General Manager

Ford & Stanley Executive Search (part of the Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group) are a leading executive search and talent advisory firm specialising in the following sectors: Rail & Transportation, Civils & Construction, Manufacturing & Supply Chain, Technology & Cyber Security, Logistics & Intermodal Freight, Defence.

Our search directors, consultants, and in‑house research team specialise in retained opportunities at the highest levels of organisational leadership and management. Our success is built on trust‑driven relationships, deep market knowledge, and working practices that ensure the strongest possible alignment between organisational need, candidate experience, and personal ambition.

Having partnered with business leaders on bespoke assignments for over a decade, we understand exactly what our customers expect from an executive search and talent advisory service — whether the requirement is for an urgent executive interim or a long‑term permanent appointment.

This is a pivotal appointment. The Southport site has huge potential but needs a dedicated leader with gravitas, curiosity, and a growth mindset to unlock it. The successful candidate must be able to challenge the status quo, energise the workforce, and build a strong partnership with sales to ensure we deliver on time, every time. Scaling up for growth is critical. With major demand coming from North America, this role is about preparing the site to double or even treble its output while maintaining quality and safety.

This role is about visible leadership. We need someone who can be present on the shop floor, inspire the team, and take full ownership of the site. The General Manager will champion Southport within the wider group — raising its profile, unlocking its potential, and ensuring it delivers at the level we know it can.

The organisation provides technology and supply chain solutions across the rail industry, supporting customers throughout the full asset lifecycle. They work collaboratively with partners to improve performance, reduce risk, and optimise cost. The business operates across infrastructure, signalling, and rolling stock, serving a broad portfolio of customers including Operators, ROSCOs, Infrastructure Owners, and Contractors. They are a preferred supply partner for many rail organisations and play a critical role in enabling their customers to deliver reliable, high‑performing railway services. The company is built on strong principles covering safety, corporate responsibility, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.

Challenges expected within the first 12 months include:

• Resistance to change. We are expecting some pushback from those onsite with regards to new ways of working and it’s essential that our new General Manager leads from the front to inspire growth.
• Elevating the reputation and awareness of the site within the wider group and demonstrating its progression as it continues to grow.
• Thoroughly reviewing the potential of the site and understanding all the moving parts that need to align to allow for the rapid growth inbound.

Key deliverables within the first 12 months include:

• Lead SAP system integration (2026) to unify processes and quality standards across Crewe & Southport sites.
• Ensure rigorous safety standards are consistently met and adhered to.
• Build an open and honest culture, visible leadership.
• Establish a strong line of comms and relationship with the Sales team to better inform capacity planning and underpin on time, quality delivery.

Essential Hard Skills (Skills & Experience)

• Experience leading a comparable site in scale, budget, and headcount.
• Manufacturing background within a transferable heavy industry such as rail, automotive, defence, aerospace, or similar (electronics preferred but not essential).
• Must live within a one‑hour commute of Southport due to the requirement for present, hands‑on leadership.
• Proven track record of taking a site from good to great and achieving operational excellence.
• Experience working closely with Sales to ensure operational capability aligns with demand.
• Visible, accessible leadership style, spending 20–30% of time on the shop floor.

Essential Soft Skills (Attributes & Behaviours)

• Gravitas and confidence to challenge the status quo constructively.
• Ability to represent the site’s best interests within the wider group.
• Inspirational leadership that brings people along on a journey of positive change.
• Active curiosity and strong listening skills.
• Growth‑oriented mindset with a focus on marginal gains and continuous improvement.
• Strong track record of uniting teams around a clear vision, mission, and purpose.
• Demonstrated commitment to developing or maintaining a strong safety culture.

Good to know: GM position will have 4 direct reports. There are circa 75 staff on site. £13m business, £11m of which is trackside signalling manufacture. There is considerable growth coming from North America / Canada with £8m-£10m order for wayside signalling alone. The business missed its financial targets for 2025. There is a GM currently who is straddling both Crewe and Southport and is being spread thin hence the business need for this appointment. The current GM will focus on Crewe and form a collaboration with the Southport GM. There are synergies and standardisation opportunities across both sites which may result in some restructuring. The Southport site hasn’t benefitted from full time attention and some initiatives have come and not stuck which may mean some resistance from the staff as to ‘We have tried that before’. The site has a warm family culture with people being welcome and friendly and the new GM will need to bring about positive change and re-energise the site whilst appreciating its culture. There is opportunity to double and perhaps treble the size and turnover and with the site operating at 55% margins keen interest from group to do so. Boots on the ground and present leadership will be key.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, engage and develop the team to improve operational excellence and delivery to the customer.
• Implement The Unipart Way Forward Strategy and the Rail and Public Transportation Sector strategy.
• Drive a culture of safety, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Ensure safe and compliant delivery of all products and services in accordance with statutory regulations.
• Drive operational performance and customer satisfaction.
• Manage the site budget ensuring delivery of operational financial targets including cost control and operational efficiency.
• Monitor KPIs and produce regular performance for senior leadership.
• Provide visible leadership and build high performing and engaged teams.
• Conduct regular Exec reviews with relevant management to develop Employee Engagement, establish effective communications, build employee capability, and to provide insight for the improvement of sales, engineering and operational activity performance.
• Ensure activities meet with and integrate with organisational requirements for quality management, health and safety, legal stipulations, environmental policies and general duty of care.
• Work in a safe manner, taking reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and other people at work, following appropriate Health and Safety guidance, training and company rules and procedures as appropriate.