General Manager

About the Role

We are seeking a commercially astute General Manager to lead a well-established, privately-owned manufacturing company aiming for significant growth in its next phase. The business prides itself on quality, skilled craftsmanship, and excellent customer service.

This key leadership role requires a strategic yet hands-on leader who will enhance the company’s operational capabilities, develop its workforce and management culture, and drive the business toward higher performance and scalability without losing its entrepreneurial spirit and customer-centric focus.

Responsibilities

• Provide decisive, visible leadership across all areas including manufacturing, operations, customer service, health and safety, and commercial outcomes.
• Build and grow the management team through coaching, establishing accountability, and performance management.
• Lead operational excellence initiatives covering production planning, purchasing, warehousing, and distribution.
• Implement continuous improvement programs targeting productivity, efficiency, quality, cost reduction, and waste minimization.
• Introduce impactful KPIs and management information systems to aid decision-making and enhance performance.
• Enhance processes, systems, and operational discipline in line with business expansion.
• Maintain consistently high standards of customer service, responsiveness, and ownership.
• Improve management of customer complaints, service issues, and corrective actions.
• Oversee health and safety, fostering a proactive safety culture company-wide.
• Manage financial and operational performance, including budgets, forecasts, profitability, and cost controls.
• Collaborate with ownership and Board to formulate and execute growth strategies.
• Evaluate and plan resources including personnel, production capacity, technology, and capital investments to support expansion.
• Ensure growth strategies maintain quality, safety, customer service, and company reputation standards.

Candidate Profile

• Proven senior leadership experience in manufacturing or operations with a strong commercial focus.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to command authority and earn trust within teams.
• Deep commercial insight relating to profitability, productivity, and cost management.
• Ability to translate strategic goals into actionable operational plans.
• Experienced in developing management structures with clear accountability and consistent practices.
• Knowledge and practical experience implementing continuous improvement and operational excellence utilizing KPIs.
• Demonstrated commitment to health and safety as a leadership priority.
• Familiarity with quality and service standards expected by premium or high-value clientele.
• Experience leading organizational change and guiding teams through transformation.
• Strong, effective communication skills suited to engage with boards, managers, employees, and customers.
• A proactive, resilient leader comfortable in challenging existing practices and driving higher standards constructively.

Additional Information

This role will appeal to an energetic, pragmatic leader passionate about professionally scaling an entrepreneurial enterprise to reach its full potential.