Yard & Equipment Manager – Immediate Start
Location: Maidstone, Kent
Full time, on site. Workshop and yard based, with occasional site and delivery work.
Join Our Growing Team
Ideal Response is expanding, and we are looking for a practical, hands-on Yard & Equipment Manager to take responsibility for our operational yard and workshop in Maidstone.
This is a role for someone who is genuinely good with their hands. Alongside running the yard, you will be the person who keeps our specialist equipment working: diagnosing faults, carrying out repairs and servicing, and making sure every piece of kit that leaves the yard is safe, tested and ready to perform on site.
We invest in high quality equipment. Dehumidifiers, air movers, air scrubbers, pressure washers, blasting machines and a wide range of specialist restoration kit. When that equipment is out of action, jobs slow down and costs go up. Keeping it running properly is central to this role.
You will work alongside our Operations Controller, who manages scheduling and resourcing from the office, and you will direct the yard team who handle equipment cleaning and heavy lifting. Over time we will train you in our core restoration disciplines so you can support our technicians on site when we need the extra pair of hands.
Key ResponsibilitiesEquipment Maintenance and Repair
- Diagnose and repair electrical and mechanical faults on drying, cleaning and specialist restoration equipment
- Carry out routine servicing and planned maintenance to keep equipment reliable and in service
- Replace plugs, leads, cables, switches, motors, fans, filters, belts, seals and other wearing or consumable parts
- Fault find on portable 110v and 240v equipment and small motors
- Service and maintain pressure washers, blasting machines and associated hoses, lances, nozzles and consumables
- Carry out or arrange PAT testing so all portable equipment is tested, certified and safe to issue
- Decide when equipment should be repaired in house, sent to a manufacturer or specialist, or replaced, and manage that process through to completion
- Hold a working stock of common spares and consumables so routine repairs can be completed quickly
- Maintain accurate records of repairs, service history and equipment condition
- Test and check equipment before it leaves the yard and inspect it on return
- Look for ways to extend equipment life and reduce downtime, hire costs and unnecessary replacement spend
Yard and Workshop Management
- Take responsibility for the day to day management and organisation of the yard and workshop
- Keep the yard and workshop clean, tidy, organised and safe at all times
- Develop the workshop into a properly equipped and well organised repair space
- Manage the issuing and return of equipment, tools, machinery and materials to technicians
- Prepare the equipment, materials and stock technicians need before they leave for jobs
- Check returned equipment and ensure items are cleaned, inspected, tested and stored correctly
- Direct and supervise the yard team responsible for equipment cleaning and heavy lifting
- Maintain effective storage systems for tools, PPE, chemicals, machinery, materials and consumables
- Continually look for ways to improve the organisation and efficiency of the yard
Stock, Deliveries and Vehicles
- Manage stock levels and ensure essential materials, consumables, spares and equipment are available when required
- Carry out regular stock checks and report shortages or requirements to management
- Receive deliveries and ensure goods are checked, recorded and stored correctly
- Assist with the loading and unloading of company vehicles
- Deliver equipment and materials to live job sites and collect kit on completion as required
- Ensure company vehicles are organised and operationally ready, monitoring cleanliness, equipment allocation and reporting servicing and maintenance requirements
- Coordinate with the Operations Controller and technicians so vehicles and equipment are prepared for upcoming jobs
- Maintain accurate records using company systems and communicate clearly with the wider operations team
Health and Safety
- Maintain high standards of health and safety throughout the yard and workshop
- Ensure hazardous substances and chemicals are stored and handled safely and in line with COSHH requirements
- Carry out routine yard, workshop and equipment inspections, identifying and resolving potential hazards
- Remove unsafe or faulty equipment from circulation until it has been repaired and tested
- Ensure all team members and visitors follow appropriate yard safety procedures
Site Support (full training provided)
- Receive full training in our core restoration and specialist cleaning disciplines
- Support our technical teams on site during busy periods, larger losses and emergency call outs
- Provide practical on site support including equipment set up, monitoring and collection
Skills Required
- Genuine mechanical and electrical aptitude. Someone who enjoys stripping something down, finding the fault and putting it back together properly
- Confident diagnosing and repairing faults on portable powered equipment
- Previous experience managing a yard, workshop, depot, warehouse or similar operational environment
- Strong organisational and stock management skills
- Comfortable giving clear direction to a small team of yard staff
- Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced operational environment
- Excellent attention to detail
- Strong problem solving skills and the confidence to use personal initiative
- Clear, confident communicator with technicians, managers and office staff, in person and over the phone
- Comfortable working independently and taking ownership of the role
- Good general IT skills and confidence maintaining accurate digital records
- Full UK driving licence
Experience and Knowledge
- Substantial hands on experience repairing and maintaining small plant, tools, machinery or electrical equipment. This is the core of the role
- A time served trade background such as electrical, mechanical, plant, engineering or automotive, or equivalent practical experience built up on the job
- PAT testing qualification, or the willingness to be trained and certified by us
- Previous Yard Manager, Depot Manager, Workshop Manager or Warehouse Manager experience is strongly preferred
- Experience managing stock, tools, equipment and materials
- Experience overseeing the loading and unloading of vehicles
- Good understanding of workplace health and safety requirements
- Familiarity with COSHH requirements and the safe storage of chemicals would be advantageous
- Experience within restoration, construction, plant hire, facilities management, logistics or a similar operational environment would be advantageous
- Forklift licence or relevant equipment certifications would be advantageous but are not essential
- Physically fit and comfortable carrying out practical duties as part of the role
- Reliable, punctual and committed to maintaining high operational standards
About You
You are a natural fixer. You would rather repair something properly than throw it away, and you take real satisfaction in a well organised yard, a tidy workshop and equipment that works first time, every time.
You notice when something is out of place and take responsibility for sorting it. You are comfortable managing your own workload, giving clear direction to the yard team and speaking up when something needs attention.
This role has been shaped around finding the right person rather than filling a seat. If you have the practical skills and the right attitude, there is real scope to build up the workshop side of the business, bring in better systems and grow into a wider operational role over time.
Recruitment for this position will be managed directly, so we kindly ask that recruitment agencies refrain from contacting us.
Pay: £35,000.00-£42,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
