About Us:

Kaizen is the Number 1 Recruitment Leader in the MENA region and works on placing high-caliber professionals in prominent and lucrative roles across the Middle East & and GCC.

The Client:

A well-established and globally recognized organization, founded in 1841, specializing in business intelligence, data, and strategic insights that help companies make confident business decisions. With operations spanning 60+ countries across the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and the Indian Ocean/Pacific Islands region, the company is known for delivering trusted market information and advisory solutions to businesses worldwide.

Job Overview The Toolshop Manager is responsible for leading and managing all toolshop operations, including the fabrication, maintenance, modification, repair, and lifecycle management of production tooling, moulds, jigs, fixtures, and specialized manufacturing equipment. This role ensures the timely delivery of high-quality tooling solutions that support production requirements, new product introductions, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Toolshop Manager oversees a skilled team of toolmakers and machinists while ensuring adherence to quality, safety, and cost objectives. Key Responsibilities Toolshop Operations Management

Manage the day-to-day activities of the toolshop, including tooling fabrication, maintenance, repairs, and modification projects.

Prioritize workloads based on production demands, tooling requirements, project timelines, and resource availability.

Ensure all tooling work meets engineering specifications, dimensional tolerances, and quality requirements.

Oversee the maintenance and safe operation of toolshop machinery, equipment, and supporting systems.

Monitor productivity, efficiency, and performance metrics to optimize toolshop operations.

Tool Lifecycle Management

Manage the full lifecycle of production tooling, including moulds, jigs, fixtures, dies, and specialized tooling assets.

Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize tooling life and minimize production downtime.

Maintain comprehensive tooling records, including maintenance history, condition assessments, and asset tracking.

Plan refurbishment, upgrades, and replacement strategies based on tooling performance and production requirements.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on tooling reliability and operational efficiency.

New Product Introduction & Engineering Support

Support new product introduction (NPI) activities by providing tooling expertise during development and launch phases.

Collaborate with Engineering and Manufacturing teams to implement tooling modifications and process improvements.

Coordinate tooling trials, validation activities, first-off approvals, and production readiness assessments.

Ensure tooling requirements are delivered on schedule to support successful project launches and production ramp-up.

Team Leadership & Development

Lead, coach, and develop toolmakers, machinists, technicians, and apprentices to achieve operational excellence.

Conduct performance management activities, workforce planning, and succession development initiatives.

Identify technical training needs and promote continuous skills development within the team.

Foster a culture of quality, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Budget & Supplier Management

Prepare and manage the toolshop operating budget, monitoring expenditures and identifying cost-saving opportunities.

Manage relationships with external tooling suppliers, service providers, and specialized repair vendors.

Evaluate make-versus-buy decisions for tooling activities to optimize cost, quality, and lead times.

Support procurement activities, supplier selection, contract negotiations, and vendor performance evaluations.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

Ensure all toolshop activities comply with company health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.

Implement and maintain inspection and verification processes for tooling before release to production.

Ensure proper calibration, maintenance, and certification of measurement and inspection equipment.

Promote safe working practices, risk assessments, and compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards.

Support internal and external audits related to tooling, maintenance, and operational compliance.

Qualifications & Requirements

Bachelor's degree or Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Tool & Die Technology, or a related discipline.

Minimum 8–10 years of experience in toolmaking, toolshop operations, or precision manufacturing, including at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.

Strong hands-on expertise in CNC machining, EDM, grinding, milling, turning, and precision tooling processes.

Experience managing tooling lifecycles within automotive, plastics, injection moulding, or precision manufacturing environments is highly preferred.

Advanced ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and manufacturing specifications.

Strong leadership, project management, and commercial decision-making skills.

Familiarity with CAD/CAM systems and manufacturing technologies is advantageous.

Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.

Key Competencies

Toolmaking and precision machining expertise

Tooling lifecycle management

Operational leadership and workforce development

Manufacturing process optimization

Budget management and cost control

Quality assurance and continuous improvement

Supplier and contractor management

Strategic planning and resource allocation

Safety leadership and regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration and problem-solving

The Client:

Toolshop Manager