At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage Technical, Purchasing, and Manufacturing departments to ensure quality production.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking manufacturing company focused on innovation and excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a focus on safety and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving improvements and shaping product development.
- Qualifications: Experience in technical management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 38250 - 46750 £ per year.
The Manufacturing/Technical Manager oversees the day-to-day running of the Technical, Purchasing and Manufacturing departments, ensuring products are made safely, legally, on time, to the required quality standard and at the right cost. The role combines technical governance, supply chain control and continuous improvement, translating business priorities and customer requirements into operational plans, clear standards and measurable results. As part of the management team, the postholder is expected to lead by example and keep senior leadership informed of risks and performance.
Leadership & Operational Management
The postholder provides hands-on leadership across the three functions, chairing departmental meetings and ensuring actions from those meetings are owned and followed through. They build capable teams through clear objectives, coaching, training, performance management and succession planning, and escalate significant risks to senior management promptly, backed by accurate operational data.
Technical, Quality & Compliance
Responsibilities include managing the Technical department day to day, including CAD design, and maintaining and improving technical standards, specifications and controlled documentation. The role holder ensures products and processes meet all relevant legislation, customer requirements, internal standards and industry accreditations, and oversees inspection, testing, traceability, calibration, non-conformance and change-control processes. They lead investigations into product, process, supplier and customer issues through to root cause and preventive action, and coordinate customer, certification and regulatory audits, ensuring findings close within agreed timescales. They act as the technical authority for customers, suppliers and internal teams evaluating new products, materials and process changes, producing electrical wiring diagrams for manufacturing and service, and writing technical bulletins, setup procedures and test procedures. The role also shapes the product development programme, identifying opportunities to enhance existing products and bring new ones to market, raising and implementing Product Design Change Requests (PDCRs), and pursuing warranty reduction solutions. The postholder maintains the company's technical databases and technical files, circulates technical notes, and ensures all drawings, designs, parts lists and technical/assembly manuals stay current and properly controlled while continuing to identify novel, innovative solutions as technology evolves.
Manufacturing
Working alongside the Production Manager, the postholder helps ensure the production plan meets customer demand safely, efficiently, on time and to specification. They monitor output, labour, capacity, waste, downtime, quality, cost and on-time delivery, taking corrective action where performance falls short, and maintain robust SOPs, visual controls, shift handovers and production records. Working with Engineering and Maintenance, they drive improvements in equipment availability, reliability and preventative maintenance, and lead productivity, process-control and workplace-organisation initiatives ensuring materials, tooling, equipment and competent people are in place before work begins.
Purchasing & Supply Chain
Supporting the Purchasing Manager, the postholder helps secure the right materials, services and subcontract support at the right quality, cost and delivery. They set stock policies, reorder controls and forward purchasing plans aligned to demand and capacity, and approve and monitor suppliers against risk, quality, delivery, service and commercial criteria. They lead supplier negotiations and improvement activity balancing total cost, supply continuity and technical risk and identify supply constraints early, putting contingency or dual-sourcing plans in place where needed. Purchase commitments, records and approvals are kept compliant with company controls and delegated authority.
Other Areas of Work
This includes involvement in plant maintenance and organising repairs, reviewing service reports and proposing solutions and parts quotes, and providing holiday cover for Nigel and James.
Health, Safety & Environment
The postholder promotes a positive safety culture, ensuring safe systems of work, risk assessments, training and workplace inspections are effective. They ensure incidents, near misses and environmental events are reported, investigated and properly followed up, maintain high standards of housekeeping, waste control and environmental compliance, and have the authority to stop or suspend work where people, product, equipment or the environment are at risk.
Hiring: Technical Manager in Bristol employer: Set2Recruit
Join a dynamic and expanding engineering group in Bridgwater, Somerset, where your expertise as a Senior Electrical Design Engineer will be valued and impactful. With a focus on innovation and hands-on design, you'll enjoy a collaborative work culture that encourages technical ownership and offers opportunities for professional growth. Benefit from a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and additional perks like free electric vehicle charging, all while contributing to exciting projects that shape the future of engineering.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Hiring: Technical Manager in Bristol
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces
Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.
✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
When you find a role at a company you love, like Set2Recruit, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!
We think you need these skills to ace Hiring: Technical Manager in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Set2Recruit specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Set2Recruit
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Set2Recruit, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like Set2Recruit value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.