Overview
General Manager
GenMan_1765366311 Posted : 10 / 12 / 2025
General Manager
An exceptional leadership opportunity within a respected, growing manufacturing business - with long-term progression and potential equity participation for the right candidate.
Daniel Owen are recruiting for a well-established and expanding bespoke joinery manufacturer located in Derbyshire. Operating across the Midlands and wider UK, the business has built a strong reputation for producing high-quality bespoke joinery, certified fire doors, and heritage restoration work. Their customer base includes leading contractors, architects, heritage specialists, and private clients.
Location : Derbyshire
Position : General Manager
Salary : £65,000 - £70,000 per annum + Car allowance + performance bonus
Contract Type : Permanent
Availability : This role is immediately available
The company is part of a dynamic and ambitious group of specialist construction and manufacturing businesses. Following significant investment and an agenda of operational improvement and growth, the organisation is entering a pivotal phase. To support this next stage, the Group is seeking a high-calibre General Manager with strong commercial capability and operational leadership experience.
The Role
The General Manager will play a central role in running and developing the business. This is a hands-on, commercially focused position that requires deep involvement in day-to-day commercial activity - including quoting, pricing, tendering, surveying, and client relationship management - as well as oversight of operational performance.
You will lead and develop a team of approximately 50 employees across the workshop, office, and on-site installation teams. Working closely with the Group Managing Director and Group Finance Director, you will be accountable for P&L delivery, operational efficiency, cultural development, and driving sustainable, profitable growth.
This role is ideally suited to an individual who thrives in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment and who enjoys balancing commercial leadership with operational oversight.
Key Responsibilities
* Commercial Leadership
* Lead and manage all commercial processes including quoting, pricing strategies, surveying, design coordination, tender submissions, and contract negotiation
* Develop and maintain strong relationships with key customers, acting as the senior commercial point of contact for the business
* Review and refine pricing models, margin controls, and commercial reporting to enhance profitability
* Support the Group in identifying new markets, sectors, and strategic opportunities to grow pipeline and market presence
* Provide oversight of production planning, scheduling, workflow management, and installation delivery
* Ensure operational processes are robust, scalable, and aligned with best practice
* Drive improvements in manufacturing efficiency, quality assurance, customer service, and project delivery
* Promote and embed a culture of continuous improvement, reducing waste and enhancing output across the business
* Lead approximately 50 employees across production, office support, commercial teams, and site-based installation staff
* Promote a high-performance culture built on accountability, pride in craftsmanship, and ownership of results
* Mentor and support supervisors and managers, ensuring strong communication and effective cross-departmental collaboration
* Set clear objectives, monitor performance, and implement structured development pathways for staff
* Own full P&L responsibility for the business, working closely with Group leadership to set budgets and deliver on financial targets
* Implement strategic initiatives aligned with Group priorities, including systems improvements, commercial innovation, and operational optimisation
* Analyse performance data and provide robust, evidence-based recommendations to the Group Managing Director
* Represent the business at Group level, contributing to wider decision-making and future growth strategies
Essential Experience & Skills
* Significant commercial experience within the bespoke joinery, manufacturing, or specialist construction sector
* Background in a joinery operation, with proven results in pricing, tendering, and margin improvement
* Strong leadership experience, ideally managing mixed teams across workshop, office, and site
* Demonstrable experience implementing systems or improving processes (e.g. CRM, ERP, pricing tools, workflow management systems)
* Highly organised, detail-oriented, and disciplined in planning and follow-through
Personal Attributes
* Commercially astute with a data-driven approach to decision-making
* Hands-on, practical, and approachable, with a willingness to get involved at all levels
* Clear and confident communicator who builds strong internal and external relationships
* Calm, structured, and solutions-focused, even under pressure
* A natural leader who inspires confidence, trust, and accountability across the workforce
How to Apply :
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