Site Lead

Reporting to Group Manufacturing Director

Job Location: Northamptonshire area, commutable from Wellingborough, Rushden, Kettering, Milton Keynes, etc.

Job Type: Permanent

Job Reward: £100 - £120k Target plus Car, Bonus Package

Industry: Global FMCG Manufacturer - Food and Beverage

Growth Manufacturing Business | Career Defining Opportunity

Some manufacturing leadership roles are about maintaining the status quo, this isn’t one of them. Lead. Inspire. Leave a legacy. You are visible, decisive, authentic, self-aware, ambitious, you thrive under pressure, you are a strong influencer, and you have strong commercial skills. Most importantly, you’re still hungry. You are a values-led leader who role-models people skills, communication, fairness, and consistency, in everything you do.

Due to internal promotion, we are searching for an exceptional Site Leader to take ownership of a medium-sized fast-paced manufacturing operation where performance, people, customer service, safety, and continuous improvement sit firmly at the top of the agenda. This site operations leadership role is ideal for an established Site Lead, Senior Plant Manager, Operations Director, Factory General Manager, or an ambitious operational leader, ready for their next career step.

You’ll inherit a complex manufacturing operation with a variety of demanding customers, tight deadlines, operational challenges to solve, and a workforce that requires visible, authentic leadership. If you’re a people-focused leader ready to make a difference, this is for you! You’ll join a business that values ambition and genuinely develops future leaders, offering Global developmental opportunities.

Role Responsibilities - Site Lead

• Leading end-to-end site performance
• Responsible for the strategic operational leadership of the manufacturing site, ensuring the safe, efficient and high-quality delivery of FMCG products, while embedding a strong values-led culture
• A key member of the UK senior leadership team, the role ensures alignment to the company vision, driving performance through teamwork, engagement, quality, and customer value
• Driving a culture of safety, engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Delivering operational excellence across production, engineering, supply, quality, and people
• Building high-performing leadership teams
• Lead improvement initiatives through to completion, to ensure high performance and continuous improvement
• Ensure compliance with appropriate regulations, company standards to contribute to product safety for customers
• Deliver profit through operational leadership to contribute to the commercial success
• Managing significant budgets and performance metrics
• Improving productivity, service, quality, and cost performance
• Acting as the face of the site for customers, stakeholders, and senior leadership
• Formulating and implementing the Manufacturing plan to drive performance improvement
• Creating a strong customer service culture in your site to ensure high-quality production
• Listen to, inspire, and develop your team on your site, creating an environment that empowers them to perform at their best and support their development

Role Requirements – Site Lead

• Experience leading manufacturing operations within FMCG, food, beverage, consumer goods, packaging, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or other complex manufacturing environments
• A track record of delivering results through people
• Senior leadership experience in FMCG manufacturing, ideally own label and retailer experience
• Strong background in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement
• Experience driving cultural and behavioural change across operational teams
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and industry expertise to run a world class operation
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to create a people driven culture
• The ability to drive performance improvement and be able to think outside the box to come up with new innovative ideas
• The ability to build relationships with a broad range of stakeholders right up to Board level
• Strong commercial and operational awareness
• Experience managing change and driving transformation
• The resilience to operate in time-sensitive, high-pressure environments
• Analytical and data-driven, with strong decision-making capability
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• A passion for developing talent and building succession
• You understand that modern manufacturing leadership is about people first
• The ambition to progress into larger operational or executive leadership roles

What’s in it for you?

• Significant leadership responsibility
• Car or allowance
• Life Assurance
• Employer matched pension
• Electric Car Scheme
• Health cash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Relocation support considered for the right candidate
• Highly Competitive salary and benefits package
• Exposure to senior stakeholders and board-level decision-making
• Modern manufacturing environment set within a Global footprint
• Genuine autonomy and influence
• Career progression opportunities beyond site leadership
• The chance to leave a legacy rather than simply manage a facility

If you’re a driven manufacturing leader looking for your next challenge, we’d love to start a confidential conversation. Apply directly or contact us for a discreet discussion.