General Manager UK & Ireland in Birmingham

ZEISS is technology and innovation. Founded in Germany in 1846, ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries across 50 countries. As a company wholly owned by a foundation, ZEISS is committed to responsibility in all its activities. As a pioneer in scientific optics, its employees across the globe continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. With a strong focus on quality and innovation, ZEISS creates value for its customers and helps shape new ways of seeing the world.

ZEISS Vision Care UK&I is seeking an exceptional General Manager to lead the business through its next phase of growth, transformation and market development. As General Manager of ZEISS Vision Care UK&I, you will have full leadership responsibility for the business, setting its strategic direction and translating ambition into sustainable commercial and operational performance. You will lead a talented UK&I Leadership Team and shape an organisation that is high-performing, customer-focused, innovative and ready for the future.

This is a significant leadership opportunity for an experienced executive who combines strategic vision with commercial and operational rigour, and who is motivated by building organisations, developing people and creating sustainable business value. You will balance growth and profitability with customer experience, operational excellence, employee engagement and organisational capability, ensuring the UK&I business continues to strengthen its position within the vision care market while remaining aligned with ZEISS's global and regional priorities.

Your Role

As General Manager, you will define and execute the UK&I business strategy, with accountability for revenue, profitability, market development, cash flow and overall business performance. You will identify opportunities for growth and diversification, from new channels and customer segments to strategic partnerships and emerging market opportunities. Using a strong understanding of customers, market dynamics and competitive trends, you will ensure the organisation remains agile and positioned to respond to changing customer expectations, technology and industry developments.

A key part of your mandate will be to lead transformation and modernisation across the business. You will champion digital enablement, innovation, continuous improvement and organisational simplification, ensuring that processes, systems, technologies and capabilities are fit for both today's requirements and tomorrow's opportunities.

You will also provide executive oversight across the broader operation, including commercial activities, laboratory services, customer service, supply chain, logistics, quality and business support functions. Working closely with regional and global colleagues, you will leverage the scale, expertise and best practices of ZEISS while ensuring the UK&I organisation has the focus and agility to respond to its local market.

Beyond business performance, you will be the cultural leader for ZEISS Vision Care UK&I. You will lead, coach and develop a high-performing Leadership Team, creating clarity of purpose, accountability and collaboration across the organisation. Working in partnership with People & Culture, you will build the talent, leadership capability and organisational structures required to support long-term success. You will champion a workplace where people can perform, develop and contribute, with a strong focus on inclusion, wellbeing, continuous learning and engagement. Succession planning, leadership development and organisational effectiveness will be central to building a resilient organisation with a strong pipeline of future leaders.

You will bring ZEISS values and leadership principles to life, creating a culture that combines high performance with integrity, customer focus, innovation and collaboration. As the principal representative and ambassador for ZEISS Vision Care UK&I, you will build trusted relationships at the highest levels with customers, strategic partners, industry associations, healthcare professionals and other key stakeholders across the optical and vision care community. You will use your external perspective to strengthen ZEISS's visibility, credibility and influence, while bringing valuable market insight back into the organisation.

You will also represent UK&I priorities within regional and global ZEISS forums, ensuring the UK&I business is strongly connected to the wider organisation and able to contribute to and benefit from global opportunities. As the senior executive for the UK&I business, you will additionally hold responsibility for effective governance and stewardship of the organisation, ensuring that business activities are conducted ethically and in accordance with applicable legislation, regulation and ZEISS policies. You will oversee risk, compliance, business continuity, financial governance and other critical areas through the relevant functional leadership teams.

Your Experience

We are looking for a proven senior leader with significant progressive leadership experience, including substantial responsibility for commercial performance, operations and/or general management. You will bring significant P&L leadership experience, with a track record of delivering revenue growth, profitability and operational performance while balancing short-term results with long-term value creation. You will be comfortable operating at enterprise level and leading through other senior leaders, with experience managing complex, multi-functional organisations and working effectively within a matrixed regional or global environment.

Critically, you will be a strategic thinker who can translate strategy into action. You will have demonstrated experience leading organisations through growth, transformation or significant change, identifying new business opportunities and building the capabilities required to deliver sustainable results. You will also be an accomplished people leader, with a strong track record of building high-performing teams, developing senior talent and creating cultures where accountability, collaboration and innovation can thrive.

Experience as a General Manager, Managing Director, Country Manager, Vice President, Business Unit Leader or equivalent executive would be advantageous. Experience within vision care, optical, healthcare, medical devices, technology, manufacturing, consumer products or another regulated environment would also be valuable. A bachelor's degree in business, finance, marketing, engineering, operations, science, healthcare or a related discipline is required. An MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification, together with executive-level leadership, strategy or general management development, would be an advantage.

What you'll bring

• Enterprise-level strategic leadership and execution
• Strong commercial acumen and proven P&L ownership
• A track record of sustainable growth and market development
• Experience leading complex, multi-functional organisations
• Strong customer and stakeholder relationship management skills
• Experience delivering transformation, modernisation and continuous improvement
• The ability to operate effectively across regional and global matrix structures
• A strong understanding of financial management, governance and risk
• A passion for developing people, leaders and organisational capability
• An authentic, collaborative and values-led leadership style

This is an opportunity to take on a highly visible leadership role within a globally recognised organisation and make a lasting impact on the future of Zeiss Vision Care UK&I. You will have the scope, influence and resources to shape strategy, accelerate growth, strengthen organisational capability and create an environment where people and the business can thrive. If you are an accomplished executive who combines commercial ambition, strategic thinking and authentic leadership, and you are ready to lead a business through its next chapter, we would welcome your application.

Apply now to take the next step in joining ZEISS, where you can push technological boundaries, shape markets and contribute to the advancement of society.

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team: Kate Campbell