Design Office Manager

• In person office based at our state-of-the-art Design Hub at Boundary Park Deeside
• Travel between our manufacturing sites will be required.
• 33 days holiday per year.

The Role

We are looking to recruit a motivated enthusiastic and experienced individual to join our Design team as our Design Office Manager.

This is a key leadership role with full responsibility for managing, developing and motivating our Design Team, comprising Graduate Designers, Designers and Senior Designers.

You will be accountable for the day-to-day management and effective operation of the Design Office ensuring the team delivers robust, innovative and high-quality engineering designs that meet customer expectations, project requirements and all relevant company and legislative standards.

This is an exciting and varied opportunity to have a significant influence on the design function and the wider business with involvement across all areas of product design, tooling, jigs and fixtures.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Team Leadership and People Management

• To effectively lead, manage, coach and motivate the entire Design Team including Graduate Designers, Designers and Senior Designers, ensuring the team consistently delivers to agreed objectives and expectations.
• Drive a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement, developing the capabilities of the team whilst ensuring best practice is consistently applied across all design activities.
• Establish and manage against clear objectives, responsibilities and performance expectations for all team members, supporting individual development and progression.
• Identify skills gaps and training requirements, developing the team's technical capabilities and succession planning.
• Encourage a positive, collaborative and accountable working environment, promoting knowledge sharing and effective communication across all levels of the team.
• Effectively manage workloads and competing priorities, ensuring resources are allocated appropriately to meet business and project demands.

Design Office and Operational Management

• Take ownership of the day-to-day operation and management of the Design Office, ensuring effective processes, procedures and working practices are maintained.
• Oversee the planning, coordination and delivery of all design activities, ensuring projects are appropriately resourced and delivered to agreed timescales.
• Monitor team performance through relevant KPIs and performance metrics, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and overall output.
• Prepare and present design performance updates, project progress, resource requirements and KPI information to senior management and company directors.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration between the Design Team, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, Purchasing and other relevant departments.
• Identify and implement improvements to design office processes, systems and procedures to enhance productivity and overall business performance.

Engineering and Design Management

• Ensure robust, innovative and high-quality engineering designs are produced using best practice and comply with customer requirements, company standards and relevant legislation.
• Oversee the design process from initial concept through to detailed design, validation and production implementation.
• Ensure all designs are appropriately reviewed and validated before release.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to the team, supporting the resolution of complex engineering, operational, customer and quality issues.
• Take overall responsibility for design project delivery, proactively managing and escalating risks, issues and delays.
• Lead effective design reviews, encouraging constructive challenge to achieve optimal engineering solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement across the IWT product portfolio through VAVE, modularisation, commonality and Design for Manufacture.
• Maintain and develop design processes, standards, technical documentation and reporting.
• Foster innovation and practical problem-solving to improve product performance, manufacturability, quality and cost.
• Support the cross-functional development and delivery of new products from concept through to production.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent engineering training and experience.
• Proven experience in an engineering or design environment, with demonstrable experience managing, leading or developing a technical team.
• Experience managing teams with differing levels of technical experience and responsibility.
• Demonstrable experience delivering engineering projects and products from concept through to production.
• Strong understanding of engineering design principles, manufacturing processes and design validation.
• Experience using 3D CAD modelling and detailed drafting software, preferably SolidWorks.
• Evidence of effective project and resource management skills.
• Experience driving improvements in efficiency, quality and team performance.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver against agreed objectives.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of an organisation.
• High level of computer literacy, including Microsoft Office.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience within the automotive, industrial, agricultural or off-highway engineering sectors.
• Knowledge and experience of chassis, axle and suspension design.
• Experience with welded fabrication design.
• Experience in tooling, jig and fixture design.
• Experience implementing design standards, processes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience presenting technical information, project updates and performance data to senior management.

Personal Characteristics

• Confident leader who motivates, develops and gets the best from a diverse engineering team.
• Proactive, enthusiastic and passionate about engineering and problem-solving.
• Practical, hands-on approach with strong technical credibility.
• Highly organised, ability to prioritise and manage competing demands.
• Strong ownership, accountability and focus on delivery.
• Confident to challenge existing practices, make decisions and drive change.
• Effective communicator at all levels, from Graduate Designers to Company Directors.
• Committed to continuous improvement, team development and engineering excellence.

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