Workshop Manager

Full-time | Permanent

Reports to: Founder / Creative Director

The Role

Boon is looking for an experienced Workshop & Production Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day running of our workshop and the delivery of our kitchens from technical design through manufacture and installation.

This is a practical, hands-on role sitting between design and making. You’ll manage our team of joiners, plan production across multiple projects, coordinate materials and suppliers, work through technical details with our designer, and make sure every kitchen leaves the workshop resolved, on time and to the standard we expect.

As Boon grows, you’ll also help us build the systems, processes and standards that allow the workshop to grow with it.

Key Responsibilities

Workshop & Team Management

Manage the day-to-day running of the Boon workshop and our team of joiners.
Plan and allocate work across the team according to project priorities, skills and deadlines.
Run regular production meetings and maintain a clear workshop schedule.
Ensure the team has the drawings, materials, information and equipment needed to work efficiently.
Identify production issues early and resolve them before they affect project timelines.
Support, develop and maintain high standards across the workshop team.
Manage workshop capacity as the project pipeline grows, identifying when additional freelance or permanent resource is required.

Production Planning

Own the production programme across all live Boon projects.
Translate project and installation dates into clear manufacturing schedules.
Coordinate dependencies between technical design, procurement, manufacture, finishing and installation.
Track progress against programme and proactively manage delays or changes.
Maintain visibility of workshop capacity and advise the wider team on realistic lead times.
Develop repeatable production processes as Boon moves from purely bespoke work towards made-to-order ranges.

Technical Coordination

Work closely with the designer to take projects from approved design into manufacture.
Review technical and production drawings before work begins.
Identify buildability issues, clashes or missing information before they reach the workshop.
Resolve technical questions with the designer and joinery team.
Manage technical changes during production and ensure revisions are clearly communicated and documented.
Help develop Boon's construction standards, details and manufacturing methods over time.

Materials & Procurement

Plan material requirements against the production schedule.
Order timber, sheet materials, hardware, ironmongery and other production materials in good time.
Coordinate specialist suppliers, subcontractors and finishing partners.
Track lead times and identify procurement risks early.
Maintain appropriate stock levels of frequently used materials and consumables.
Check incoming materials for specification, quantity and quality.
Work with the wider team to improve purchasing efficiency and reduce waste.

Quality Control

Maintain Boon's quality standards throughout manufacture.
Review work at key stages rather than relying solely on final inspection.
Ensure finished joinery matches approved drawings, specifications, materials and samples.
Complete pre-installation QC and snagging before work leaves the workshop.
Feed recurring production issues back into technical design and manufacturing standards.

Installation

Plan installations alongside the project/design team.
Determine labour, transport, tools, materials and site requirements for each installation.
Schedule the appropriate joiners/installers.
Ensure everything required for installation has been checked, packed and prepared before leaving the workshop.
Coordinate with contractors and other trades where required.
Support the team in resolving technical issues on site.
Manage snagging and ensure outstanding items are closed efficiently.

Workshop Operations

Maintain an organised, safe and efficient workshop.
Take responsibility for workshop health & safety procedures and safe working practices.
Oversee machinery maintenance, servicing and workshop equipment.
Maintain appropriate records for materials, machinery and workshop operations.
Look for practical ways to improve workflow, productivity, quality and material efficiency.
Help shape the workshop layout, systems and processes as production grows.

Who We're Looking For

You will ideally have:

Significant experience in bespoke joinery, cabinetry, furniture or high-end kitchen manufacture.
Previous experience managing a workshop, production team or joinery department.
A strong practical understanding of how bespoke cabinetry is constructed and installed.
Confidence reading and interrogating technical drawings and production information.
Experience planning production across several simultaneous projects.
Strong knowledge of materials, hardware, joinery processes and suppliers.
Experience coordinating installations and resolving problems on site.
Excellent organisational skills and the ability to see problems before they become delays.
High standards of workmanship and attention to detail.
The confidence to manage skilled craftspeople while maintaining a collaborative workshop culture.

You don't need to be the person designing the kitchen, but you do need to understand design well enough to translate it into an intelligent, efficient and beautifully resolved piece of joinery.

What Success Looks Like

The workshop knows what it is making, when it is making it and what information it needs.

Materials arrive before they're required. Technical problems are caught before manufacture. Projects move through the workshop in a logical sequence. Installations are properly prepared. Snagging is minimal.

Most importantly, the quality of the finished work remains high as Boon grows.

This role should ultimately become the operational owner of Boon's making process - creating the bridge between design, workshop and site.