Design Office Manager

• In person office based at our state-of-the-art Design Hub at Boundary Park Deeside
• Travel between our manufacturing sites will be required.
• 33 days holiday per year.

We are looking to recruit a motivated enthusiastic and experienced individual to join our Design team as our Design Office Manager.

This is a key leadership role with full responsibility for managing, developing and motivating our Design Team, comprising Graduate Designers, Designers and Senior Designers.

You will be accountable for the day-to-day management and effective operation of the Design Office ensuring the team delivers robust, innovative and high-quality engineering designs that meet customer expectations, project requirements and all relevant company and legislative standards.

This is an exciting and varied opportunity to have a significant influence on the design function and the wider business with involvement across all areas of product design, tooling, jigs and fixtures.

• To effectively lead, manage, coach and motivate the entire Design Team including Graduate Designers, Designers and Senior Designers, ensuring the team consistently delivers to agreed objectives and expectations.
• Drive a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement, developing the capabilities of the team whilst ensuring best practice is consistently applied across all design activities.
• Establish and manage against clear objectives, responsibilities and performance expectations for all team members, supporting individual development and progression.
• Identify skills gaps and training requirements, developing the team's technical capabilities and succession planning.
• Encourage a positive, collaborative and accountable working environment, promoting knowledge sharing and effective communication across all levels of the team.
• Effectively manage workloads and competing priorities, ensuring resources are allocated appropriately to meet business and project demands.

• Take ownership of the day-to-day operation and management of the Design Office, ensuring effective processes, procedures and working practices are maintained.
• Oversee the planning, coordination and delivery of all design activities, ensuring projects are appropriately resourced and delivered to agreed timescales.
• Monitor team performance through relevant KPIs and performance metrics, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and overall output.
• Prepare and present design performance updates, project progress, resource requirements and KPI information to senior management and company directors.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration between the Design Team, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, Purchasing and other relevant departments.
• Identify and implement improvements to design office processes, systems and procedures to enhance productivity and overall business performance.

• Ensure robust, innovative and high-quality engineering designs are produced using best practice and comply with customer requirements, company standards and relevant legislation.
• Oversee the design process from initial concept through to detailed design, validation and production implementation.
• Ensure all designs are appropriately reviewed and validated before release.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to the team, supporting the resolution of complex engineering, operational, customer and quality issues.
• Take overall responsibility for design project delivery, proactively managing and escalating risks, issues and delays.
• Lead effective design reviews, encouraging constructive challenge to achieve optimal engineering solutions.
• Dri…