Business Unit Director

Parkinson Lee Executive Search is delighted to be exclusively retained on a confidential mandate to appoint aBusiness Unit Directorfor a global engineering and manufacturing group.This is a unique and senior leadership opportunity to lead the performance, growth, and market positioning of three strategically important business units within the company’s portfolio.With fullP&L accountability , the Business Unit Director will take a central role in shaping strategy, driving operational efficiency, and building commercial success across multiple units. This is a high-impact, visible role with significant scope to influence business direction and long-term value creation.Role SummaryReporting to the Group Executive Team, the successful candidate will be responsible for:Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute growth strategies aligned with group objectives. Build and position the brand within new and existing markets. Drive innovation, sector expansion, and product portfolio development.Financial Ownership: Full P&L responsibility across all three business units. Deliver against revenue, margin, and profit targets. Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking.Operational Oversight: Embed scalable, efficient processes and systems. Oversee supply chain, procurement, and resource planning. Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and safety standards.Commercial Growth: Define and implement commercial strategies including pricing and market entry. Cultivate strong customer relationships and drive market responsiveness. Lead business development and sales efforts within each unit.People & Culture: Build and lead high-performing cross-functional teams. Define organisational structure and succession planning. Champion a culture of engagement, accountability, and delivery.Candidate Profile We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute executive who can demonstrate:A successful track record ofmulti-unit P&L ownership . Strong commercial leadership, with a data-driven and customer-centric mindset. A strategic thinker who thrives on pace and complexity. A track record inengineering or manufacturing sectors , ideally with exposure totier 1 customers (Automotive / Aerospace) Outstanding people leadership and stakeholder management skills. Proven experience inproduct developmentand go-to-market execution in emerging or adjacent sectors.