Made a supervisor, then left to get on with it?
It happens a lot. Someone gets handed a team, told to crack on, and is still expected to hit the same numbers they did on the tools. We see supervision differently. At Sherwoods it's a role in its own right, with development and support behind it rather than a title bolted onto a full workload. You'll report into a Head of Department who's there to back you, and we invest in supervisor and leadership development as our supervisors grow into the role. We also pay all our field staff for door-to-door travel, so you're paid for every hour you put in.
What you'll be doing.
This is a hands-on role first and foremost — you'll spend the majority of your time on the tools, delivering building fabric works across the South West to the standard your team should be aiming for. Alongside that, you'll lead a team of 4–10 field engineers: running regular 1-2-1s and performance plans, keeping an eye on KPIs and recoverable hours, and supporting your engineers technically and personally when they need it. Your team may be stretched across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, so some of your supervisor responsibilities may need to be carried out remotely, rather than face to face. With that in mind, a home location near Exeter would be ideal.
You'll estimate works with full scope and materials before they go to the client, carry out site audits and surveys, deliver toolbox talks and QHSE reviews, and make sure the out-of-hours rota is covered. You'll also be the link to your clients, keeping works booked in, access sorted, and progress clear.
As a reactive maintenance business, no two weeks look the same. We'll give you a van, a fuel card, and industry-leading software to keep your team's workload under control. With overtime and on-call included, earnings can reach up to £48,000.
What you'll need.
You'll be a time-served carpenter and an experienced multi-skilled fabric engineer, with a track record of supervising a remote, field-based team. You'll know the facilities maintenance sector, be confident compiling specifications and workflows, and have the managerial courage to have the honest conversations that come with leading people.
Just as importantly, you'll be someone who stays calm under pressure, takes the initiative, and gets on with all kinds of people. NVQ Level 2 or 3 Carpentry, IOSH, and project management experience are all welcome but not essential. You'll need GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4 or equivalent, a full UK driving licence, and because some of our sectors involve close contact with vulnerable or young people, you'll be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
If you care about such things, you might like to know that Sherwoods is a family-owned company that cares about its people and their progression. We've operated since 1974 and built a strong presence in the South West. Our team has more than doubled since 2019, growing from 60 to 130.
What do you need to do next?
For an informal chat, please click apply. Don't worry if your CV isn't up to date. Just send us what you have, and we can deal with that later. Everyone will get a response.
Salary
(Apply online only) GBP (yearly)
Salary description
£37960.00 - £39520.00 per year