Managing Director

Our client is an established UK manufacturing business, operating within an international group and supplying technically demanding products to customers across multiple markets. The business combines specialist manufacturing capability with a strong focus on quality, engineering excellence and customer service.

Following the planned departure of the current Site Director / Managing Director, the business is seeking to appoint an experienced Site Director / Managing Director to lead the site and its next phase of operational development. This is a broad leadership role with responsibility for the overall performance of the business, with a particular emphasis on manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, planning, procurement, quality and people leadership.

The successful candidate will inherit an established operation and will be expected to build on its existing strengths while driving further improvements in productivity, efficiency, systems, automation, continuous improvement and operational resilience. They will bring the leadership capability to develop the management team, embed a strong performance culture and ensure the operation has the capacity and capability to support future growth.

Candidates are likely to bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within a manufacturing, engineering or similarly operationally complex environment, ideally within FMCG, food and drinks, or packaging.
• Strong manufacturing, engineering and supply-chain leadership capability
• A track record of delivering operational improvement, Lean/continuous improvement, automation and productivity gains
• Experience improving systems, processes, planning and operational performance
• Strong understanding of quality, customer delivery, cost and margin, and the ability to balance these effectively
• The ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams and create a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Commercial awareness and the confidence to engage with customers, suppliers and wider Group stakeholders
• A pragmatic, visible and hands-on leadership style, equally comfortable setting direction and engaging with teams on the operational floor

Experience within the company’s specific product sector is not essential. We are keen to engage with leaders from a broad range of manufacturing environments, however there is particular interest in FMCG, food & drink, packaging and other high-volume consumer or process manufacturing businesses. Candidates from advanced manufacturing, engineered products, industrial and other technically demanding environments will also be considered where they bring strong operational leadership, continuous improvement and manufacturing excellence credentials, where operational excellence, quality and reliable customer delivery are critical.

This represents an excellent opportunity to take leadership of an established UK manufacturing operation, combining the autonomy and breadth of a senior site leadership position with the resources and reach of a wider international group. The successful candidate will have a genuine opportunity to shape the business, develop its people and deliver the next phase of operational performance and growth.