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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in vehicle manufacturing, ensuring quality and safety standards are met.
- Company: Join a leading vehicle manufacturing company with a focus on innovation and teamwork.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of £80,000 OTE, pension scheme, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Work Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm, in a supportive and growth-oriented culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in manufacturing management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 56000 - 64000 £ per year.
Location: Manufacturing Facility
Reports to: Managing Director
Direct Reports: Workshop Supervisors, Team Leaders, and up to 35 Industrial Engineers
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Role Overview
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
- 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
Skills, Experience & Qualifications
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
Contact Detail:
Pybus Recruitment Recruiting Team
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! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend workshops, trade shows, or local meetups. 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. Understand their production processes and safety standards. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family. Focus on articulating your experience in managing teams and driving productivity. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform when it counts.
✨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 take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Workshop Production Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Workshop Production Manager role. Highlight your experience in vehicle manufacturing and leadership skills, as this will show us you’re a perfect fit for our team.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive productivity and efficiency. We love seeing how you've made a real impact in your previous roles!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences. We appreciate a well-structured application!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pybus Recruitment
✨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 past roles, especially in leading large teams and driving productivity.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style and how you've managed teams effectively. Think about specific situations where you set clear objectives, conducted performance reviews, or implemented training plans for your team.
✨Safety First
Since safety is a big part of the role, be prepared to talk about your experience with HSE legislation and how you've promoted a strong safety culture in previous positions. Share any initiatives you've led that improved safety compliance.
✨Data-Driven Decisions
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to production management. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive performance improvements and make informed decisions in your past roles.