Technical Operations / Workshop Lead

Role Overview

The Technical Operations / Workshop Lead coordinates daily work across an engineering workshop and customer sites, guiding technicians and tradespeople through equipment assembly, installation, maintenance, and repairs. Reporting to the Technical Director, this manager helps ensure jobs are delivered efficiently, meet quality standards, and are carried out safely.

Key Responsibilities

• Turn technical requests, work orders, and site requirements into practical schedules for workshop and field teams.
• Lead and coordinate pump technicians, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, welders, fabricators, field engineers, and workshop support staff.
• Assign people, tools, machinery, and equipment to balance workloads and meet project timelines.
• Plan and oversee equipment installation, commissioning, routine servicing, and urgent troubleshooting at client sites.
• Develop preventive maintenance schedules for industrial equipment, water machinery, and solar-powered water pumping systems.
• Inspect mechanical assemblies, fabrication work, and electrical installations; investigate recurring faults, warranty issues, rework, and customer complaints.
• Keep service records, job cards, commissioning certificates, and other technical documentation accurate and complete.
• Work with Sales, Projects, Quality Assurance, Training, Warehouse, Procurement, Finance, and HSE colleagues on technical requirements, parts availability, process improvements, job costs, and safe working practices.
• Set team performance measures, review results, coach staff, and support quarterly performance evaluations and safety training.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Production Engineering, or a related field.
• At least three years of progressive engineering experience, including direct responsibility for supervising or managing a team.
• Experience with industrial machinery and relevant systems such as submersible, centrifugal, or positive-displacement pumps; electric motors; geared motors; VFDs; control panels; or solar water pumping solutions.
• Practical understanding of pump mechanics, mechanical couplings, welding, structural fabrication, and hydraulic plumbing.
• Ability to diagnose equipment faults, conduct root cause analysis, and plan preventive maintenance.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems; familiarity with Odoo is an advantage.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Willingness to work on-site in Nairobi and travel to field locations as required.