Technical Operations & Safety Manager

Imperial Enterprise; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

43 days' annual leave

Generous pension schemes

Flexible working policy from day one

On-site leisure facilities

Cycle-to-work scheme

Job summary

Imperial College London’s Dyson School of Design Engineering seeks a Technical Operations and Safety Manager to lead the Prototyping and Manufacturing Workshop, ensuring safe, efficient and innovative operations for students, researchers and staff.

You will manage a multidisciplinary technical team, oversee budgets and procurement, and develop a long-term facilities roadmap while upholding strict safety standards across the department.

Qualifications

• A relevant technical, engineering, safety or management qualification, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience of multidisciplinary engineering, manufacturing, design and prototyping environments.
• Strong practical knowledge of workshop machinery, CNC equipment and additive manufacturing technologies.
• Experience managing facilities, technical projects, budgets and operational resources.
• Proven success leading and developing multidisciplinary technical teams.
• A thorough understanding of health and safety regulations and their application within workshop or laboratory environments.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset and a passion for supporting education, research and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Leading the day-to-day operation of the Prototyping and Manufacturing Workshop and technical services.
• Managing, developing and supporting a team of technical staff to deliver a high-quality service.
• Overseeing workshop budgets, procurement activities and resource allocation.
• Developing a strategic roadmap for workshop facilities and identifying future investments.
• Coordinating technical support across taught programmes, research and consultancy projects.
• Ensuring workshop procedures, training records, risk assessments and compliance documentation are maintained.
• Acting as Departmental Safety Officer and implementing health and safety policies.
• Managing safety systems, audits, incidents and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Delivering health and safety training and promoting safe working practices.
• Collaborating with Imperial colleagues and external suppliers/partners.

Skills

Workshop leadership

Project management

Safety management

Team leadership

Stakeholder communication

Education

Technical/engineering/safety/management qualification

Tools

CNC equipment

Additive manufacturing

CAD/CAM

Job description

About the role

Join Imperial College London's Dyson School of Design Engineering as our Technical Operations and Safety Manager, leading the safe, effective and forward-looking operation of our multidisciplinary prototyping and manufacturing workshop facilities at South Kensington. This senior technical management role combines engineering workshop leadership, health and safety management, facilities development and technical team management, supporting innovative teaching, research and student project activity. You will manage a team of technical specialists, oversee manual and other machining, additive manufacturing, CAD/CAM-enabled production and wider design-and-manufacturing processes, while acting as Departmental Safety Officer. You will lead risk assessment, COSHH, training, equipment compliance, workshop access, incident reporting and continuous improvement, and help shape the department's long-term technical facilities strategy.

What you would be doing

• Leading the day-to-day operation of the School's Prototyping and Manufacturing Workshop and wider technical services.
• Managing, developing and supporting a team of technical staff to deliver an outstanding service to students, researchers and staff.
• Overseeing workshop budgets, procurement activities and resource allocation.
• Developing a strategic roadmap for workshop facilities, identifying future investment opportunities and emerging capability needs.
• Coordinating technical support across taught programmes, research activities and consultancy projects.
• Ensuring workshop procedures, training records, risk assessments and compliance documentation are effectively maintained.
• Acting as Departmental Safety Officer and leading the implementation of health and safety policies across the School.
• Managing safety systems, audits, inspections, incident reporting and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Delivering health and safety training and promoting a strong culture of safe working practices.
• Collaborating with academic, technical and professional services colleagues across Imperial and with external suppliers, contractors and partners.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a confident technical leader with substantial experience managing engineering workshops, laboratories or technical facilities, alongside a strong commitment to operational excellence and safety.

You should bring:

• A relevant technical, engineering, safety or management qualification, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience of multidisciplinary engineering, manufacturing, design and prototyping environments.
• Strong practical knowledge of workshop machinery, CNC equipment and additive manufacturing technologies.
• Experience managing facilities, technical projects, budgets and operational resources.
• Proven success leading and developing multidisciplinary technical teams.
• A thorough understanding of health and safety regulations and their application within workshop or laboratory environments.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset and a passion for supporting education, research and innovation.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to lead and shape technical services within one of the world's leading universities.
• A highly varied role combining technical leadership, operational management and strategic development.
• The chance to work alongside leading academics, researchers, technical specialists and students.
• Access to advanced manufacturing, prototyping and design facilities.
• A collaborative and inclusive working environment committed to excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Ongoing opportunities for professional development and skills enhancement.
• A role with significant impact on the student experience, research capability and future growth of the School.

Imperial-wide benefits:

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to use science for humanity.
• Benefit from a sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 43 days' annual leave and generous pension schemes).
• Access to a range of workplace benefits including a flexible working policy from day one, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Interest-free season ticket loan schemes for travel.
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

This is a full-time, open-ended position based predominantly on Imperial's South Kensington campus and associated Design Engineering facilities. Due to the operational requirements of the role, it is not eligible for hybrid working. The post-holder is expected to support teaching activities throughout the academic year and should not normally take annual leave during teaching terms.

Imperial is committed to creating an inclusive culture that values and celebrates diversity. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and are proud of our values of Respect, Collaboration, Excellence, Integrity and Innovation.

If you have any questions about this role, please contact Dr Natalia Goehring via [e-mail].

Planned start date: January 2027 and onwards