Service Manager

Kemp Recruitment Ltd; Southampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Job summary

Kemp Recruitment Ltd is seeking an experienced Service Manager to oversee a team of field-based forklift engineers around Southampton. This is a hands-on leadership role combining technical expertise with people management, planning, and customer-facing responsibilities.

You will drive service delivery, allocate workloads, support engineers, and ensure work adheres to safety standards. Strong diagnostic and communication skills are essential to maintain customer relationships and meet targets.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a forklift engineer or mobile plant engineer.
• Previous supervisory or mentoring experience.
• Strong mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical diagnostic skills.
• Confident decision-maker with a calm, professional approach.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Organised, proactive and able to manage priorities effectively.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support, and motivate a team of field service engineers for ensuring engineers deliver high-quality service and repairs, meet performance targets, and operate safely and professionally at all times.
• Plan and allocate daily workloads, breakdowns, and service schedules.
• Act as the first point of escalation for technical and customer issues.
• Provide on-the-job technical support, coaching, and mentoring.
• Ensure all work is completed to company standards and H&S requirements.
• Monitor performance, productivity, and quality of work.
• Liaise with customers to maintain strong working relationships.
• Complete reports, paperwork, and system updates accurately and on time.
• Support training, onboarding, and ongoing development of engineers.

Skills

Forklift/Mobile plant engineering

Supervisory experience

Mechanical diagnostics

Hydraulic diagnostics

Electrical diagnostics

Customer-facing skills

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Service Manager

Location:Souythampton

Salary:£40,000 - £42,000 per annum

Type:Full-time, Permanent

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Service Manager to oversee and support a team of field-based forklift engineers operating in and around the Washington area.This is a hands-on leadership role, combining technical expertise with people management, planning, and customer-facing responsibility.

You will be responsible

• Lead, support, and motivate a team of field service engineers for ensuring engineers deliver high-quality service and repairs, meet performance targets, and operate safely and professionally at all times.
• Plan and allocate daily workloads, breakdowns, and service schedules
• Act as the first point of escalation for technical and customer issues
• Provide on-the-job technical support, coaching, and mentoring
• Ensure all work is completed to company standards and H&S requirements
• Monitor performance, productivity, and quality of work
• Liaise with customers to maintain strong working relationships
• Complete reports, paperwork, and system updates accurately and on time
• Support training, onboarding, and ongoing development of engineers

About You

• Proven experience as a forklift engineer or mobile plant engineer
• Previous supervisory or mentoring experience
• Strong mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical diagnostic skills
• Confident decision-maker with a calm, professional approach
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Organised, proactive, and able to manage priorities effectively

Full UK driving licence

What We Offer

• Competitive salary of£40,000 - £42,000 per year
• Company vehicle
• Stable, full-time permanent role
• Opportunity to progress within a growing business
• Supportive management and a strong engineering team