At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in specialist vehicle manufacturing, ensuring quality and safety standards.
- Company: Join a leading vehicle manufacturer with a focus on innovation and excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Full-time role with excellent career growth opportunities in a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while driving continuous improvement.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in manufacturing and strong knowledge of engineering principles.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- £80,000 OTE.
- Hours 7am to 4pm Mon-Fri.
- Company Pension.
- Holiday allowance.
To apply for this role please submit your full and up to date CV to Nigel McMinn at Pybus Recruitment.
Workshop Production Manager in Sunderland employer: Pybus Recruitment
As a leading specialist vehicle manufacturer based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic work culture that prioritises safety, quality, and continuous improvement. Our Workshop Production Manager role offers an attractive salary of £80,000 OTE, alongside a supportive environment that encourages professional growth through training and development opportunities. Join us to lead a dedicated team of industrial engineers in a collaborative setting where your contributions directly impact our production excellence and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Workshop Production Manager in Sunderland
✨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. Understand their products and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets them.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable talking about your achievements and how they relate to the Workshop Production Manager role. The more you rehearse, the more confident you'll feel!
✨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 that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Workshop Production Manager in Sunderland
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 vehicle manufacturing processes. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading a team of industrial engineers, emphasise your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've driven productivity and maintained safety standards in previous roles. We love seeing strong leaders!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points for key achievements and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets to the heart of your experience.
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. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pybus Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the key responsibilities of a Workshop Production Manager. Brush up on your knowledge of industrial engineering principles, safety regulations, and production management techniques. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're serious about the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you drove productivity or improved safety standards. This will help demonstrate your ability to manage a large team effectively, which is crucial for this position.
✨Be Data-Driven
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to workshop production. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive performance improvements in previous roles. This will highlight your analytical skills and your commitment to continuous improvement.
✨Ask Smart Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company's production processes, safety culture, and future projects. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company aligns with your values and career goals.
