At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic food manufacturing site and drive operational excellence.
- Company: Join a successful, cash-rich food business committed to transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, strong leadership support, and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-volume facility with exciting CAPEX projects.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in food manufacturing and a people-focused approach.
- Other info: Be part of a culture that values engagement, capability, and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
An exceptional opportunity has arisen for an experienced General Manager to take operational leadership of the largest and most complex manufacturing site within a successful, cash-rich food business. This appointment is a clear commitment from the CEO to transform and future-proof a critical site. With significant investment planned, this role has been created to provide dedicated, hands-on leadership at site level and to unlock the full potential of the operation.
The site is a high-volume food manufacturing facility with the capability to reach significantly higher levels of production as investment and performance improvements are delivered. With CAPEX projects underway in these areas:
- Newly installed and upcoming major processing equipment
- Additional production lines to increase capacity
- A planned new NPD facility
- Wider capital investment to modernise machinery and reduce downtime
The business operates with no debt, strong EBITDA growth, and a leadership team fully aligned behind improving standards, performance, and culture.
Your Role: As Factory General Manager, you will have full responsibility for site performance, leading a large workforce. You will have direct support by a solid and experienced middle management team across functions including; Production, Engineering, Technical & Warehouse. This role requires a balance of strategic leadership and visible, shop-floor presence. You will be expected to lead the site forward operationally, culturally, and technically, while ensuring a strong return on investment from ongoing and future capital projects.
Key responsibilities include:
- Delivering sustained improvements in output, efficiency, and downtime reduction
- Leading major CAPEX projects, from justification through to delivery and benefit realisation
- Increasing utilisation to consistently achieve higher weekly production volumes
- Modernising ways of working while operating within a legacy footprint
- Driving a people-centric culture, improving engagement, capability, and retention
- Holding the management team accountable for performance and behaviours
- Leading cultural change in a site with a mix of long-serving and newer colleagues
- Ensuring food safety, quality, environmental, and sustainability standards are upheld
About You: This role will suit a credible, inspiring manufacturing leader who thrives in complex environments and enjoys building something better. You are likely to bring:
- Senior leadership experience within food or FMCG manufacturing, ideally in added value food environments (e.g. bakery, ready meals, protein, extrusion)
- Exposure to high-volume, high-complexity sites with multiple technologies
- Strong CAPEX and change leadership experience
- A practical, people-focused leadership style, such as being visible, honest, and accountable
- A track record of developing teams, nurturing cultures and implementing succession planning across the site
This is not a role for someone who needs everything to be perfect on day one; it is for someone who sees potential, not problems.
Factory General manager in England employer: MOrePeople
Contact Detail:
MOrePeople Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Factory General manager in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend local events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their recent projects and challenges, especially in food manufacturing. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share examples of how you've driven change, improved efficiency, or led teams in complex environments. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨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 are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Factory General manager in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in food manufacturing and any relevant CAPEX projects you've led. 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 tell us why you're the perfect fit for the Factory General Manager role. Share specific examples of how you've driven improvements in output and efficiency in previous roles.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: We’re looking for someone who can lead with a people-centric approach. In your application, give us a glimpse of your leadership style and how you’ve successfully engaged teams in the past. We love a hands-on leader!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at MOrePeople
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Factory General Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of key performance metrics. Brush up on production efficiency rates, downtime statistics, and CAPEX project outcomes. Being able to discuss these figures confidently will show that you’re not just a leader but also someone who understands the operational heartbeat of the factory.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
This role is all about leading a diverse team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged and developed teams in the past. Think about specific instances where you’ve improved culture or retention rates. Highlighting your people-centric approach will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Be Ready for Change Management Questions
Expect questions around your experience with change leadership, especially in complex environments. Prepare to discuss how you've led CAPEX projects from start to finish, including any challenges faced and how you overcame them. This will showcase your ability to drive improvements and modernise operations.
✨Demonstrate Your Vision
The CEO is looking for someone to transform the site, so be ready to share your vision for the future. Discuss how you would approach operational, cultural, and technical advancements. Showing that you can see potential where others see problems will set you apart as a candidate who’s ready to take on this challenge.