External Works Manager
West Midlands Police · United Kingdom
Introduction to the Department
The Fleet department plays a vital role in supporting West Midlands Police by ensuring our vehicle fleet remains safe, reliable, and available to meet operational demands. From response vehicles to specialist support vehicles, our work directly contributes to the police force’s ability to deliver effective policing services to our communities.
Our busy and diverse team is responsible for vehicle maintenance, repairs, commissioning, fleet planning, and the management of external repair providers. Working collaboratively with our policing colleagues we strive to deliver a high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective fleet services.
We pride ourselves on a supportive, professional, and solutions-focussed working environment, where teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement are central to everything we do. We encourage innovation, value technical expertise, and empower our people to identify opportunities to improve the services we provide.
Every member of the team has an important part of play in keeping policing moving, ensuring our officers and staff have the vehicles they need, when they need them.
About the Role
As our External Work Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring West Midlands Police vehicles are effectively, and cost efficiently and returned to operational service as quickly as possible.
You will take responsibility for overseeing the outsourced vehicle repairs, working closely with dealerships and body repair specialists to ensure high standards of service, value for money, and minimal downtime.
Combining your technical automotive knowledge with strong commercials awareness, you will assess repair requirements, challenge costs, manage supplier performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency. You will oversee external repair expenditure, manage relationships with key stakeholders, and support the effective prioritisation of repair to meet policing demand.
This is a varied and challenging management role, where you will have the opportunity to influence how our external repair services are delivered, drive continuous improvement and contribute to the wider management of our fleet workshop operations. #
Your impact will be tangible: ensuring public money is spent wisely, improving vehicle availability, and ultimately helping to keep our officers and staff on the road
Key Responsibilities
Manage outsourced vehicle repairs
Drive supplier performance
Control costs, and deliver value for money
Manage priorities and build relationships with stakeholders
Effectively lead people and continuous improvement
Full Role Details
Click here to view the full details of the role, including the Essential Criteria, Desirable Criteria and any educational requirements for the role.
Hear From Our People
No two days are the same in our busy fleet workshop. One day you might be inspecting a damaged vehicle ready to go to a bodyshop, and then the next day you might be challenging the costs based on your own previous assessment of the repairs required, driving value for money. Then then next day you might be visiting a dealership to discuss timeframe performance.
It’s a role that offers real variety, combining technical automotive knowledge, commercial decision-making, and people management. You’ll work with a wide range of colleagues and external partners, using your experience to solve problems, influence decisions and make a tangible difference.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the role is knowing your work directly supports frontline policing. Every vehicle returned to service helps ensure our officers and staff have the resources they need to protect our communities.
We’re looking for someone who enjoys a challenge, takes pride in delivery results, and isn’t afraid to question existing practices. If you’re an experienced automotive professional looking to take your career in a different direction, this could be an opportunity to put your skills to work in an organisation where what you do really matters.
Salary and Shifts
Salary: Grade 7
Shift patterns include shift allowance: No shift allowance as not working shifts.
Hours 07:00 – 15:00 or 15:30 with 30 mins Toil that we allow all our Vehicle ops staff to do.
Selection Process
Online Application and Sift - You will complete an online application form, which will be reviewed against the skills, experience and behaviours required for the role.
Closing Date: 10th November 2026 @23:55
Assessment and/or Interview (Delete as appropriate) - Candidates who successfully pass the application stage will be invited to attend an interview and/or assessment. This will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for the role.
Proposed date(s): TBC
Pre-Employment Checks - If you are selected as the preferred candidate, you will be required to successfully complete relevant pre-employment checks before receiving a formal offer. For internal candidates, some checks may not be required. Checks may include:
Vetting Checks - You must successfully complete the required level of Recruitment vetting and Counter Terrorism clearance before starting the role. This may include providing information relating to your background and financial history as part of the vetting process. Click here for more information.
Medical Checks - Appointment to this role is subject to successfully completing medical checks. This may include a drugs test and, where required, a fitness assessment.
Reference Checks - You will need to provide details covering at least five years of employment, education or other relevant activity history.
We are committed to supporting candidates throughout the recruitment process and reasonable adjustments are available for those who need them.
West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in England, serving more than 2.9 million people across Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall. Every day, our people work together to keep our communities safe, protect vulnerable people, prevent crime and bring offenders to justice.
We answer more than 2,000 emergency calls every day and provide policing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether responding to emergencies, supporting victims, investigating crime or working behind the scenes, every role plays a vital part in delivering an outstanding service to the public.
We're proud of the progress we've made in reducing crime, improving emergency response times and increasing arrest rates. These achievements are only possible because of the dedication, professionalism and expertise of our officers, staff and volunteers. As we continue to transform the way we police, we're looking for talented people who are committed to making a real difference.
Why Join West Midlands Police?
A career with West Midlands Police is about more than a job, it's an opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the lives of millions of people. Whatever your role, you'll contribute to keeping our communities safe while developing your own skills and career.
When you join us, you'll benefit from:
- Meaningful work that makes a difference every day.
- A diverse range of career opportunities across policing and professional support services.
- High-quality training, development and opportunities to progress.
- A supportive and inclusive working environment where everyone is encouraged to achieve their potential.
- Competitive pay, generous annual leave, excellent pension arrangements and a wide range of employee benefits.
- The opportunity to work alongside dedicated colleagues who share a common purpose.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better understand and serve the communities we protect. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to succeed.
As a Disability Confident Leader, the highest level of the Government's Disability Confident scheme, we are committed to removing barriers to employment and supporting disabled applicants and employees throughout their careers. Through our Disability Confident Interview Scheme, applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for a role will normally be offered an interview, subject to the scheme's terms and any recruitment constraints.
Our Diversity and Inclusion Vision is to maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness, respect and inclusion, enabling us to deliver the best possible service to our communities.
Professional Standards
Working in policing is a position of trust. Our officers and staff are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability. Successful applicants will be subject to appropriate vetting and are expected to uphold the ethical standards and responsibilities that come with serving the public.
Recruitment and the Use of AI
We recognise that many candidates use AI tools to support activities such as proofreading and improving the presentation of written applications. This is acceptable, provided the content you submit accurately reflects your own knowledge, skills and experience.
Applications must be your own work. Any evidence of plagiarism, false or misleading information, or the inappropriate use of AI during assessments or selection activities where it is not permitted may result in your application being rejected.
Benefits
We know that supporting our people is essential to delivering the best service to our communities. That's why we offer a comprehensive range of employee benefits, wellbeing support and development opportunities to help you thrive throughout your career.
Visit our Benefits page to find out more about the rewards and support available when you join West Midlands Police.