Engineering Manager

Location: Thornton Heath

Salary: £70,000 per annum

Why Join Us?

This is a great opportunity to make a direct impact on the operational efficiency of the fleet and the services we provide. At Arriva, we value innovation, teamwork, and continuous improvement, offering a supportive environment where your contributions make a real difference. If you’re passionate about engineering, leadership, and transport, we’d love to have you on our team!

Role Purpose

As the Engineering Manager, you will oversee fleet maintenance and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards while meeting key performance indicators (KPIs). Your role will involve managing engineering operations, optimizing fleet reliability, and contributing to continuous improvement strategies. This is a key leadership position where your work will directly impact the operational efficiency and overall success of the company.

Responsibilities

• Engineering Operations : Lead and deliver engineering performance and service targets. Manage fleet maintenance, ensuring reliability, compliance, and safety standards.
• Team Management : Oversee and lead team leaders, engineers, storekeepers, apprentices, and administrative staff. Ensure efficient shift planning, staff scheduling, performance management, and development.
• Financial Management : Manage the engineering P&L, budget, and forecasting. Contribute to business-critical projects and manage the garage budgets to minimize lost mileage.
• Health & Safety : Ensure that the premises meet health, safety, and environmental standards. Conduct safety audits and maintain compliance with O-Licence requirements. Supervise engineers, staff, and contractors with a strong duty of care.
• Compliance & Training : Deliver technical training and ensure audit compliance. Maintain legal and company compliance in all records and audits.
• Continuous Improvement : Promote lean strategies and operational efficiency improvements, reducing waste and improving productivity.
• Customer Focus : Ensure daily vehicle availability meets peak requirements and exceeds statutory standards. Analyze breakdown trends and implement corrective action plans.
• Reporting : Prepare and present operational reports on a daily, weekly, and period-end basis. Ensure timely reporting on key KPIs, fleet performance, and maintenance activities.
• Recruitment & Development : Oversee recruitment, staff development, and training. Manage performance management systems to ensure the team is high-performing and continuously improving.

Requirements

• Strong engineering background, ideally in the bus or HGV sector.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of health, safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to manage engineering operations, budgets, and forecasting.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to drive continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of fleet management, workshop operations, shift planning, and payroll.

Who We Look For

We are looking for dynamic leaders with a strong engineering background, preferably in the bus or HGV sector, who thrive in a fast-paced environment. You should have proven experience leading teams, managing budgets, and ensuring operational efficiency. Excellent communication, organizational skills, and a solid understanding of health and safety and regulatory compliance are key to success in this role.

This job description sets out the main duties and responsibilities of the job-holder. It does not constitute an exhaustive or comprehensive description of duties and the job holder will be required to carry out any additional tasks as and when requested to do so by their manager. Responsibilities and duties may also change in light of future business needs and personal development.