Technical & Workshop Manager

Petit Forestier Group; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 280,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Petit Forestier Group seeks a hands-on Technical & Workshop Manager to lead the UAE workshop operations, develop the technical team, and ensure high standards of maintenance, safety and reliability of the fleet. This role blends day-to-day workshop leadership with strategic technical input for local suppliers and decisions.

You will act as the Country Manager's key technical partner, building a technical organization from the ground up, resolving complex problems on the shop floor, and guiding

Qualifications

• Solid experience in vehicle maintenance and repair.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical systems and diagnostics.
• Good knowledge of vehicle refrigeration / transport refrigeration systems is highly desirable.
• Good understanding of electrical systems, vehicle diagnostics, preventive and corrective maintenance.
• Proven experience managing a workshop, maintenance team or technical operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the UAE workshop on a day-to-day basis and manage budget, ensuring reliability and availability of fleet.
• Own supplier relationships, purchasing decisions and cost control for parts and services.
• Provide practical technical leadership to support the Country Manager and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Workshop management

Technical leadership

Supplier management

Budgeting

Hands-on problem solving

Team coaching

Education

Technical qualification in automotive mechanics

Engineering certifications (advantage)

Tools

Diagnostics tools

Refrigeration systems knowledge

Job description

THE ROLE

As b Technical amp Workshop Manager b you will be responsible for the technical performance of our UAE operations with the b workshop at the heart of the role b This is a hands-on management position combining the responsibilities of a b Workshop Manager b with broader local technical leadership Your primary responsibility will be to manage the day-to-day workshop operation lead and develop the technical team and ensure the quality reliability and efficiency of vehicle maintenance and repairs Beyond the workshop you will act as the b Country Manager s key technical partner b taking ownership of local technical suppliers and purchasing supporting fleet and technical decisions and progressively structuring the technical organisation as the UAE business grows This is b not an office-based technical management role b You will be expected to remain closely involved in daily workshop operations work alongside mechanics and technicians solve technical problems and ensure that standards and improvements are implemented on the ground The role offers the opportunity to b build and develop a technical organisation from the ground up b rather than simply manage an established structure

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• 1 Workshop amp Technical Operations b You will lead the workshop team on a daily basis maintaining a strong presence on the workshop floor and will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day performance and budget of the UAE workshop ensuring the reliability and technical availability of the fleet both during normal operations and through the company s 24 7 breakdown service Ensure maintenance plans are properly established followed and continuously improved in coordination with the Fleet Manager Plan organise and prioritise workshop activities according to fleet requirements vehicle availability and operational priorities Monitor workshop workload productivity and turnaround times and take action where performance needs to improve Allocate and oversee preventive and corrective maintenance covering mechanical electrical refrigeration and bodywork-related issues jobs are completed efficiently and to the required standards of quality safety reliability and cost efficiency Monitor vehicle availability downtime breakdown frequency repeat failures and maintenance costs Analyse recurring technical failures identify root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions Provide hands‑on support with complex diagnostics and technical problems when required Decide when work should be performed internally or outsourced based on technical capability cost urgency and vehicle availability Ensure workshop facilities tools and equipment are properly maintained and used Maintain high standards of housekeeping waste management and health amp safety Ensure technicians have the appropriate knowledge tools and procedures to respond effectively to roadside incidents Help organise and continuously improve the technical on‑call and emergency support system Develop external emergency repair solutions where internal resources are insufficient Establish and continuously improve workshop processes technical standards procedures and best practices Coach and develop technical capabilities through on‑the‑job coaching technical training and knowledge sharing Set clear expectations regarding quality productivity safety and professional standards Identify skills gaps and establish training priorities Use technical KPIs and lessons learned from repairs and breakdowns to drive concrete improvements in reliability quality productivity and cost efficiency Promote a culture of technical excellence accountability safety and continuous improvement
• 2 Suppliers amp Purchasing b You will develop b the technical ecosystem b supporting the UAE operation You will be accountable for the workshop budget ensuring effective cost control while maintaining the required levels of quality reliability and operational performance Own the workshop budget and cost performance monitoring actual expenditure against budget challenging maintenance and repair costs optimising parts and external service spending and implementing corrective actions where required Manage stock and maintain appropriate levels of critical spare parts and workshop consumables Source and purchase spare parts workshop equipment consumables and external technical services Negotiate prices technical conditions lead times and service levels Develop alternative suppliers and sourcing solutions to improve resilience and reduce dependency Manage relationships with local suppliers dealers repair partners and technical service providers Challenge supplier performance and pricing ensuring the best balance between cost quality availability and reliability
• 3 Technical Leadership amp Support to the Country Manager b As the b Country Manager s key technical counterpart b you will provide practical technical leadership across the UAE operation Contribute to the UAE technical strategy and annual action plans Lead technical projects and ensure their effective implementation on the ground Support decisions regarding investments in fleet workshop equipment tooling spare parts and technical resources Anticipate the technical resources and organisation required to support business growth Provide clear recommendations and visibility on maintenance costs fleet reliability technical risks and workshop performance Provide technical input on vehicle specifications equipment repair-versus-replacement decisions and future fleet requirements Prepare and monitor the technical budget together with the Country Manager The role is designed to combine strategic thinking with operational execution you will be expected to move from technical decision-making and supplier negotiation to diagnosing a vehicle with a mechanic and implementing improvements directly in the workshop

Solid experience in vehicle maintenance and repair, ideally within a fleet, rental, transport or commercial vehicle environment. Strong knowledge of mechanical systems and diagnostics. Good knowledge of vehicle refrigeration / transport refrigeration systems is highlydesirable. Good understanding of electrical systems, vehicle diagnostics, preventive and corrective maintenance. Proven experience managing a workshop, maintenance team or technical operation. Experience dealing directly with technical suppliers and external repair partners. Demonstrated ability to diagnose complex technical problems and develop practical solutions. We are particularly interested in candidates currently working as: Workshop Manager Workshop Supervisor Workshop Team Leader Fleet Maintenance Manager Senior Technician / Technical Supervisor or in a similar position, with the capability and ambition to take on a broader technical leadership role. The ideal candidate will be able to bring proven methods, discipline and best practices into a growing UAE operation while adapting them pragmatically to a small structure.

LEADERSHIP & PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Strong hands‑on technical leadership and credibility with technicians.
• Comfortable spending significant time on the workshop floor.
• Practical, pragmatic and solution-oriented.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Able to make decisions quickly in an operational environment.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Structured and organised.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willing to challenge existing practices and drive continuous improvement.
• Comfortable working in a small organisation where everyone is expected to contribute.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: able to build rather than simply manage.
• Able to balance technical quality, operational urgency and cost control.

LANGUAGES

Professional proficiency in English is required. French is an advantage.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

• Technical qualification in automotive mechanics, vehicle maintenance, refrigeration or a related field.
• Relevant technical certifications are an advantage.