Workshop Manager

James Lewis Recruitment; Perth; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

James Lewis Recruitment seeks a hands-on Workshop Manager for a Perth bus depot with a 102-vehicle fleet. You will manage daily workshop operations, ensuring high safety and presentation standards while leading a diverse engineering team.

You will motivate and develop staff, coordinate maintenance plans, and drive improvements in efficiency and compliance within a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level3 (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering or automotive discipline.
• Strong knowledge of health, safety and regulatory compliance standards.
• Experience supervising or managing a workshop or technical team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the workshop team to deliver safe, reliable and well-presented vehicles.
• Plan and prioritise maintenance, inspections and servicing schedules.
• Coach and develop team members through training and performance support.
• Perform quality checks on completed work to ensure standards.
• Monitor workshop performance and drive improvements.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental legislation and policies.
• Collaborate with depot leadership to maintain fleet availability and efficiency.

Skills

Engineering experience

Mechanical knowledge

Electrical knowledge

Bodywork knowledge

Health & safety

Regulatory compliance

Organisational skills

Decision making

Education

NVQ Level3 in engineering/automotive

Job description

We’re looking for a hands‑on, people-focused Workshop Manager to join a bus depot we are working with in Perth with a fleet of 102 vehicles.

The Role

Working closely with the Engineering Manager, you’ll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the workshop, ensuring vehicles are maintained to the highest safety and presentation standards.

You’ll lead from the front — supporting, motivating and developing a diverse team of engineers while helping create a positive, high-performing working environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading and motivating the workshop team to deliver safe, reliable and well‑presented vehicles
• Planning and prioritising vehicle maintenance, inspections and servicing schedules
• Supporting colleague development through coaching, training and performance support
• Carrying out quality checks on completed maintenance work to ensure standards are consistently met
• Monitoring workshop performance and helping drive operational improvements
• Ensuring compliance with all health, safety and environmental legislation and company policies
• Working collaboratively with depot leadership to maintain fleet availability and operational efficiency

What We’re Looking For

• Previous engineering experience with strong mechanical, electrical and bodywork knowledge
• NVQ Level3 (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering or automotive discipline
• Experience supervising or managing a workshop or technical team
• Good understanding of PCV operations and fleet maintenance environments
• Strong knowledge of health & safety and regulatory compliance standards
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to make confident decisions in a fast‑moving environment