At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a top UK packaging site, driving performance and inspiring teams.
- Company: Join DS Smith, a leader in sustainable packaging innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, pension, 25 days holiday, and more perks.
- Other info: Be part of a passionate team dedicated to operational excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on people and performance in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in manufacturing with a focus on safety and quality.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
This is an opportunity to lead one of the UK’s flagship packaging manufacturing sites. With the capacity to produce over 200 million square metres of corrugated packaging each year, Featherstone is recognised as one of the highest-performing operations within DS Smith’s network. Built on a culture of operational excellence, exceptional customer service and continuous improvement, the site has an outstanding reputation for delivering for its customers and its people. We’re looking for an exceptional people-first leader to build on that success. This opportunity is focused on taking an already successful site and leading and inspiring it to reach even greater heights.
You’ll be joining an experienced and capable site leadership team, bringing the leadership, commercial thinking and strategic vision needed to continue raising standards across safety, quality, customer service and operational performance. If you’re passionate about developing people, creating high-performing cultures and delivering exceptional business results, we’d love to hear from you.
About the Role
As General Manager, you will have overall accountability for the performance of our Featherstone manufacturing site, leading a business where safety, quality, customer satisfaction and operational excellence come first. You’ll provide visible, authentic leadership across the site, empowering colleagues to perform at their best while ensuring every decision reflects our commitment to safety, quality and customer success. Working alongside a high performing leadership team, you’ll shape the future of the site by developing talent, driving continuous improvement and ensuring Featherstone continues to be recognised as one of the best-performing manufacturing operations in the UK. You’ll also work closely with colleagues across Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance and HR to translate business strategy into operational excellence, ensuring the site continues to deliver outstanding results for our customers and the wider business.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
- Providing inspiring, people-centred leadership that creates an engaged, accountable and high-performing culture.
- Championing a world-class health, safety and environmental culture where everyone goes home safe every day by leading for Safety Above All Else.
- Building on Featherstone’s reputation for excellence by driving continuous improvement across safety, quality, service and productivity.
- Leading, coaching and developing direct and indirect leadership team members, while strengthening succession and future capability.
- Delivering exceptional customer service through outstanding operational performance, quality and OTIF delivery.
- Driving commercial performance by balancing customer needs with operational efficiency and financial performance.
- Taking full ownership of site performance, including budget delivery, profitability, productivity and capital investment.
- Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste and support sustainability objectives.
- Building strong relationships across the wider business, being the conduit for realising business benefit through cross-functional working with Commercial, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain and Support Functions.
- Creating an environment where colleagues feel valued, listened to, empowered, able to be themselves and proud to work at Featherstone.
About You
You’re an experienced manufacturing leader who understands that exceptional operational performance starts with exceptional people. You know how to inspire teams, create accountability and build a culture where safety, quality and customer focus become habits rather than priorities. You’re equally comfortable on the shop floor engaging with colleagues as you are presenting business performance to senior stakeholders. Commercially astute and operationally credible, you’re able to make balanced decisions that benefit both our customers and the business. Most importantly, you’re someone who leads with authenticity, humility and integrity.
What We’re Looking For
- Significant senior leadership experience within manufacturing, packaging, FMCG or another fast-paced production environment.
- A proven track record of leading large, complex manufacturing operations.
- An outstanding people leader with experience building engaged, high-performing teams.
- A visible commitment to creating and sustaining a world-class safety culture.
- Strong operational leadership with experience delivering continuous improvement and Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
- Someone with a proven track record of leading in a trade union environment and building strong, collaborative relationships with the on-site reps and regional officer.
- Commercially aware, with strong financial acumen and experience managing budgets, profitability and capital investment.
- Customer-focused, understanding the importance of delivering outstanding quality, service and reliability.
- A collaborative leader who builds trusted relationships across all levels of the business.
- Passionate about developing people and creating an inclusive culture where everyone can succeed.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role isn’t simply maintaining performance—it’s building on an already exceptional foundation. You’ll create an environment where people thrive, customers continue to choose DS Smith with confidence and Featherstone strengthens its position as one of the UK’s leading manufacturing sites. Success will include:
- A strong, engaged and empowered workforce.
- An uncompromising safety culture with safety above all else leading every decision.
- Exceptional customer satisfaction through outstanding quality and OTIF performance.
- Continued improvements in productivity, efficiency and operational excellence.
- Strong commercial performance and sustainable profitability.
- A highly capable leadership team with clear succession and development plans.
- Continued recognition of Featherstone as one of DS Smith’s highest-performing manufacturing operations.
Why Join DS Smith?
At DS Smith, we’re redefining sustainable packaging through innovation, operational excellence and the incredible people who make it happen. This is an opportunity to lead one of our most successful manufacturing sites, working with an experienced leadership team and talented colleagues who are passionate about delivering for our customers every day. If you’re looking for a role where you can make a genuine impact—on people, performance and the future of one of the UK’s flagship manufacturing operations we’d love to hear from you.
What we can offer you:
- Competitive salary
- Qualifying Sick Pay scheme
- Pension scheme & Life insurance
- Share Save scheme
- Income Protection
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Virtual GP, Occupational Health & free Flu vaccine
- Cycle to Work and shopping discounts
General Manager, Featherstone employer: DS Smith Europe
At DS Smith, we pride ourselves on being a people-first employer, fostering a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement at our Featherstone site. With a commitment to safety, quality, and exceptional customer service, we offer competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and comprehensive employee benefits, all while providing ample opportunities for personal and professional growth within a supportive leadership team. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the packaging industry, where your contributions will be valued and recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager, Featherstone
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces
Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.
✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
When you find a role at a company you love, like DS Smith Europe, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager, Featherstone
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to DS Smith Europe specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at DS Smith Europe
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with DS Smith Europe, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like DS Smith Europe value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
