: Permanent
• Location: London (primarily depots in Acton and West Kensington)
• Closing Date: Wednesday 5th August 2026 @ 23:59

Note: You may be required to undertake on call responsibility as a part of this role.

Job Purpose:

Transport for London’s Manufacturing business unit provides a wide range of manufacturing and overhaul activities to enable our safe and financially sustainable operation. We are one of London’s largest manufacturing businesses employing around 600 highly skilled people, and are growing. We are part of the Asset Maintenance and Renewals (AMR) directorate within London Underground, but are here to supply the breadth of TfL’s operations and external customers.

The Manufacturing Manager is one of two senior roles responsible for leading manufacturing operations– including overhauling, manufacturing and fabricating railway points and crossings, carpentry, plant equipment and a wide range of train components including electronics, electro-mechanical and pneumatics - from wheels, brakes and motors, through radios and door motors to signalling equipment – alongside train, locomotive and wagon overhauls.

As part of that growth, we are looking for someone to oversee end-to-end management of production processes and multiple operational facilities, ensuring safety, asset quality, cost and delivery requirements are met. This role involves strategic oversight of and responsibility for capacity planning, budgetary control, forecasting, scheduling, manufacturing make-or-buy decisions, tendering for work from outside parties and leading a diverse, multidisciplinary team to meet business objectives and regulatory requirements.

The postholder will need to ensure efficient and compliant operations while driving innovation and continuous improvement ensuring the manufacturing facilities are value for money and of course provide strong visible leadership as part of an inclusive SMT in Manufacturing and more widely in TfL. It’s a challenging job, but one that is very rewarding, and we are looking for someone who can complement our existing senior team, build on our heritage, experience and the skills of our team as we evolve and grow to meet the current and future needs of TfL.

Key Accountabilities:

• Responsible for the delivery and overhaul of Train, Signalling, Engineering Vehicle, Plant equipment and Track Carpentry in compliance with customer specifications and LU engineering standards, ensuring work plans are adapted where necessary to meet operational demands / standards.
• Accountable for the delivery of multiple business critical activities in partnership with Maintenance and Capital Projects by adopting continuous improvement methodologies to drive efficiencies in time, reliability, safety and budget.
• To lead by example ensuring appropriate standards are met for the management of safety and risk, compliance with statutory obligations whilst embedding the vision and culture to improve safety year on year across the network upholding the prevention of all injuries or harm to customers, employees and others as a core company value.
• Accountable for being an authentic role model for diversity and inclusion. Driving positive and progressive change within the team to achieve measurable improvements in diversity and inclusion.
• Lead and manage key stakeholder relationships of varying complexity and diversity across AMR, the wider TfL network and relevant external partners.
• Coach and build colleagues capability to engage effectively, while actively sharing best practice and industry trends, bringing insights back into AMR to strengthen delivery and support continuous improvement.
• Lead the implementation of new production processes and products, ensuring that approved developments by the Business Development manager are translated into effective, reliable, and scalable manufacturing operations.
• Responsible for the visible and adaptive leadership of multiple operational sites, expectation to lead a diverse number of teams with differing skill-sets and specialisms.

Knowledge:

• A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering discipline and/or demonstrable, significant experience of managing delivery of works at a Senior Level within a Manufacturing / workshop environment.
• In-depth knowledge of Operational Manufacturing overhaul activities.
• Strong business focus with commitment to driving performance, reliability and financial efficiency.
• In-depth knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation, guidance and good practice.
• Knowledge of relevant procurement; managing contractual and supplier interfaces; legal aspects; financial management and controls.
• Awareness of how to effectively operate in a complex industrial relations (IR) environment.
• Knowledge and application of driving a collaborative team, ensuring a strong focus on open and honest conversations.

Skills:

• Strong, inclusive and inspirational leadership skills at a senior level to ensure effective team development and address challenges/barriers that impact on people leadership.
• Proven ability to communicate with colleagues at all levels, including both external and internal stakeholders.
• Strong business/financial acumen and commercial awareness in relation to delivery of operational business plans.
• Ability to speedily analyse complex operational situations and formulate appropriate plans and projects to drive improvement. Utilising data and structured problem solving techniques.
• Commitment to continue embedding a continuous improvement culture within the Manufacturing department.
• Adaptive approach with the ability to operate holistically in the context of being part of a wider organisation.
• Ability to assess priorities and understand the best use of available resources within the team.

Experience:

• Proven experience of manufacturing management in an equivalent scale (railways or similar sector would be an advantage).
• Proven leadership and management experience of managing performance through multi-disciplined teams in an operational and fast-paced environment.
• Proven track record in the effective control of large scale budgets and deployment of specialist Manufacturing teams.
• Delivery of comprehensive operational plans and related business plans.
• Experience of working within a complex multi-union environment.
• Successful delivery of change initiatives (people, processes and technology) in the context of financial challenge in an operational environment.
• Prior experience of managing a multitude of complex internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• Experience of the practical application and benefits of Continuous Improvement methodologies to empower colleagues to identify and resolve complex business issues.

Equality and Diversity:

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

Benefits:

• Final salary pension scheme
• Free travel for you on the TfL network
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
• 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
• TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
• Discounted Eurostar travel