At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major food manufacturing site, ensuring operational excellence and safety.
- Company: Join a respected food manufacturer with a focus on quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career-defining role, and a chance to shape site strategy.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while leading a high-performing team.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in food manufacturing and strong commercial awareness.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for continuous improvement and growth.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.
Location: Corby
Permanent | Senior Operations Leadership Role
Irlam Associates Group Ltd is partnering with a leading food manufacturer to recruit a General Manager - Manufacturing for their Corby site — the company’s largest and strategically critical manufacturing facility. This is a hands-on senior operations role with full accountability for the site, including Production, Engineering, Technical/Quality, H&S, Logistics, and Continuous Improvement. You will be a key member of the senior leadership team, driving operational excellence, safety, quality, and service performance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Full P&L and operational responsibility for the Corby site
- Lead a safety culture, embedding best-in-class H&S and food safety standards
- Deliver consistently high-quality branded and own-label products
- Achieve customer service levels of 99%+ through robust planning and scheduling
- Manage budgets for labour, raw materials, and overheads
- Lead audits and compliance (BRC, SMETA, customer standards)
- Develop and execute site strategic plans to drive long-term performance
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM)
- Build and coach a high-performing, engaged leadership team
- Manage positive employee and union relationships
About You:
- Senior leadership experience in food manufacturing or FMCG
- Proven track record of delivering operational change, KPIs, and continuous improvement
- Strong commercial awareness with full site P&L responsibility
- Excellent communicator from shop floor to Board level
- Degree-qualified in engineering, science, or analytical discipline preferred
- Experience leading large, unionised manufacturing operations is desirable
What We Offer:
- Career-defining leadership role in a high-profile, respected food manufacturing business
- Opportunity to influence and shape site strategy, culture, and performance
- Collaborative and dynamic environment
To apply: Please contact Rob Garner CMILT – Principal Consultant
General Manager - Manufacturing in Corby employer: Irlam associates Group
Contact Detail:
Irlam associates Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager - Manufacturing in Corby
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the food manufacturing industry. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know. Attend industry events or join relevant online groups to meet potential employers.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their products, culture, and recent news. We want you to walk in there with confidence, showing them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who genuinely cares about their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! You’ll need to showcase your experience in driving operational excellence and managing teams. We suggest using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and make them impactful.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s get you that General Manager role!
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager - Manufacturing in Corby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Carefully: Before you start your application, take a good look at the job description. Make sure you understand what we're looking for in a General Manager - Manufacturing and how your experience aligns with our needs.
Tailor Your CV: Don’t just send us a generic CV! Highlight your relevant experience in food manufacturing or FMCG, especially any senior leadership roles. Show us how you've driven operational change and achieved KPIs in your previous positions.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to lead a high-performing team and manage P&L responsibilities.
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 from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Irlam associates Group
✨Know Your Numbers
As a General Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of P&L responsibilities. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've managed budgets in the past. This shows you’re not just a leader but also a savvy business person.
✨Safety First
Given the emphasis on H&S and food safety standards, prepare to talk about your experience in fostering a safety culture. Share specific examples of how you've implemented best practices and improved safety records in previous roles.
✨Continuous Improvement Mindset
Be ready to discuss your experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or TPM methodologies. Highlight any successful initiatives you've led that resulted in operational improvements. This will show your potential employer that you're committed to driving excellence.
✨Engage with the Team
Since this role involves managing a large team, think about how you’ve built and coached high-performing teams in the past. Prepare anecdotes that illustrate your leadership style and how you’ve fostered positive employee relations, especially in unionised environments.