General Manager

About the role: We are looking for a General Manager to join our business working in the Rail and Transportation Sector at our Southport site. Reporting to the Operations and Manufacturing Director, you will lead the development and performance of all activities within the Site Business Unit to achieve maximum profitability and growth in line with company and group strategy and budgets. You will be responsible for the Southport Manufacturing Site (approx 100 people) with direct responsibility for the Manufacturing team to deliver the site based objectives and corporate plan. This is a new and exciting role and a great opportunity to join a business during an exciting growth phase. This is a site based role and you must live within a one hour commute of Southport, to be able to deliver the hands on leadership that is required.

About you: Manufacturing background within a transferable heavy industry such as rail, automotive, defence, aerospace, or similar (electronics preferred but not essential). Experience leading a comparable site in scale, budget, and headcount with a proven track record of taking a site from good to great and achieving operational excellence. Experience working closely with Sales to ensure operational capability aligns with demand. Visible, accessible leadership style, spending 20–30% of time on the shop floor. Gravitas and confidence to challenge the status quo constructively. Ability to represent the site’s best interests within the wider group. Inspirational leadership that brings people along on a journey of positive change. Active curiosity and strong listening skills. Growth‑oriented mindset with a focus on marginal gains and continuous improvement. Strong track record of uniting teams around a clear vision, mission, and purpose. Demonstrated commitment to developing or maintaining a strong safety culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, engage, and develop the team to improve operational excellence and delivery to the customer.
• Implement The Unipart Way Forward Strategy and the Rail and Public Transportation Sector strategy.
• Drive a culture of safety, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Ensure safe and compliant delivery of all products and services in accordance with statutory regulations.
• Drive operational performance and customer satisfaction.
• Manage the site budget ensuring delivery of operational financial targets including cost control and operational efficiency.
• Monitor KPIs and produce regular performance for senior leadership.
• Provide visible leadership and build high performing and engaged teams.
• Conduct regular Exec reviews with relevant management to develop Employee Engagement, establish effective communications, build employee capability, and to provide insight for the improvement of sales, engineering and operational activity performance.
• Ensure activities meet with and integrate with organisational requirements for quality management, health and safety, legal stipulations, environmental policies and general duty of care.
• Work in a safe manner, taking reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and other people at work, following appropriate Health and Safety guidance, training and company rules and procedures as appropriate.

Unipart - Who are we? Unipart is a leading supply chain performance improvement partner with a rich British heritage spanning over 50 years. Operating in over 20 countries with a team of over 8,000 colleagues, we design, make, move and improve components in our customers’ supply chains across seven key sectors, including for some of the world’s most recognisable brands. As a valued employee of Unipart, you can look forward to a varied and rewarding career with a company that holds a world class status in employee engagement and a commitment to continuous improvement thanks to our unique philosophy, The Unipart Way.