At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a manufacturing operation, driving performance recovery and operational excellence.
- Company: Globally established manufacturer in advanced materials for aerospace and automotive sectors.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership role, and opportunity to make a significant impact.
- Other info: Join during a critical phase of growth and development.
- Why this job: Revitalise a key manufacturing operation and shape its future success.
- Qualifications: Degree in Technical/Engineering and experience in operational improvement within manufacturing.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
A globally established manufacturer of specialised materials supporting complex industrial, aerospace and automotive applications is seeking a P&L Leader. Following a period of operational pressure and changing market dynamics, the business is focused on restoring execution discipline, improving financial outcomes and reinforcing its competitive position across key customer segments. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving a structured performance reset while building the foundations for long-term, sustainable growth.
The General Manager will lead the entire manufacturing operation, holding ultimate responsibility for operational effectiveness, financial delivery, customer fulfilment, and workforce performance. Reporting to group leadership, the role demands a pragmatic, action-oriented leader who can quickly diagnose performance gaps, prioritise improvement initiatives and mobilise teams to deliver measurable results.
Key Areas of Responsibility:- Reinforcement of health, safety and regulatory compliance standards consistent with highly controlled manufacturing environments.
- Full commercial and operational leadership of a complex manufacturing facility.
- Ownership of a structured recovery programme designed to address operational inefficiencies, margin erosion and customer delivery challenges.
- Strengthening of the site leadership framework through clear accountability, defined performance metrics and effective decision-making processes.
- Implementation of improvement initiatives targeting productivity uplift, waste elimination and process reliability.
- Rebuilding confidence among strategic customers through dependable execution and transparent performance communication.
- Evaluation of manufacturing capacity, technology utilisation and capital deployment to support medium-term business objectives.
- Driving workforce engagement and leadership development to improve organisational cohesion and performance culture.
- Establishment of disciplined financial oversight and performance monitoring across all operational functions.
- Acting as the principal executive representative for the site in interactions with group leadership, customers and external stakeholders.
- Restore predictability in day-to-day production performance across safety, quality, delivery and cost parameters.
- Introduce structured methodologies for operational excellence, continuous improvement and root cause resolution.
- Improve coordination between production planning, materials management and shop floor execution.
- Work closely with engineering and technical teams to ensure sustained asset performance and operational resilience.
- Define and execute targeted capital expenditure programmes aligned to operational improvement and customer programme demands.
- Embed a proactive quality mindset focused on defect prevention and regulatory compliance.
- Achieve sustained improvement in delivery reliability and overall customer experience.
- Develop operational systems and processes capable of supporting increased complexity and growth across multiple end markets.
- Degree level education in Technical / Engineering Discipline.
- Demonstrable experience leading performance recovery or operational improvement initiatives within advanced manufacturing environments.
- Background in sectors such as aerospace, automotive or industrial components production.
- Proven capability managing large scale manufacturing workforces, including technically specialised teams.
- Strong commercial judgement with experience operating in competitive, customer-led markets.
- Leadership approach combining decisive execution with the ability to influence cultural and organisational change.
This position offers the opportunity to lead the revitalisation of a strategically important advanced materials manufacturing operation during a critical period of organisational development.
General Manager employer: Directorbank
Contact Detail:
Directorbank Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend relevant events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that General Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their challenges, especially in operational performance and customer delivery. We want you to show them you’re the solution they need to restore execution discipline!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to discuss how you've driven performance recovery or operational improvements in the past. We want you to demonstrate your ability to mobilise teams and deliver measurable results.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. We’re here to help you every step of the way in landing that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in operational improvement and leadership in manufacturing environments, especially in sectors like aerospace or automotive. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the General Manager role. Share specific examples of how you've driven performance recovery and improved operational effectiveness in previous roles. Let us know what makes you tick!
Showcase Your Leadership Style: We’re looking for someone who can lead with clarity and influence change. In your application, give us a glimpse of your leadership approach. How do you engage teams and drive results? Share stories that demonstrate your ability to mobilise teams and achieve measurable outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at StudySmarter. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Directorbank
✨Know Your Numbers
As a General Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of P&L management. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've improved financial outcomes in previous roles. This shows you can drive the structured performance reset the company is looking for.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your leadership approach, especially in terms of building teams and driving engagement. Share specific examples of how you've strengthened organisational capability and improved workforce performance in past positions. This will highlight your ability to mobilise teams effectively.
✨Understand Operational Excellence
Familiarise yourself with methodologies for operational excellence and continuous improvement. Be prepared to discuss how you've implemented these in previous roles, particularly in complex manufacturing environments. This will demonstrate your capability to restore predictability in production performance.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since rebuilding confidence among strategic customers is crucial, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Prepare to discuss how you've maintained transparent communication with stakeholders in the past, as this will show your ability to re-establish credibility.