At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in vehicle manufacturing, ensuring quality and safety standards are met.
- Company: Join a leading manufacturing facility with a focus on innovation and excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of £80,000 OTE, pension scheme, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Work in a collaborative environment with opportunities for continuous improvement and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the automotive industry while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in vehicle manufacturing and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 64000 - 80000 £ per year.
The Workshop Production Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of production operations within a specialist vehicle manufacturing environment. The role provides overall leadership of workshop activities, ensuring vehicles are manufactured to specification, on time, and in full compliance with homologation and industry safety standards. The postholder will lead and manage a team of approximately 35 industrial engineers, covering fabrication, assembly, and production support functions. Using industrial engineering principles, the Workshop Production Manager will drive productivity, efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement, while maintaining the highest standards of health and safety.
Key Responsibilities
- Workshop & Production Management
- Lead the day‑to‑day operation of the manufacturing workshop, ensuring production targets, quality standards, and delivery deadlines are met.
- Translate production plans into clear daily and weekly schedules for fabrication and assembly teams.
- Monitor workflow, identify constraints, and implement corrective actions to maintain throughput.
- Ensure effective utilisation of labour, materials, equipment, and space.
- Drive a culture of accountability, discipline, and operational excellence.
- Management & Leadership of Industrial Engineering Team
- Provide direct leadership and management of a team of approximately 35 industrial engineers.
- Set clear objectives, performance expectations, and accountability aligned to business and production goals.
- Allocate workloads, balance capacity, and ensure resources are deployed effectively.
- Conduct regular one‑to‑ones, performance reviews, and annual appraisals.
- Identify skills gaps and ensure appropriate training, certification, and development plans are in place.
- Build and sustain a high‑performing team culture focused on quality, safety, and continuous improvement.
- Safety Leadership & Compliance
- Act as a visible and proactive safety leader across the workshop and engineering teams.
- Ensure full compliance with HSE legislation, company policies, and safe systems of work.
- Oversee risk assessments, method statements, and safe operating procedures for engineering and fabrication activities.
- Promote a strong safety culture through toolbox talks, training, and behavioural safety initiatives.
- Investigate incidents and near misses, ensuring root causes are identified and corrective actions implemented.
- Ensure all machinery, tools, and fabrication processes are operated safely and compliant with regulations.
- Industrial Engineering & Process Optimisation
- Apply industrial engineering principles to optimise workflows, layouts, and production processes.
- Define, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and increase repeatability.
- Conduct time studies, capacity planning, and process reviews.
- Support new product introductions and changes to build processes.
- Sheet Metal Fabrication & Vehicle Assembly
- Oversee all sheet metal fabrication activities, including cutting, forming, bending, welding, and finishing.
- Ensure fabrication and assembly activities meet engineering drawings, tolerances, and quality standards.
- Coordinate fabrication, sub‑assembly, and final vehicle build operations.
- Work closely with engineering and design teams to resolve build issues and improve manufacturability.
- Quality, Compliance & Homologation
- Ensure all vehicles manufactured are compliant with relevant industry safety standards and homologation requirements.
- Support preparation of technical documentation, build records, and evidence packs for regulatory approval.
- Liaise with quality, engineering, and external authorities during audits, inspections, and certification activities.
- Ensure non‑conformances are addressed promptly and corrective actions verified.
- Maintain full traceability and production records to support compliance and quality assurance.
- Productivity, Efficiency & Performance Management
- Drive productivity and efficiency across the workshop using data‑driven decision making.
- Monitor and report on KPIs including output, labour efficiency, quality, downtime, rework, and safety performance.
- Balance cost, quality, delivery, and safety to achieve optimal production performance.
- Report regularly to senior management on production status, risks, and improvement actions.
- Materials, Equipment & Cross‑Functional Coordination
- Coordinate with procurement and planning teams to ensure material availability aligns with production schedules.
- Manage workshop equipment maintenance and support capital investment decisions.
- Work closely with operations, quality, engineering, and compliance teams to deliver integrated manufacturing outcomes.
Requirements
- Essential Experience
- Proven experience as a Workshop Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or equivalent in a vehicle, engineering, or fabrication environment.
- Demonstrable experience leading large industrial engineering or production teams (30+ employees).
- Strong background in specialist or low‑volume vehicle manufacturing or major accident repair.
- Hands‑on experience with sheet metal fabrication processes.
- Solid understanding of industrial engineering principles.
- Experience supporting homologation and compliance to vehicle safety standards.
- Track record of driving productivity, safety, and continuous improvement in a regulated environment.
- Essential Skills & Knowledge
- Strong leadership, people management, and decision‑making skills.
- Excellent planning, scheduling, and problem‑solving abilities.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications.
- Strong working knowledge of UK/EU HSE and vehicle safety regulations.
- Data‑driven approach with experience using KPIs to drive performance.
- Confident communicator across engineering, production, and senior leadership teams.
- Desirable Qualifications
- Degree or HNC/HND in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering.
- Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma qualification.
- IOSH or NEBOSH Health & Safety qualification.
- Experience working within ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Production output versus plan.
- Labour efficiency and productivity.
- Quality and first‑time‑right build performance.
- Homologation and audit success.
- Health & Safety performance metrics.
- Continuous improvement and waste reduction outcomes.
Benefits
£80,000 OTE
Hours: 7am to 4pm Mon‑Fri
Company Pension
Holiday allowance
Workshop Production Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Pybus Recruitment Ltd
As a Workshop Production Manager at our manufacturing facility, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to excellence in vehicle production. We pride ourselves on fostering a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and employee development, offering competitive benefits and a supportive work environment that encourages innovation and growth. With a focus on quality and compliance, this role provides an opportunity to lead a talented group of industrial engineers while making a meaningful impact in the specialist vehicle manufacturing sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Workshop Production Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend workshops, and join relevant groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in production management and safety compliance.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed teams and driven productivity in past roles. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to lead large teams effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Workshop Production Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Workshop Production Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing large teams and your knowledge of industrial engineering principles. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven productivity and safety in previous positions. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Workshop Production Manager, leadership is key. In your application, emphasise your experience in leading teams and driving a culture of accountability. We want to know how you motivate and develop your team!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
How to prepare for a job interview at Pybus Recruitment Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of industrial engineering principles and vehicle manufacturing processes. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in previous roles, especially in managing large teams and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style and how you've successfully managed teams of engineers. Think about specific situations where you set clear objectives, conducted performance reviews, or implemented training plans to develop your team.
✨Be Data-Driven
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators relevant to production management. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive productivity and efficiency in past roles, and how you would apply this approach in the new position.
✨Safety First
Since safety is a top priority in this role, be ready to talk about your experience with HSE legislation and how you've promoted a strong safety culture in your previous workplaces. Share any initiatives you've led to improve safety compliance and reduce incidents.
