Workshop & Production Manager / Workshop Manager - Bespoke Kitchens and Fitted Furniture

A well-established specialist manufacturer of bespoke kitchens, fitted furniture and architectural millwork, based in Essendine, Rutland (near Stamford), is looking for a Workshop & Production Manager to run its cabinet making workshop. Producing furniture-grade cabinetry of the highest quality, their projects span high-end residential properties across the UK, USA and internationally. This is a permanent, hands-on management role for an experienced Cabinet Maker, Cabinetmaker or Bench Joiner who already runs, or is ready to run, a production workshop. Around 70% of your time is spent in the workshop and on the tools, leading by example at the bench, with around 30% protected office time for production planning, scheduling and reporting. You will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer and own the production schedule from drawing release through to dispatch. Key responsibilities - Plan, organise and supervise day-to-day workshop activity, allocating work to Cabinet Makers and Workshop Operatives - Own the production schedule, sequencing work around installation dates, material lead times and drawing release - Provide the COO with a weekly production update covering progress, upcoming workload, capacity, risks and issues - Check every job is ready (drawings, materials, hardware and subcontract items) before it enters production - Manufacture bespoke kitchens, fitted furniture and architectural millwork to approved technical drawings - Work closely with the Technical Design Team, raising technical queries and feeding back on buildability - Coordinate materials with procurement and support the installation teams with checked, dispatch-ready work - Supervise, support and mentor the cabinet making team, planning labour around holidays, absence and peaks in workload - Carry out quality inspections during manufacture and before dispatch, driving down rework - Maintain Health and Safety standards, machinery, equipment and workshop housekeeping - Keep timesheet, holiday and absence records and order workshop consumables within budget What we are looking for - Significant experience in bespoke cabinetry, cabinet making, furniture manufacturing or architectural millwork - Proven experience managing or supervising a cabinet making or joinery workshop team - Experience planning, scheduling or coordinating production to deadlines - Excellent understanding of cabinet construction methods and manufacturing processes - Ability to interpret detailed technical and production drawings - Strong knowledge of workshop machinery, equipment and manufacturing techniques - Competent with spreadsheets, scheduling tools and project management systems - Strong written and verbal communication, and a proactive approach to flagging problems early - Experience of high-end residential kitchens and fitted interiors (desirable) - Knowledge of veneered and solid timber construction (desirable) What is on offer - £40,000 to £45,000 per annum depending on experience - Permanent, full-time position reporting to the Chief Operating Officer - A genuine management role with real influence over workshop culture, quality and productivity - Varied, technically challenging cabinetry and joinery projects at the premium end of the market - The opportunity to help shape a growing business If you are a Workshop Manager, Production Manager, Workshop Foreman, Workshop Supervisor or Senior Cabinet Maker in Stamford, Rutland, Oakham, Peterborough, Bourne, Spalding, Grantham or Corby with a bespoke kitchen, fitted furniture or fine joinery background, we would love to hear from you. To apply or find out more, contact The Talent Branch on 07792 797476 or carlos@thetalentbranch.com.