WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?
1. Permanent position
2. Wearside location
3. Min £45k – Negotiable depending on experience
4. 28 holidays per annum plus bank holidays
5. Full time
6. Monday – Friday (some work may be required on weekends depending on workloads)
7. Pension Scheme
8. Bonus opportunities
THE BUSINESS
Westray Recruitment Group is looking to recruit an experienced Workshop Manager to work for our client based in North East Region. Our client in question manufactures pipes, valves, ducts and tiles for the water industry, amongst other sectors.
This is an amazing opportunity to lead the expansion of a brand-new factory site and really put your stamp on the business and shape its future. The organisation in question has a very stable, yet growing, order book and they are industry experts within their chosen field. Although the site location is new, the business is established and is backed with international investment. Everything is geared towards success; the missing component is you!
We are seeking an experienced Workshop Manager to oversee welding, plating, fabrication and cnc disciplines. You will hold responsibility for around 10 direct reports and you will be in charge of the day to day running of an 18,000 sq. feet manufacturing environment.
You will be a technically-minded leader who thrives on the shop floor—and in the planning room. You will be able to balance welding & plating, precision machining expertise, with strong organisational and communication skills. You will be proactive with problem-solving, quality focused, and dedicated to developing people in order to drive commercial and performance excellence in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
THE ROLE
9. Workshop Operations & Scheduling - Managing day-to-day workshop activities—from job planning and prioritisation through to end despatch—ensuring on-time, budget‑controlled delivery
10. Coordinating resource allocation, material procurement, and workflow optimisation across welding, fabrication, plating, and CNC machining
11. Working to ensure the achievement of the production plan
12. Responsible for all “soft” HR practices including recruitment & selection, training & onboarding, staff development & appraisals, grievance and discipline, etc
13. Welding & Fabrication - Supervising welders (MIG & TIG) and metal fabrication tasks in accordance with technical drawings and industry standards
14. Plating & Finishing -Supervising plating processes and finishing including surface finishing, corrosion protection and powder coating; ensuring correct application and compliance with specifications.
15. CNC Machining & Machining Operations - Overseeing CNC and manual machining -overseeing programming, set up, and the maintenance of equipment
16. Ensuring precision machining of components within tolerance, collaborating with design and engineering teams
17. Quality Assurance & Health & Safety – Ensuring QC procedures: dimensional checks, inspections, first-pass yield, and rework minimisation
18. Enforcing HSE, PPE usage, risk assessments, and regulatory compliance
19. Team Leadership & Development - Lead, mentor, and appraise a multi-skilled workshop team (fabricators, welders, machinists, platers).
20. Drive training initiatives and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, lean methodologies, and staff empowerment
21. Inventory, Equipment Maintenance & Budgeting - Maintaining materials, consumables, tooling, and plating stock; overseeing preventative maintenance and repairs
22. Managing workshop budgets, controlling costs, monitoring OEE and scrap, and recommending investment in machinery or automation
23. Client & Stakeholder Liaison - Collaborating with internal stakeholders and external clients for project updates and technical troubleshooting.
24. Supporting tender processes by providing accurate estimates, cost planning, and technical input .
25. Documentation & Reporting - Maintaining records: job plans, QA sheets, maintenance logs, SOPs, H&S documentation, and time/material tracking
THE PERSON
26. Time served Engineer within a welding & fabrication related discipline
27. Proven experience managing workshops incorporating welding MIG, TIG, fabrication, plating, finishing, and CNC machining
28. Strong technical skills: blueprint interpretation, cnc machine programming (milling/turning), plating protocols.
29. Strong ability to understand and interpret engineering drawings including welding signs & symbols
30. Previous knowledge working with quality frameworks/systems, including but not limited to, ISO, BS EN and H&S compliance
31. Leadership capabilities: team development, scheduling, KPI tracking.
32. Competent in MS Office and workshop/ERP software.
33. Certifications: welding coordination (e.g., RWC), Lean/Six Sigma, IOSH, CNC or plating-specific qualifications preferred
34. Prior experience with CAD/CAM tools (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Autodesk) preferred.
35. Licenses for forklift/FLT, plasma cutting, press brakes, or crane preferred
36. Willingness to travel and aid onsite work from time to time
TO APPLY
Please send your updated CV to Tony Hutchinson or apply direct by calling Westray Recruitment Group