Head of Countrystyle Workshops

Job Title: Head of Countrystyle Workshops

Location: Ridham Dock Road, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8SR (Ridham & Group Sites)

Salary: Competitive

Job Type: Permanent, Full time

Working Hours: Monday to Friday - 50 hours per week, flexibility required

About Us:

Countrystyle is a member of the family-owned Heathcote Holdings Group of resource management companies and as a family run business our people and customers are at the heart of our growth and drive for passion for solution focused service.

About the role:

To provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across all Countrystyle workshop facilities, ensuring fleet assets are maintained to the highest standards of safety, compliance, cost-efficiency, and operational readiness. Acting as the senior authority for all workshop operations across the group, this role drives performance, compliance, continuous improvement, and the development of a high-performing engineering culture across multiple sites.

Responsibilities:

Set and own the strategic direction for all Countrystyle workshop operations across all sites.
Act as the group's senior authority on fleet engineering, compliance, and workshop governance.
Develop and implement workshop policies, standards, and operating procedures across the group.
Report directly to the Operations Director / CEO on workshop KPIs, risk, and performance.
Lead, inspire, and develop Workshop Managers and senior technicians across all sites.
Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, safety, and engineering excellence.
Drive standardisation of processes, systems, and reporting across all workshop sites.
Ensure 100% Planned Event Maintenance (PEM) compliance across all sites and vehicle types.
Ensure full adherence to DVSA requirements, Operator Licence undertakings, manufacturer standards, and company policy.
Oversee MOT preparation and presentation performance, targeting consistently high first-time pass rates.
Ensure no vehicle exceeds statutory inspection intervals or maintenance frequencies.
Ensure all maintenance documentation is accurate, auditable, and completed within required timescales across all sites.
Monitor and drive defect management processes, prioritising safety-critical defects and eliminating backlog growth.
Conduct and oversee regular compliance audits across all workshop sites.
Prepare the business for DVSA audits and maintain audit-ready standards at all times.
Oversee workshop operations across all Countrystyle sites.
Drive productivity, throughput and vehicle availability KPIs.
Ensure effective communication between transport and workshop teams.
Manage VOR risks, repeat defects and corrective actions.
Maintain workshop systems and digital reporting tools.
Identify and mitigate operational risks.
Manage external repair providers, suppliers and specialist contractors.
Directly line-manage Workshop Managers across all Countrystyle sites.
Conduct regular performance reviews, one-to-ones, and development planning for direct reports.
Manage conduct, capability, attendance, and training across the workshop function.
Manage agency and contract labour requirements across the group.
Champion a safety-first culture throughout all workshop teams.
Own and manage workshop budgets across all Countrystyle sites.
Control labour costs, overtime, and agency spend.
Monitor and manage external repair expenditure and supplier cost performance.
Control parts usage, stock levels, and procurement across all sites.
Reduce avoidable repair spend through improved preventative maintenance strategies.
Provide accurate financial forecasting and variance reporting to senior leadership.
Ensure all workshop operations comply fully with current health and safety legislation.
Maintain and enforce safe systems of work across all sites.
Ensure LOLER, PUWER, and all workshop equipment inspections remain fully compliant.
Maintain excellent housekeeping and environmental standards across all sites.
Investigate accidents, incidents, and near misses; implement corrective actions.
Ensure all risk assessments and method statements are current and fit for purpose.
Liaise with HSE and other regulatory bodies as required.About you:

Essential:

Exceptional leadership and people management at senior level
Multi-site operational management capability
Strategic thinking with a hands-on operational approach
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis capability
High attention to detail and process orientation
Extensive experience managing multi-site HGV/LGV workshop operations
Proven track record managing Workshop Managers and senior technicians
Deep knowledge of fleet compliance, DVSA requirements, and O-Licence
Demonstrated experience owning and managing workshop budgets
Experience driving compliance, audits, and continuous improvement
Experience managing health, safety, and environmental standardsDesirable:

Compliance and regulatory mindset
Strong commercial and financial acumen
Ability to influence at board/director level
Data-driven decision making
Change management and continuous improvement
Experience operating at director or senior operations management level
Experience managing large fleet engineering budgets (£1m+)
Experience with digital fleet management and workshop systems
Experience managing third-party supplier and contractor relationships
Background in a waste, logistics, or transport-sector businessBenefits:

Car Allowance
Life Insurance with access to GP24
Commitment to wellbeing through Employee Assistance Programme
Electric Car salary sacrifice scheme for eligible employees
Cycle to work scheme
Company Events
GymFlex salary sacrificePlease click the APPLY button to submit your CV for this role.

Candidates with experience or relevant job titles of; Workshop Operations Manager, Multisite Operations Manager, Head of Workshops, HGV Workshop Operations Manager, LGV Workshop Operations Manager may also be considered for this role

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