Design Office Manager in Wales

• 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 Solid Works.
• 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.
• #J-18808-Ljbffr