Deputy Workshop Manager

Reports to: Workshop Manager · Leads: Junior Technician · Covers WSM when absent

Purpose of the role

The Deputy Workshop Manager supports the Workshop Manager in maintaining the daily efficiency, organisation, and technical standards of the workshop. This role is also a structured stepping stone — building the experience and capability needed to progress into the full Workshop Manager role in the future.

Success in this role looks like

Supporting the Workshop Manager to maintain 120% workshop efficiency
Technicians consistently not running out of work during the day
Providing timely and effective technical support to the team
Confidently stepping up and running the workshop when the WSM is absent
Maintaining a clean, organised and professional workshop environment

Workshop workflow support

Assist with monitoring the workshop schedule throughout the day
Help ensure technicians do not run out of work at any point
Support preparation of the next day's schedule alongside the Workshop Manager
Help minimise lost time between jobs

Technician support and leadership

Provide technical assistance to technicians when required
Support technicians with diagnostics and problem solving
Directly lead and develop the junior technician reporting into this role
Support technicians in completing safety inspections efficiently

When covering the Workshop Manager

Take full responsibility for workshop workflow, scheduling and team direction
Ensure the Perfect Day SOP is followed for next day preparation
Maintain all workshop standards and quality expectations in the WSM's absence
Personal productivity adjusts to 6 hours labour sold per day when covering

Three-job rule

At all times, each technician should have three jobs prepared ahead to eliminate downtime — their current job, the next job ready to start immediately, and a third job prepared in case work finishes early.

2pm check

Assist the Workshop Manager in reviewing the remaining work scheduled for the day. Help identify any adjustments needed to maintain productivity through to end of day.

5pm preparation

Support the Workshop Manager in finalising the next day's schedule according to the Fergies Perfect Day SOP — ensuring jobs are in the correct order, technicians are assigned appropriate work, and vehicles and parts are confirmed ready so technicians can start immediately the following morning.

Key performance targets

Workshop efficiency

Supporting the target

120%

Safety inspection time

Per inspection

40 minutes

Workflow

Technician downtime

Zero run-outs

Personal productivity

Standard rate

7.5 hours per day

Covering productivity

When WSM absent

6 hours per day

Workshop standards

Environment

Clean and organised

Authority and decision making

Direct technician workflow and job allocation in support of the Workshop Manager
Directly lead and direct the junior technician assigned to this role
Ensure workshop standards and processes are followed
Take full workshop management authority when covering for the Workshop Manager

Career pathway

This role is a structured stepping stone within Fergies. Success here — demonstrated through consistent performance, reliability when covering the Workshop Manager, and the development of the junior technician — is the foundation for progression into the full Workshop Manager role.