General Manager

At STERIS, we help our customers create a healthier and safer world by providing innovative healthcare and life science product and service solutions around the globe.

How you will make a difference

About you: Do you want to spend your working time making a difference in the world around you? Are you passionate about supporting the medical and pharmaceutical industries? Do you care about keeping patients and people safe? If so, then a career with Steris could be a great fit for you.

About Us: At STERIS Instrument Processing we are believed experts in surgical instrument sterilisation. We offer on and offsite re‑processing, alongside reliable instrument maintenance solutions. Our diverse and talented teams use cutting edge technology to ensure that the highest quality of infection prevention is delivered to our customers.

The General Manager is responsible for all aspects of running the sterile services unit. They are responsible for the timely delivery of services and products that meet the customer needs whilst ensuring strict adherence to quality, regulatory and safety requirements. The General Manager is responsible for staff and for the site at which they work. They must manage the unit in order to maximise the effective use of labour, equipment and other resources, in order to meet budget and meet customer service expectations and contractual requirements.

What is involved

• Operational and Facilities Management
• Lead large‑scale decontamination facility through change initiatives (service transitions, expansions, automation, new contracts)
• Manage the effective and efficient use of labour, equipment and other resources
• Ensure the effective use of IT, finance and other systems and maintain the integrity and availability of management information.
• Produce and report timely and accurate management information and record and report key performance indicators to the customers and wider within the business.
• Manage directly or indirectly the day to day running of the unit and all operational and production activities, seeking timely resolution for any problems that may arise.
• Maintain the welfare and security of staff, vehicles, equipment, plant and company premises.
• Implement and actively maintain compliance to company policies and defined operational standards set out in the company’s quality standards.
• Create and lead a culture of constant improvement and excellence, delivering this through innovation and development of process improvement, operational practices and quality assurance.
• Drive process efficiency improvements through introduction and development of LEAN manufacturing standards.
• Organise and ensure the efficient delivery of customer’s services in accordance with contractual agreements.
• Promote and maintain cohesive communication links with clients, facility personnel and external company personnel.
• Ensure that all equipment and plant is correctly and adequately maintained, serviced and tested in accordance with instructions and guidance from manufacturers, regulations and in line with business needs.
• Provide a safe, secure and efficient working environment and promptly address all facilities management issues.
• Provide support to other surgical units and staff and provide contingency services.
• Leading the largest facility in the IP STERIS business.
• Manage ambiguity and operational pressure during transformation periods.
• Act as the senior point of contact for customers, Trust leadership, clinicians, and internal stakeholders.

• Risk Management, Security and Health and Safety
• Actively manage risk by implementing and helping to shape the Group’s and Surgical Division’s risk management procedures and implement any strategy.
• Maintaining and updating an active risk register and regularly reviewing key business process and risk control points.
• Contributing to the Surgical Division’s risk management working group.
• Identifying new and changed risks and creating a culture of vigilance and risk reduction.
• Ensure that health and safety, security and quality signs and procedures are in place and up to date.
• Carrying out risk audits in line with the HSS audit schedule and implement timely corrective actions.
• Complete risk assessments for fire safety, health and safety, security and other risk areas.
• Assisting with the development and improvement of the Group and HSS risk management strategy.
• Ensuring that contingency plans and other risk mitigation plans are in place and regularly reviewed and tested.
• Ensuring that all statutory and regulatory and company risk management plans and procedures are implemented at all times.
• Ensure that all statutory, regulatory and company health and safety procedures are implemented at all times.
• Ensure that all staff and other personnel are aware of and adhere to the health and safety procedures and their responsibilities and that they have received appropriate training.
• Ensure that appropriate security systems and procedures are implemented and that all insurance warranties and obligations are maintained.
• Maintain adequate first aid and fire safety equipment and ensure that trained and qualified personnel are on‑site in line with legislation and good practice.

• Quality Assurance and Customer Service
• To act as management representative and maintain compliance to ISO and the UK MDR 2002 and updated or other appropriate regulatory standards.
• Ensure that required traceability and audit trails are maintained including the ability to recall or withhold delivery of products where necessary to reduce risk.
• Create and maintain a quality driven culture and environment within the unit by working with and supporting the Divisional and Group quality personnel.
• Report severe incidents and risk incidents in line with the quality management procedures and systems.
• Maintain product and service quality standards at an acceptable level at all times.
• Implement the Division and Group quality systems and procedures to achieve best practice and to deliver excellent, high quality and service standards.
• Coordinate and conduct internal quality and best practice audits as defined by Divisional and Group quality personnel.
• Work proactively with unit personnel and staff at other units to constantly improve process, quality and risk controls and to eliminate inefficiencies.
• Report and resolve customer complaints in a timely manner.
• Ensure the promotion of awareness of regulatory and customer requirements throughout the unit.
• Refer output/quality conflicts to Group level for resolution by the Group Quality Manager.
• Develop constructive and effective relationships with all customers at all levels and ensure the delivery of excellent customer service.
• Use relationships with customers and contacts to develop new business opportunities for the Group.
• Maintain effective communication with customers and other stakeholders and formally and informally report on quality, service, finance and volume, risk and contractual issues.
• Ownership of contracts and contractual relationships with customers.

• Business Development and Planning
• Negotiation of small and medium size contracts up to the value determined by senior management.
• Participate in the development of the Surgical Division’s business plan and strategy and develop complimentary strategic and business plan for the unit(s) for which the General Manager is responsible.
• Execute the strategy and objectives defined in the Division’s and unit’s business plans.
• In conjunction with the finance team and senior management, formulate short and long term unit budgets in line with the budget and requirements of the Division and Group.
• Work with the sales and marketing and commercial teams to promote the growth of core business.
• Work with suppliers, customers and prospects to develop new business opportunities and to reduce cost and to help grow the business for the unit, Surgical Division and Group.
• Work with and for the Regional Manager and with other senior managers within the surgical division and other departments and managers within the Group.

• Financial Control and Authority
• Achieving budget and financial targets set by the operational board.
• Setting budgets and financial targets in conjunction with HSS Board and financial personnel.
• Liaison with divisional Finance Controller and Regional Financial Business Partner.
• Creating weekly and monthly management reports.
• Control of labour hours and costs within budgeted allowances.
• Monitor and ensure all cash and cheque transactions are banked, secured and controlled in accordance with company policy.
• Requesting of capital expenditure in accordance with company policy.
• Profit and loss responsibility including developing and achieving budget.
• Following company procurement policy and using procurement systems.
• Approving purchase requests and capital requests up to authorised limits.

• Human Resources
• Recruit, retain, motivate, develop and lead staff.
• Ensure that the unit is appropriately staffed at all times to meet business and customer needs, including the provision of on‑call service.
• Effectively manage staff training and development, provide career development plans, carry out and document appraisals and develop succession planning.
• Ensure that all staff receive appropriate remuneration and reward for their work, in line with legislative and company and divisional policy.
• Manage absence following applicable HR procedures to ensure that there is appropriate cover at all times, and to minimise disruption and cost.
• Support the Regional Manager and other parts of the surgical division as required.
• Manage the performance of staff in the unit, carrying out disciplinary processes and resolve grievances as required in line with the company policy and legislation.
• Ensure that staff are appropriately qualified and trained for the duties that they perform.
• Maintaining appropriate remuneration of staff and ensuring that pay and other benefits are paid correctly and on time.

Required Experience

• Senior operational leadership experience within healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing.
• Proven success managing large facilities or multi‑site operations.
• A levels, Scientific preferred - minimum.
• Degree in Scientific subject, Microbiology, Healthcare, Decontamination science etc other relevant areas will be considered.
• Several years experience in a senior management level position.
• Interpersonal skills – managing a mixed team of staff to deliver objectives to tight deadlines.
• Experienced working to strict QMS procedures while maintaining highest levels of Staff safety.
• Relevant H&S training and certification is desirable.
• Clean Driving Licence.

Skills

• Excellent communication, leadership presence, and executive storytelling skills.
• Calm and decisive under pressure.
• Resilient, credible, and trusted by teams and customers.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Values‑driven with a clear focus on patient safety and service excellence.
• Ability to stabilise operations while driving long‑term improvement.

Working Conditions

• There is a requirement to use a VDU.
• There will be a requirement to receive vaccinations and subsequent blood tests to protect against blood borne viruses.
• There is a frequent requirement to host and attend client and senior management meetings both onsite and offsite, usually within 50 miles of the base location.
• There will be occasional requirements to attend off site meetings further afield, occasionally in European locations.
• Ability to deliver objectives to tight deadlines.
• Ability to remain focussed while processing multiple demands for attention.
• Flexible approach to working pattern to suit the needs of a facility operating 24 hours a day.
• Ability to lead and motivate a highly skilled team to achieve the highest standards.
• To be able to maintain concentration where the work pattern is predictable for example, maintaining high standards of accuracy at all times.
• Hands on approach to resolve minor issues e.g. Facility Management, Human Resources, Engineering, Logistics and Procurement.
• Ability to plan forward and maintain adequate stocks of consumable items necessary to complete the tasks required of the facility.
• Desire to achieve highest standards, working to Right first time Principles.
• Recognise the potential impact of the service on an individual patient.
• Familiarity with Lean production principals would be advantageous.