Workshop Equipment Manager (Projects & Maintenance)

Overview

In this role you will shape and deliver a Group-wide strategy for workshop equipment across Lookers and Charles Hurst Motor Group. You will work with Aftersales, Property, Procurement and dealership teams to ensure equipment is compliant, reliable and optimised for workshop throughput. You will lead procurement, OEM partnerships and capital projects to reduce total cost of ownership while upholding safety and quality standards. This is an opportunity to drive continuous improvement and standardisation across a national network, supporting a best-in-class customer experience.

Pay / Benefits

• competitive salaries with progression
• generous annual leave
• enhanced family leave
• eyecare vouchers
• Smart Health GP services
• dental insurance

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a Group-wide workshop equipment strategy aligned to business objectives
• Lead specification, procurement and tendering of workshop equipment across the dealership network
• Drive competitive tender exercises for best value and quality outcomes
• Evaluate and select suppliers based on cost, quality, service and long-term value
• Prepare business cases and CAPEX proposals for equipment investment
• Manage equipment installation, replacement and refurbishment projects
• Coordinate equipment needs for new dealerships, acquisitions, relocations and refurbishments
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget and to quality standards
• Lead management of workshop equipment maintenance contracts
• Develop and implement planned preventative maintenance programmes to maximise uptime
• Monitor supplier performance via KPIs and service reviews
• Develop supplier partnerships delivering service excellence and commercial benefits
• Reduce reactive maintenance through asset management and preventive planning
• Identify and deliver cost savings through procurement and consolidation
• Drive standardisation of equipment and service provision across the network
• Analyse performance and expenditure to identify efficiency opportunities
• Maintain asset lifecycle programmes minimising total cost of ownership
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, OEM requirements and group policies
• Maintain accurate asset registers and insurance valuations
• Prepare and manage annual maintenance and CAPEX budgets
• Report on expenditure, project performance and supplier performance
• Build relationships with dealership leadership, OEM partners and suppliers
• Provide technical guidance to support operational decision-making
• Support broader property and operational strategies

Key requirements

• Significant experience managing workshop equipment or engineering assets in multi-site environments
• Track record of delivering cost savings through procurement and contract negotiation
• Experience leading tendering and competitive procurement processes
• Strong knowledge of workshop equipment (lifts, MOT equipment, wheel alignment, compressors) and related infrastructure
• Experience managing maintenance contracts and supplier performance
• Understanding of health and safety legislation and regulatory requirements
• Strong commercial and financial acumen
• Experience managing capital investment projects from concept to completion
• Excellent analytical, organisational and project management skills
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and asset or maintenance management systems

• communication
• negotiation
• stakeholder management
• workshop equipment knowledge (lifts, MOT equipment, wheel alignment, compressors)
• maintenance management systems
• analytical and reporting skills

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