Engineering Manager

About Us

FirstGroup plc is a leading provider of transport services in the UK and Ireland, and a member of the FTSE 250. Our 30,000 colleagues work across the UK to provide easy and convenient mobility, improving quality of life by connecting people and communities.
 

Position: Engineering Manager

Location: Rochdale Depot, 4 Corporation Road OL11 4EU

Salary: £55,000 DOE

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Engineering Manager to lead our engineering team at our busy Rochdale Depot and oversee the day-to-day operations of our workshop and depot infrastructure. This is a critical leadership role within our organisation, responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective engineering operations in line with regulatory and company standards. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering operational excellence, maintaining fleet availability, and driving continuous improvement across the engineering function.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and support a team of skilled engineering professionals
• Oversee the effective running of the depot and engineering workshop
• Ensure full compliance with Health, Safety, Environmental, and Engineering policies and legislation
• Monitor and control departmental budgets and costs
• Drive performance to minimise vehicle downtime and lost mileage
• Conduct staff training, performance reviews, and development planning
• Ensure compliance with statutory vehicle maintenance requirements and quality standards
• Maintain strong communication with senior management and cross-functional teams
• Develop and implement engineering processes and continuous improvement initiatives
• Manage subcontracted engineering work and contractor performance
• Uphold a positive and proactive safety culture across the team

Candidate Requirements

• Proven experience in an engineering management or supervisory role
• NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent qualification) in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Strong knowledge of vehicle maintenance legislation (VOSA, MOT, safety inspections, etc.)
• Demonstrable leadership and team development skills
• Competent in the use of relevant IT systems including SAP and MS Office
• Working knowledge of safe systems of work, risk assessments, and engineering standards
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• Ability to work flexibly to meet operational needs
• A full PCV license and/or forklift truck license (or willingness to obtain one) is desirable

Key Performance Indicators

Performance in this role will be measured against a range of criteria, including:

• Fleet availability and spare fleet targets
• Engineering cost control (labour and materials)
• Health, safety, and environmental compliance
• Workshop efficiency and productivity
• MOT first-time pass rates and VOSA audit outcomes
• Repeat defect reduction
• Team development and attendance management
• Stock control and depot utilities management

Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process and to comply with UK employment requirements, we ask all applicants to confirm their right to work in the UK.

Equal Opportunities

We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer because we believe that diversity brings benefits for our customers, communities and our people. Valuing our differences and drawing on our collective knowledge and experience helps us develop new services, open up new markets and broaden our customer base. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome everyone regardless of social background, gender or gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership status, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, sex or age.