Service Manager (Forklifts / Material Handling)

Interaction Recruitment; Red Lodge; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Bonus potential

Pension scheme

Career progression

Leadership training

Job summary

Interaction Technical is partnering with a well-established materials handling business to recruit an experienced Service Manager for their Bury St Edmunds operation. You’ll lead a team of Mobile and Workshop Engineers, driving service profitability while maintaining high customer service levels.

The role offers a competitive salary, a company vehicle or car allowance, and an annual bonus. Ongoing management and leadership training supports long-term career progression.

Qualifications

• Experience managing engineering or service teams in a technical environment.
• Strong service operations and customer support understanding.
• Experience with forklifts, material handling, plant or related sectors.
• Excellent people management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Mobile and Workshop Forklift Engineers.
• Plan workloads, service schedules and breakdown responses.
• Monitor service KPIs and align with business goals.
• Support engineers with technical queries and escalation issues.
• Ensure workshop operations are efficient and productive.
• Maintain strong customer relationships and handle service enquiries.
• Drive service revenue growth and identify improvement opportunities.
• Ensure health and safety compliance and company standards.
• Conduct performance reviews and staff development.

Skills

Team leadership

People management

Communication skills

Workload planning

KPI management

Tools

Health and safety knowledge

Job description

Service Manager (Forklifts / Material Handling)

Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (Applications welcome from Ipswich, Newmarket, Thetford, Stowmarket, Diss, Haverhill, Sudbury and surrounding areas)

Salary: £47 - £50 per annum

Benefits: Company Vehicle | Bonus Potential | Pension Scheme | Career Progression

Hours: Monday-Friday, Days

Contract: Permanent

Join a Leading Material Handling Specialist

Interaction Technical is partnering with a well-established and growing materials handling business to recruit an experienced Service Manager for their Bury St Edmunds operation.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated manager with experience within the forklift, plant, material handling, construction equipment, or commercial vehicle sectors to take ownership of a busy service department.

You’ll be responsible for leading a team of both Mobile Service Engineers and Workshop Engineers, ensuring high levels of customer service, engineering performance, workshop productivity, and service profitability.

If you’re currently working as a Service Manager, Workshop Manager, Engineering Supervisor, Aftersales Manager, Service Supervisor, or Team Leader looking for the next step in your career, we’d love to hear from you.

What’s on Offer?

• Competitive salary of £47 - £50 per annum
• Monday-Friday days role with excellent work-life balance
• Company vehicle or car allowance
• Annual performance-related bonus scheme
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Contributory pension scheme
• Ongoing management and leadership training
• Long-term career progression opportunities
• Stable and growing business with strong market presence
• Supportive senior leadership team

The Role

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and manage a team of Mobile and Workshop Forklift Engineers
• Plan and coordinate engineer workloads, service schedules, and breakdown response activities
• Monitor service performance against KPIs and business objectives
• Support engineers with technical queries and escalation issues
• Ensure workshop operations run efficiently and productively
• Maintain strong customer relationships and handle service-related enquiries
• Drive service revenue growth and identify opportunities for improvement
• Ensure compliance with health and safety procedures and company standards
• Conduct performance reviews, training plans, and staff development activities
• Work closely with parts, sales, and senior management teams to support overall business performance

Leadership & Career Development

Our client is committed to investing in its management team and offers ongoing professional development opportunities including:

• Leadership and management training
• Operational and commercial development programmes
• Health & Safety qualifications
• Technical product training
• Senior management progression opportunities
• Regional leadership development pathways

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a business where strong managers are recognised, supported, and rewarded.

About You

We’re looking for an experienced service professional with strong leadership skills and a background managing engineers within a technical environment.

Suitable Backgrounds Include

• Service Manager
• Workshop Manager
• Engineering Supervisor
• Aftersales Manager
• Field Service Supervisor
• Service Team Leader
• Operations Manager
• Forklift Service Manager
• Plant Service Manager
• Commercial Vehicle Workshop Manager

Essential Requirements

• Previous experience managing engineering or service teams
• Strong understanding of service operations and customer support
• Experience within forklifts, material handling, plant, construction equipment, agricultural machinery, commercial vehicles, or related sectors
• Excellent people management and communication skills
• Ability to organise workloads and maximise engineer productivity
• Commercial awareness and KPI management experience
• Full UK Driving Licence