Workshop Operations Manager

Thales; Emsworth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense technology company in Emsworth is seeking a Workshop Operations Manager to supervise the coordination of workshop activities supporting UK MoD equipment. This role involves ensuring the functionality and availability of military assets through effective management and maintenance. The ideal candidate possesses technical field experience, leadership skills, and a relevant educational background. Flexible work arrangements and opportunities for career development are offered within a supportive environment.

Benefits

Market leading training and development

Flexible working patterns

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven work experience in a technical field (mechanical or electrical).
• Hands-on experience and a good understanding of military equipment.
• Ability to diagnose and troubleshoot basic technical issues.

Responsibilities

• Supervise coordination and planning of IRT Technician activities.
• Coordinate workshop activities including fault diagnosis, repair, and maintenance.
• Certify functionality of equipment after servicing tasks.

Skills

Technical field experience

Team management

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

HNC or equivalent in engineering

MS Office proficiency

Education

HNC or equivalent in an engineering or technology discipline

Tools

JAMES

Oracle Open Asset

Workday

Microsoft Dynamics Navision

Job description

Location: Emsworth United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land sea and air. From early warning to threat neutralisation our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence Optronics and Radar.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us.

Workshop Operations Manager

Thorney Island

About the role

We are looking for a Workshop Operations Manager Lead to provide supervision coordination and planning of IRT Technician activity in support to UK MoD equipment primarily at the Thorney Island facility but also in the field at customer locations.

Workshop Operations Manager responsibilities include coordination of workshop activities which include fault diagnoses repair testing overhaul integration assembly and maintenance of military assets. All of these attributes will assist in achieving equipment availability in accordance with the master schedule set by the customer. Working within a team environment the responsibility for achieving equipment availability and maintaining readiness levels will be the primary focus.

The jobholder will identify and co‑coordinate electro‑mechanical servicing and maintenance tasks to be completed they will then be responsible for certifying the functionality of equipment against relevant support documentation. They will oversee and complete fault diagnoses repair testing overhaul and refurbishment again certifying functionality at the end of each process. The jobholder will be required to appraise line management and customer representatives of their progress and equipment status regularly.

They will also manage capture of data sets for the use and inclusion in reports and applications. All elements of the above could be undertaken at our base location of Thorney Island but also at various customer located sites.

The jobholder will coordinate work using MoD applications such as JAMES. They will also co‑coordinate activities on Thales applications such as Oracle Open Asset and Workday.

Key responsibilities & tasks

• Undertake tasks as directed works without direct supervision.
• Supervise completion of tasks within deadlines as set by line management.
• Communicate task status directly to line management.
• Communicate and explain to customers technical details relating to product and serviceability states.
• Manage recording and capturing of data.
• Direct customer request and issues correctly ensuring correct capture of information for reporting purposes.
• Manage equipment updates on MoD JAMES application.

Problems Faced

• Working in a challenging and varied environment with time sensitive deadlines.
• Must be able to adapt quickly to changing priorities and targets due to changes in program requirements.
• Challenging technical problems some with multiple causes that require a logical and investigative approach.
• By nature of design and location of equipment the jobholder must be able to cope with working in difficult ambient environmental conditions and physical positions.
• Working on a wide range of equipment from complex weapon systems to automotive tracked vehicles to computer generated simulators.
• Using their own initiative and discretion to diagnose faults and subsequently repair hardware.

Skills & Experience

• Proven work experience in a technical field (mechanical or electrical).
• Hands‑on experience and a good understanding of military equipment.
• Ability to diagnose and troubleshoot basic technical issues.
• Ability to work well within a team environment.
• Ability to manage a team in a high‑pressure environment.
• Excellent problem‑solving and communication skills.
• HNC or equivalent in an engineering or technology discipline.
• Full UK driving licence (Cat H desirable but not essential).
• Computer literate proficient in using MS Office applications.

Customer‑Focused

• Excellent communication skills and an ability to work co‑operatively with others.
• Ability to work as a team player.
• Flexible and adaptable to fast‑paced changing environments.
• Self‑motivated and proactive.
• Expected to work overtime as required often at short notice.

What We Can Offer

We’re committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people and to achieve this we offer market leading training development and experiences along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse global organisation.

Flexibility

Your health and well‑being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

Security Clearance

This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held however if not currently held it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo achieve and maintain SC Clearance. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 sometimes circumstances a minimum of 3 years residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted with additional overseas checks.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency – United Kingdom Security Vetting – ()

In line with Thales Baseline Security requirements candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity eligibility to work in the UK and employment and / or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro‑diverse applicants or those with a disability or long‑term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles or the Early Careers Teamfor graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here apply now!

Key Skills

• Computer Hardware
• Lean Manufacturing
• APQP
• Quality Assurance
• Data Collection
• ISO 9001
• Microsoft Dynamics Navision
• Landscape Maintenance
• Fabrication
• Precision Measuring Instruments
• Mechanical Engineering
• Process Engineering

Employment Details

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1