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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead day-to-day operations across two manufacturing sites and drive continuous improvement.
- Company: Large specialist manufacturing business with a focus on building materials.
- Benefits: Attractive salary up to £100k, company car, health and dental benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to implement structured improvement programmes.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-performance culture while leading a large team.
- Qualifications: Experience in heavy manufacturing and proven leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 100000 £ per year.
Your new company
We are excited to be partnering with a large specialist manufacturing business who are seeking an experienced General Manager to manage the day-to-day operations across 2 manufacturing facilities. With a combined headcount of 160 people, you will have direct reports including Engineering, Health & Safety, Quality and Technical department heads, as well as Shift Production Managers.
Your new role
The General Manager will lead two high-volume manufacturing sites producing building materials. This role carries full responsibility for operational performance, commercial outcomes, and leadership direction across both sites. The successful candidate will be a proven performance-driven leader with deep experience in heavy manufacturing, ideally concrete, aggregates, precast, cement, or related building materials. They will set the strategic direction, drive continuous improvement, and ensure both sites deliver strong, sustainable results.
- Lead, coach, and develop a workforce of approximately 160 employees, including managers, supervisors, and frontline teams.
- Set clear leadership direction and build a high-performance culture across both sites.
- Champion employee engagement, capability development, and succession planning.
- Hold full P&L responsibility for both sites, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and capital planning.
- Deliver strong financial performance through disciplined cost management and operational efficiency.
- Lead capital investment projects, ensuring robust business cases and effective execution.
- Establish and deliver performance targets across productivity, quality, cost, and service.
- Implement structured improvement programmes (Lean, Six Sigma, or similar) to reduce waste and optimise processes.
- Foster a culture of accountability, data-driven decision-making, and operational excellence.
What you'll need to succeed
Experience as a General Manager, Plant Manager, or Senior Operations Leader with manufacturing knowledge of heavy building materials. You will have proven success driving performance, improving operational KPIs, and leading cultural change. Experience leading large teams (100+ employees) and ideally managing multi-site operations and evidence of leading continuous improvement and operational optimisation initiatives. Ideally, degree qualified or similar (engineering, operations or manufacturing related experience) lean six sigma recognised training.
What you'll get in return
Attractive salary up to £100k depending on experience level, Company Car, health and dental benefits.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Locations
General Manager in Brandon, Suffolk employer: Hays
Contact Detail:
Hays Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager in Brandon, Suffolk
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the manufacturing industry and let them know you're on the lookout for a General Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity that’s not even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operations. Understand their products, culture, and challenges. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in leading their teams to success.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've driven performance and improved KPIs in previous roles. Use metrics to back up your achievements – numbers speak volumes!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals like you to join our network and help shape the future of manufacturing.
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager in Brandon, Suffolk
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the General Manager role. Highlight your experience in heavy manufacturing and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use numbers and examples to demonstrate how you’ve improved operational KPIs or led successful projects. This helps us see the impact you've made in previous roles.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell your story. Explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit. We love seeing personality and enthusiasm, so let it shine through!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays
✨Know Your Numbers
As a General Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of P&L responsibilities. Brush up on your financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've managed budgets, forecasts, and cost controls in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your leadership approach and how you've built high-performance cultures in the past. Think of specific examples where you've led large teams, championed employee engagement, and driven cultural change.
✨Continuous Improvement is Key
Familiarise yourself with Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies. Be prepared to share how you've implemented structured improvement programmes and the tangible results they achieved in your previous positions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Prepare scenarios related to operational challenges you’ve faced and how you navigated them to achieve successful outcomes.