Lifting Operations & Engineering Safety Manager
Location: Sandbach, Cheshire
About GroundShore
GroundShore Limited is one of the UK's leading temporary works and specialist equipment hire companies. We operate a large nationwide fleet of specialist plant, lifting equipment, excavation support systems and bespoke engineered solutions for the construction, rail, utilities and infrastructure sectors.
As part of our continued growth, we are seeking an experienced Lifting Operations & Engineering Safety Manager to take responsibility for all lifting operations, lifting equipment compliance, fabrication approvals and engineering safety across the business.
The Role
This is a senior technical role responsible for ensuring all lifting operations are planned, designed, manufactured and carried out safely and in accordance with current legislation and industry best practice.
You will oversee the design approval, manufacture, inspection and certification of bespoke lifting equipment, whilst ensuring compliance with LOLER, PUWER and all relevant British Standards.
Working closely with our engineering, fabrication, workshop and operations teams, you will provide technical leadership across the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the company's competent person for lifting operations.
- Manage all lifting operations throughout the business.
- Develop and approve lifting plans and lifting methodologies.
- Ensure compliance with LOLER, PUWER, BS7121 and all relevant legislation.
- Oversee the manufacture of bespoke lifting equipment including:
- Lifting frames
- Spreader beams
- Excavator lifting attachments
- Crane attachments
- Bespoke lifting accessories
- Approve engineering drawings and lifting calculations where required.
- Coordinate proof load testing and certification.
- Manage all inspection and certification schedules.
- Liaise with third-party inspection bodies and certification engineers.
- Develop safe systems of work and lifting procedures.
- Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions.
- Deliver lifting and safety training across the business.
- Support sales and engineering teams with technical lifting solutions.
- Maintain lifting equipment registers and compliance documentation.
- Ensure all lifting accessories remain fully certified and traceable.
- Work alongside fabrication and engineering teams to continuously improve product design and safety.
Essential Requirements
- Significant experience managing lifting operations.
- Thorough knowledge of LOLER and PUWER regulations.
- Strong understanding of BS7121.
- Experience with lifting equipment design or manufacture.
- Appointed Person (Lifting Operations) qualification.
- Excellent understanding of cranes, excavators and lifting accessories.
- Ability to read engineering drawings.
- Strong leadership and communication skills.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
Desirable
- Degree or HNC/HND in Mechanical or Structural Engineering.
- CEng or IEng status (desirable).
- Experience within temporary works or specialist plant hire.
- Knowledge of EN13155, lifting beam design and structural calculations.
- Experience managing fabrication workshops.
- Welding and fabrication knowledge.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary.
- Company vehicle.
- Pension scheme.
- Ongoing professional development.
- Opportunity to help shape one of the UK's most innovative specialist hire businesses.
- A varied role with responsibility for engineering, lifting operations and safety across a nationwide fleet.
About You
You'll be a technically competent engineering professional who combines practical experience with strong leadership. Comfortable working between the office, workshop and site, you'll take ownership of lifting safety, engineering compliance and bespoke product development, ensuring every solution we deliver is safe, compliant and engineered to the highest standards.
One recommendation
Given the direction GroundShore is heading, I would actually recruit this as a Head of Engineering, Lifting & Compliance rather than a Lifting Manager. That person could oversee:
- Engineering and product development
- Fabrication workshop
- Bespoke lifting equipment manufacture
- LOLER & PUWER compliance
- CE/UKCA technical files
- Appointed Persons
- Temporary works engineering support
- Product testing and certification
- Health & Safety relating to lifting operations
It's a role that becomes increasingly valuable as your fleet and in-house engineering capability continue to grow.
Pay: £32,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
