Design & Drawing Office Manager

Part of Hill and Smith Holdings Plc, based in Middlesbrough, Lionweld Kennedy are the recognised UK’s leading supplier of Safe, Sustainable Access solutions in Steel or GRP. We have a strong heritage of supporting multiple vertical sectors with products adaptable to the latest built environments and have a modern approach backed by 100 years of experience.

The Person

• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Strong time management and prioritisation skills.
• Well organised and punctual.
• A ‘can-do’ attitude and a keenness for professional self-development.
• A thirst to take on growing responsibilities and projects.

Position Description

Oversee the day-to-day operations of the existing drawing office for production of product manufacturing drawings, whilst developing the design team to support the production of BIM models and fabrication packages for structural product/packages using Tekla Structures, and to support the sales team in developing proposals for tendering.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the Key Account Executive and Internal Sales teams, ensuring enquiries are reviewed, qualified, prioritised and quoted accurately.
• Create and maintain standard details and BIM models for manufactured products and standard fabricated items.
• Plan workload through the design and drawing office team to ensure completion and issue of fabrication packages and production drawings are in-line with agreed lead times and delivery dates.
• Develop, maintain and report on KPI’s for drawing office team & member performance.
• Ensure technical queries from customers and internal departments are resolved.
• Support sales, commercial and project teams in tendering project work, with design proposals presented in clients federated model.
• Ensure structural design calculations are completed (through internal or external engineers) to support all structural designs prepared.
• Progressively build structural design team capable of using Tekla Structures to produce structural fabrication packages and tender proposals.
• Develop and maintain standards to be adopted within the structural design team and design software (Tekla Structures).
• Attend kick-off / handover meetings and establish all technical requirements to ensure order requirements are achieved.
• Review contract documentation at estimate / tender stage to ensure all requirements are understood and are either achievable or caveated in the bid.
• Support the project department as directed to ensure required details and timescales are provided for tenders and live projects.
• Ensure drawings and details comply with specifications, designs and tender submissions.
• Attend customer offices or sites for the purposes of establishing requirements, to assist in commercial matters, or to resolve queries to ensure correct implementation of design.
• Where necessary, obtain quotes, negotiate, and place orders for external design and engineering services in accordance with commercial constraints of budgets, forecasts, or projects requirements.
• Monitor and control the performance of external design and engineering services.
• Control the resource levels necessary for the efficient operation of the Design Department.
• Source, interview and appoint as directed.
• Complete appraisals, back-to-work interviews etc.
• Identify training and operational needs for the department, present to the board for approval and thereafter implement as instructed.
• Ensure that Company Procedures are adhered to within the operation of the Design Department.
• Provide detailed reports in respect of the Design Department performance.
• Act as a designer or draughtsman as required to ensure workload is issued on time.
• Checking of models and drawings as required.

Qualifications

• HNC (Fabrication, production, civil or mechanical).
• Management Training (ILM or similar).

Experience

• Experience of varied detailing software (2D & 3D).
• Experience with ERP systems.
• Understanding of BIM process and requirements.

Position Details

• Position: Full Time with an immediate start.
• Hours of work: Mon-Thursday 8.00am -17.00pm, Friday 8.00am – 2.00pm.
• Holidays: Full time – 25 days per year (Holiday year Jan – Dec) + 8 Bank holidays, Pro rata for part time.
• Life Insurance: 3 times basic salary whilst in employment.
• Pension Scheme: Automatic enrolment if meet criteria, 5% Employee, 3% Employer. After 1 year in April – Age related up to max 6.5%.
• Hill and Smith Share options scheme: When available and if applicable.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Free to employees (Lifeworks).
• Free on-site parking.
• Close proximity to Town Centre, bus & train stations.

We welcome applicants from all sectors of the community, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. All applicants will be asked to prove that they have the right to work in the UK.