Build Manager

The Recruitment Bunker; Thruxton; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holidays 33 days incl Bank Holidays

Salary sacrifice pension

Employee referral scheme

Job summary

The DRVN Automotive Group is seeking an experienced Build Manager to establish and ready the Boreham Motorworks facility in the Thruxton area for low-volume production. You will translate engineering into repeatable build sequences, define processes, and lead hands-on training for the assembly team, shaping operations from day one.

As a hands-on leader, you will train, coach and develop technicians, ensure quality and safety standards, and collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality,

Qualifications

• Experience leading vehicle build teams in automotive manufacturing.
• Proven ability to launch a new vehicle assembly facility.
• Strong knowledge of PFMEA, Control Plans and quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare the Boreham Motorworks facility for low-volume vehicle assembly.
• Define layout, workflow, tooling, and quality control points.
• Lead prototype to production builds with hands-on leadership.
• Develop training plans and coach technicians on assembly methods.
• Drive continuous improvement and ensure safety standards are met.

Skills

Leadership

Facility planning

Training & coaching

Quality assurance

Health & safety

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Automotive or Mechanical Engineering

Job description

The DRVN Automotive Group are seeking an experienced Build Manager to lead the establishment and operational readiness of the new Boreham Motorworks vehicle assembly facility in the Thruxton area. This role will be central to turning engineering definition into safe, repeatable and high-quality vehicle builds as Boreham Motorworks moves into low-volume production.

Working as part of DRVN Automotive Group and closely with the Boreham Motorworks programme, the successful candidate will help shape the facility, define assembly processes and standards, oversee vehicle build delivery, and personally undertake hands‑on training in the assembly of Boreham Motorworks vehicles. They will use this detailed product and process knowledge to establish the Thruxton build operation and then train, coach and develop the technicians responsible for assembling Boreham Motorworks vehicles. Working closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, Programme Management and suppliers, this is a highly hands‑on leadership role requiring both production discipline and the flexibility to operate within a specialist automotive environment.

Overview of the Role

• Holidays: 33 days includes Bank Holidays
• Salary Sacrifice Pension
• Employee Referral Scheme

Company Overview

DRVN Automotive Group is a specialist automotive group focused on the design, engineering, manufacture and delivery of distinctive performance and luxury vehicle programmes. Within the Group, Boreham Motorworks is the high-performance road, race and rally brand operating through an official licence agreement with Ford Motor Company to develop and manufacture a series of historically significant Ford performance icons.

Boreham Motorworks identity is rooted in Ford ’ s historic Boreham competition lineage. Current programmes include the Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition, Ford Escort Mk1 RS and Ford RS200, combining authentic heritage with OEM-level engineering, modern development methods and specialist low‑volume craftsmanship.

As DRVN Automotive Group establishes the Boreham Motorworks manufacturing capability in the Thruxton area, this role offers a rare opportunity to help shape the facility, assembly processes, training standards and production culture from the outset, while contributing directly to the growth of one of the Group ’ s most exciting vehicle programmes.

Key Responsibilities

Facility Planning & Manufacturing Readiness

• Lead the operational planning and readiness of the new Boreham Motorworks vehicle assembly facility in the Thruxton area.
• Work with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations to define facility layout, vehicle flow, workstations, storage, tooling, equipment, utilities and quality‑control points.
• Support the specification, procurement, installation, commissioning and validation of production equipment, tools, fixtures and assembly aids.
• Develop facility and production‑readiness plans, identifying risks, dependencies and actions required to support programme launch dates.
• Ensure the facility supports safe, efficient and repeatable low‑volume vehicle assembly while retaining the flexibility required for specialist vehicle programmes.
• Support the implementation of suitable visual management, 5S, material presentation and workplace organisation standards.

Vehicle Build Management

• Take day‑to‑day leadership of prototype, pre‑production and production vehicle builds within the Boreham Motorworks facility.
• Translate engineering definition into practical build sequences, standard operations and clear technician instructions.
• Plan vehicle build activity, manpower, workstation readiness, tooling and material requirements in line with programme priorities.
• Ensure vehicles are assembled to the required standards for quality, safety, craftsmanship, timing and technical conformity.
• Maintain a visible, hands‑on presence within the build environment and support the team directly when complex assembly concerns arise.
• Coordinate the identification, escalation and resolution of build issues with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality and Supply Chain.
• Capture build concerns, lessons learned and improvement opportunities and ensure they are fed back into future builds and production processes.
• Support engineering changes and ensure revised requirements are understood and correctly implemented within the build process.

Boreham Vehicle Assembly Training

• Personally undertake structured, hands‑on training in the complete assembly of Boreham Motorworks vehicles before assuming full responsibility for production build leadership.
• Develop detailed knowledge of vehicle build sequence, assembly methods, tooling, torque requirements, bonding, fit and finish, quality standards and critical build characteristics.
• Work alongside Engineering, development‑build and manufacturing teams to understand the vehicle from prototype and development builds through to production assembly.
• Translate this learning into robust build processes, standard operations, work instructions and technician training materials for the Thruxton operation.
• Maintain sufficient hands‑on assembly knowledge to support early production builds, coach technicians directly, resolve build concerns and continuously improve assembly methods.
• Support the recruitment, onboarding and development of vehicle build technicians as the new operation grows.
• Develop structured training plans, skills matrices and competency requirements for vehicle assembly activities.
• Train, coach and assess technicians in the correct assembly of Boreham Motorworks vehicles, passing on the build knowledge and standards gained through the manager ’ s own hands‑on vehicle assembly training.
• Establish best‑practice methods for fastening, torque control, bonding, fit and finish, component handling, inspection and rework.
• Mentor the build team through early programme builds and support the transition from prototype‑style activity into controlled repeatable production.
• Create a positive, accountable and quality‑focused production culture with strong communication and clear ownership at all levels.

Process, Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Work with Manufacturing Engineering to develop and maintain work instructions, process sheets, build standards and assembly documentation.
• Support PFMEA, Control Plan, quality‑gate and manufacturing risk‑assessment activities where applicable.
• Work closely with Quality to ensure appropriate in‑process inspection, traceability and end‑of‑line quality controls are established.
• Lead or support structured problem‑solving, root‑cause investigation and corrective‑action activity for build and production concerns.
• Monitor build performance and identify opportunities to reduce rework, improve build time, increase right‑first‑time quality and improve consistency.
• Ensure tooling, calibrated equipment and production aids are controlled and maintained to support repeatable vehicle assembly.
• Apply lessons learned across programmes and continuously improve facility, process and team capability.
• Act as the key build and assembly interface between Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement and Programme Management.
• Participate in design reviews, build reviews and production‑readiness reviews to ensure manufacturing requirements are considered early.
• Work with Supply Chain and Procurement to ensure parts, consumables, tooling and equipment are available to support planned builds.
• Provide clear visibility of facility readiness, vehicle build status, risks, issues and recovery actions to programme and senior stakeholders.
• Support supplier visits, tooling reviews and component trials where required to protect vehicle build readiness.
• Drive delivery against programme quality, cost, timing, safety and vehicle build objectives.

Health, Safety & Workplace Standards

• Promote and maintain a safe working environment across all vehicle build and assembly activities.
• Support risk assessments, safe systems of work and appropriate controls for assembly equipment, tooling and production processes.
• Ensure technicians are trained and competent to use relevant tools, equipment and processes safely.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping, workplace organisation and professional presentation within the facility.

Key Performance Indicators

• Facility and production readiness achieved in line with programme milestones.
• Vehicle build plan adherence and on‑time completion.
• Right‑first‑time build quality, defect levels and rework reduction.
• Build Manager vehicle‑assembly training completion and technician competency against agreed skills matrices.
• Timely closure of vehicle build concerns and corrective actions.
• Health, safety, workplace organisation and process‑compliance performance.
• Significant experience within automotive vehicle manufacturing, vehicle build or assembly operations, typically 8+ years depending on depth of experience.
• Proven experience leading technicians, production teams or specialist vehicle build teams within a hands‑on manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting vehicle programmes from prototype or pre‑production through launch and controlled production.
• Strong practical understanding of complete vehicle assembly processes, build sequencing, tooling, fastening, torque control, fit and finish and production quality.
• Experience developing assembly standards, work instructions and repeatable manufacturing processes.
• Strong understanding of vehicle build problem‑solving and the ability to work cross‑functionally with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering and Supply Chain.
• Experience planning resources, workloads and build activities against programme timing requirements.
• Confident people leader with the ability to train, coach and develop technicians with different levels of experience.
• Strong communication, organisation and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Practical, calm and solutions‑focused approach, comfortable working in a fast‑moving specialist automotive environment.
• Experience establishing, commissioning or launching a new vehicle assembly facility, production area or manufacturing line.
• Background within low‑volume, performance, luxury, motorsport, coachbuilt or specialist vehicle manufacturing.
• Experience building or launching complete vehicles across multiple systems including chassis, powertrain, electrical, interior and exterior assemblies.
• Knowledge of PFMEA, Control Plans, structured problem‑solving and production quality systems.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, 5S and continuous‑improvement methods.
• Experience supporting new‑product introduction, production ramp‑up and engineering‑change implementation.
• Experience working with heritage‑inspired, continuation or high‑performance vehicle programmes would be advantageous.

Qualifications

• Degree, HNC/HND, apprenticeship or equivalent professional experience in Automotive, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Relevant leadership, manufacturing, quality or health and safety qualifications would be advantageous.

Right to Work

Please note that this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Right‑to‑work checks will be carried out in accordance with Home Office requirements.

Equality & Inclusion Statement

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.