Service Manager

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Service Manager - High-Growth Engineering & Manufacturing Business

Location: Harlow
Salary: £60,000 - £65,000 + Bonus + Car + Benefits
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30-4:30 (flex required)
Start Date: ASAP

A fast-scaling engineering and manufacturing organisation with 25+ years' heritage is seeking an experienced Service Manager to take full ownership of its service, contracts, and field operations functions. The business has grown 18-20% year-on-year and is tracking toward £9m+ turnover, with continued investment planned for 2025 and beyond.

This is a pivotal, hands-on leadership role that blends operational strategy with real-world delivery. You'll be a key driver in shaping internal processes, uplifting service capability, and ensuring sustainable growth across a broad operational footprint.

What's in it for you

• £60,000 - £65,000 base salary
• Bonus scheme (GBS)
• Company car
• £90 monthly lunch allowance
• 20 days holiday + 8 bank holidays
• Free onsite parking
• Pension (auto-enrolment)
• Ad hoc weekend phone support only
• Additional training opportunities

The Opportunity

As the Service Manager, you'll lead the operational heartbeat of the business, covering service delivery, projects and contracts.

You'll be responsible for:
Project & Service Delivery

• Managing ventilation installation projects (£50k-£200k) - approx. 2-3 per month.
• Overseeing high volumes of remedial works and smaller technical jobs completed internally.
• Ensuring first-time-fix rates, van stock optimisation, spare parts availability and site readiness.
• Getting hands-on at customer sites where required - supporting engineers to close out works.
• Managing day-to-day service contracts, including some out-of-hours escalation coverage.

Operational Leadership & Process

• Creating a scalable, best-in-class operational framework across service and projects.
• Implementing systems for project monitoring and post-order process ownership.
• Building SOPs, ensuring compliance and embedding continuous improvement methodologies.
• Driving efficiencies in NCR handling, issue resolution and service recovery.
• Reinforcing performance culture using KPIs, structured coaching, and clear accountability.

Financial & Commercial Oversight

• Budget management, forecasting and profitability uplift.
• Supporting commercial teams with quoting, remedials, variations, and client planning.
• Managing subcontractors - reviews, development, site inspections, motivation and performance.

People Leadership

• Building and mentoring a young, growing team (including new starters and apprentices).
• Creating a positive, low-ego, high-output environment where people thrive.
• Setting the tone on communication, engagement, ownership and problem-solving.

About You

You'll bring a balanced blend of operational gravitas and hands-on delivery capability. You'll be naturally solutions-focused, calm under pressure, and able to operate in the detail while maintaining strategic oversight.
Experience & Capability

• Proven success in service, contracts or operational leadership within engineering, manufacturing or technical project environments.
• Strong project management capability with an ability to jump into complex jobs as needed.
• Commercially astute, numerically confident and comfortable with budgets & forecasting.
• Strong IT competency (Microsoft Office & general systems awareness).
• Full UK driving licence; UK travel required.
• Working knowledge of H&S compliance and RAMS.

Your Mindset

• Humble, hungry, smart - low noise, high output.
• Resilient, pragmatic and thrives in a fast-moving environment.
• Able to quickly absorb technical information and turn insight into action.
• Natural coach who sets pace, raises standards and leads from the front.

Team & Culture

You'll report directly to the Operations Director and work alongside a young, ambitious team. The environment is grounded, delivery-focused, and built on collaboration rather than ego. The business is bringing all service, projects and operations functions under one umbrella, offering significant influence and long-term progression - including a route toward Operations Manager.