Production & Workshop Manager

Who Are We?

WeCanMake is a community land trust and neighbourhood-scale system demonstrator, imagining and making homes in ways that build social infrastructure, community wealth, and a just transition. We take an integrated approach to meeting housing needs within planetary boundaries, all focused on enabling the gentle densification of the existing urban fabric within a neighbourhood. This includes new build and infill sites, as well as the retrofit of existing homes.

We have a neighbourhood factory where we train local people to in traditional carpentry, digital fabrication and the use of biomaterials. Together, we make components for both new-build and retrofitted homes. We are part of a national network of neighbourhood-scale organisations working towards a just and regenerative future.

Hours: 30 hours (4 days a week, Monday-Thursday) with potential to progress to 5-days when in production

Salary: £34,480- £39,896 FTE

• (£27,957 - £32,348 Pro Rata for 4-day week)

Contract: 18-month contract, with options to extend

Benefits: 25 days holidays + bank holidays (pro-rata), birthdays off, additional days off at Christmas

Location: The Factory, Knowle West, Bristol, BS4 1ET

Access: The Factory is wheelchair accessible

We are seeking an experienced Production & Workshop Manager to design and oversee the fabrication operations within our Neighbourhood Factory in Bristol. This is an exciting moment to join WeCanMake as we gear up for the delivery of our community-led housing programme. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for setting up and over-seeing the production processes within our growing Neighbourhood Factory. The focus will be on our home-grown modular housing system, while also helping us build capability to produce components for the retrofit of existing homes and the fit-out of completed homes. 

Our work combines high-quality timber construction and traditional woodworking techniques with elements of digital fabrication. A strong background in woodworking is therefore essential for this role.

The role will combine hands-on workshop involvement with production management, requiring someone who is equally comfortable working directly with materials and fabrication processes as they are with planning production, developing systems and coordinating delivery. It also involves working directly with community members in workshop settings, helping to translate technical processes into accessible, safe and meaningful making experiences.

The Production & Workshop Manager is ideal for someone who is adaptable, creative, and keen to grow their experience and role as our Neighbourhood Factory gets established and develops.

Who we’re looking for…

We are looking for an experienced Production and Workshop Manager who wants to apply their knowhow in a creative community setting. They will be interested in innovation, biomaterials, and distributed manufacturing; and pay close attention to detail on the safety, quality and efficiency of their work.

This role may suit someone with experience working in a timber-framing workshop, or someone with a construction or site management background, used to coordinating trades and doing site carpentery. It may also suit those from a university or art technician settings, or from festival and theatre production environments involving fabrication and installation. We would also welcome applicants from joinery and CNC workshops, or makerspaces.

Key Responsibilities

Production Design, Set-Up, and Coordination

• Optimise the Neighbourhood Factory facilities and kit to support the production of components for homes and their fit-out.
• Liaise with the Design Team to ensure the design and material specifications support an efficient high quality production process.
• Plan, schedule, and oversee production activities - including allocating labour, equipment and materials.
• Undertake occasional site-based work, including fitting and assembling components produced in the workshop (e.g. bespoke joinery and fitted furniture), supporting smooth integration and handover on site.

Workshop Culture & Management

• Manage the workshop setting, which will include working with people who have different levels of skill and experience, such as working with colleagues, local trades, residents, community members and volunteers.
• Create a positive, inclusive, and productive workshop culture that reflects WeCanMake’s mission and guiding principles.

Quality Control, Health & Safety

• Develop and maintain robust quality control procedures to ensure products meet specified standards, contributing to type approval from warranty providers.
• Ensure fabricated work complies with technical drawings, specifications, and internal quality requirements.
• Ensure safe working practices at all times.

Materials & Resource Management

• Engage with suppliers and producers, with a particular focus on locally sourced biomaterials and re-use materials.
• Monitor inventory levels, and collaborate with suppliers to ensure efficient procurement and availability of materials for production.
• Coordinate with contractors to ensure the smooth and timely delivery of components to site.
• Reduce waste and manage resources responsibly in line with WeCanMake’s mission and guiding principles.

Reporting & Communication

• Produce regular production and performance reports.
• Liaise closely with relevant team members and partners to ensure alignment between production, engineering, delivery requirements, and WeCanMake’s overall mission.

Skills and experience

Essential

• Background in a fabrication, construction, or engineering environment with a good understanding of fabrication and assembly processes.
• Timber framing experience and strong knowledge of wood working machinery
• Ability to read architectural and engineering drawings and work to tight tolerances.
• Experience of CAD in drafting software such as AutoCAD
• Experience leading a workshop, production or site team.
• Strong commitment to health, safety, and quality standards.
• Ability to engage both technical and lay audiences by explaining and demystifying technical processes.
• Proven experience of working independently and managing workloads efficiently, while contributing to shared mission and goals.
• Be prepared to work flexible hours, including occasional weekends and evenings.
• UK Drivers Licence and experience of driving a van.
• Be kind, confident, collaborative, and adaptable.
• Curiosity and commitment to social and environmental justice.

Desirable

• Experience of DMfA and distributed manufacturing practices.
• Experience of working with biomaterials and re-use materials.
• Experience of integrating digital design and fabrication with traditional carpentry and natural building techniques.
• Experience of design process from concept to prototype and production.
• Experience of working in the following contexts: community-led development; research & development; housing delivery.

Application Process

Please Provide the following:

• A copy of your CV;
• A single PDF document (max 4 sides of A4) which can include a mix of text, images, and links. It should cover the following:
  
  • A personal statement demonstrating your relative experience; why you are interested in the role; and how you meet the personal specification; 
  • Relevant examples of your work.

Deadline: 9am Monday 3rd August 

Interviews: Thursday 6th August 

Start Date: As soon as possible

This job description is subject to review and amendment in response to the changing needs of the project, and will be reviewed through the ongoing appraisal process.