Plant General Manager

Plant General Manager – Rushden

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced, people-focused Plant General Manager to lead our manufacturing site in Rushden. Reporting to the BMS UKI General Manager, you will have full responsibility for the operational, financial, safety, quality, and people performance of a well-established manufacturing facility with approximately 127 employees and £20M turnover.

This is a highly visible leadership opportunity within a global organisation, offering the autonomy to drive operational excellence, continuous improvement, and long-term business growth. The successful candidate will lead a cross-functional management team while ensuring the site consistently delivers against production, quality, customer service, and financial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead all day-to-day manufacturing operations to achieve production, quality, delivery, and customer service targets.
• Ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant performance across a multi-process manufacturing environment.
• Develop and execute site strategy aligned with divisional and UK business objectives.
• Drive operational excellence through performance management and accountability.

Health, Safety, Environment & Compliance

• Champion a proactive health, safety, and environmental culture across the site.
• Ensure full compliance with regulatory, company, quality, and environmental standards.
• Lead risk management activities and continuous improvement of EHS performance.
• Maintain a strong focus on employee wellbeing and operational safety.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Take full ownership of site financial performance, including P&L accountability.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and capital investment planning.
• Deliver productivity improvements and sustainable cost reduction initiatives.
• Support profitable growth through effective operational and commercial decision-making.

Quality & Customer Excellence

• Ensure products consistently meet customer, regulatory, and quality requirements.
• Support audit programmes and continuous enhancement of quality management systems.
• Build strong relationships with customers and respond effectively to operational challenges.
• Drive a culture of right-first-time manufacturing and customer focus.

Leadership & People Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the site leadership team and wider workforce.
• Foster a high-performance culture built on engagement, accountability, and teamwork.
• Drive succession planning, talent development, and capability-building activities.
• Promote effective communication and employee engagement across all levels of the organisation.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence initiatives/
• Improve productivity, efficiency, and waste reduction through structured methodologies.
• Support organisational change and transformation programmes.
• Identify and implement best practices to enhance operational performance and profitability.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will be a proven manufacturing leader with significant experience managing complex operations and delivering sustainable business results.

Essential Requirements

• Extensive manufacturing leadership experience within a plant, site, or operations management environment.
• Demonstrable success leading large, multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, quality, and supply chain processes.
• Proven P&L responsibility including budgeting, cost control, and financial performance management.
• Strong knowledge of health, safety, environmental, and quality standards.
• Track record of delivering operational improvements and business transformation initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management, leadership, and communication skills.
• Analytical, data-driven, and commercially focused approach to decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or similar continuous improvement methodologies. 

What Success Looks Like

Within your first 12 months, you will:

• Consistently achieve production, quality, delivery, and customer service targets.
• Maintain excellent health, safety, environmental, and quality performance.
• Deliver site budget commitments and improve operational profitability.
• Successfully implement continuous improvement initiatives that increase productivity and reduce waste.
• Strengthen leadership capability and employee engagement across the site.
• Build effective relationships with customers, suppliers, and key internal stakeholders.

Why Join Us?

• Lead a strategic manufacturing site with full operational and commercial accountability.
• Shape the future direction and performance of the Rushden facility.
• Work within a respected global organisation committed to operational excellence and sustainability.
• Gain significant visibility with senior leadership and opportunities for future progression.
• Make a measurable impact through leadership, transformation, and continuous improvement.

Location: Rushden, Northamptonshire
Working Pattern: Full-time, onsite
Reporting To: BMS UKI General Manager