Job Description

Works Manager - Engineering / Fabrication / Water Jet Cutting
Location: Wolverhampton
Salary: 45,000 - 50,000
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
About the Company
Our client is a well-established engineering company specialising in machinery manufacturing, water jet cutting, metal fabrication, installation, and maintenance. With a reputation for quality craftsmanship and technical excellence, they deliver bespoke solutions to a wide range of industries across the UK.
We are now recruiting on their behalf for an experienced Works Manager to lead day-to-day operations, ensuring production efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.
The Role
The Works Manager will play a key role in overseeing the company's sales coordination, production, and purchasing functions, ensuring smooth workflow throughout the business. This position requires a strong engineering background, ideally within a fabrication, machining, or precision manufacturing environment.
You will be responsible for coordinating between departments, managing customer and supplier relationships, maintaining production schedules, and ensuring quality and performance targets are met.
Key Responsibilities
Sales & Customer Relations

• Accurately estimate and quote works to maximise business revenue.
• Conduct timely customer visits and complete reports and internal/external communications.
• Act as the company host for customer and supplier visits, ensuring professional standards and procedures are upheld.
• Handle supplier, customer, and management queries efficiently.
• Issue sales and work orders within the company system.

Production Management

• Plan and coordinate production schedules, liaising with the production team and management.
• Lead daily production meetings with workshop supervisors and management.
• Read, interpret, and understand technical drawings and machine capabilities to minimise errors and optimise production efficiency.
• Liaise effectively with the technical drawing department and allocate work priorities.
• Complete and approve Route Cards and Quality Checks for completed jobs.
• Coordinate transport and logistics for completed works.
• Maintain and manage the machinery maintenance schedule.
• Act as the main contact for the workshop supervisor, ensuring clear communication between departments.

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Conduct supplier visits, negotiate costs, and maintain excellent supplier relationships.
• Manage and chase purchase orders to ensure timely delivery of materials.
• Raise and issue purchase orders accurately and promptly.

Key Requirements
Proven experience as a Works Manager, Production Manager, or similar leadership role within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
Strong technical and engineering background ideally with experience in machinery, water jet cutting, fabrication, or CNC machining.
Excellent understanding of technical drawings and production processes.
Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams.
Commercially astute with experience in quotations, sales orders, and purchasing.
Proficiency with ERP or production management systems is advantageous.
What's on Offer
Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Opportunity to join a growing and respected engineering business.
Supportive and collaborative team culture.
Genuine career progression and professional development opportunities.

Skills Required