Are you an experienced industrial leader ready to take overall responsibility for a complex, sustainable manufacturing operation?
Are you a culture-builder with a strong focus on results, who is passionate about leadership and wants to shape the future of the Workington mill?
We are now looking for a Mill Manager to lead our mill into the future.
Your next workplace
Holmen Workington Mill is an integrated pulp and paperboard mill located on the edge of the Lake District in the north of England. We produce premium paperboard under the Incada brand – an important part of the shopping experience for customers around the world.
Since 2013, the Workington Mill has been powered almost entirely by fossil-free energy. Today, circa 370 colleagues work together here in a safety-focused, collaborative and development-driven environment, close to both nature and community.
Holmen is a company characterised by courage, commitment and responsibility. These values are the key to our success and help support behaviours, priorities and decisions every day. At the Workington mill, we continuously work to improve and develop our working methods to ensure quality and sustainability.
Your future challenge
As Mill Manager, you have overall responsibility for the operation, performance, and long-term development of the Workington Mill. You lead and develop the mill organisation in line with Holmen’s values and the business area’s strategy, with a strong focus on safety, customer focus, efficiency, and sustainability.
You provide clear direction and inspiring leadership, build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and drive continuous improvement and innovation in line with Holmen’s ambitions.
Employee engagement is a key success factor at the Workington Mill. As Mill Manager, you actively involve others, value diverse perspectives, and foster open dialogue. You promote continuous learning through regular feedback, challenge yourself and others to develop, and build a strong, collaborative team culture that supports well-informed decision-making.
This is a senior leadership role with significant influence, where you set direction, ensure safe and stable operations, and strengthen the mill’s competitiveness both today and for the future.
Your main areas of responsibility:-
1. Overall responsibility for mill operations, performance, and results
2. Lead and develop the mill organisation, management team, and leaders
3. Drive continuous improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and cost efficiency
4. Ensure strong customer focus and delivery performance
5. Develop the mill in line with Holmen’s sustainability ambitions and long-term strategy
6. Act as a role model for Holmen’s values: courage, commitment, and responsibility
7. Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and safety requirements
8. Lead change and development initiatives to strengthen competitiveness and resilience
To succeed in this role
The successful candidate will hold a relevant degree in engineering, industrial economics or similar; several years’ experience of leadership within the manufacturing industry; good knowledge of working environment and safety matters; strong drive and the ability to engage and develop your employees; as well as excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships.
We believe you bring:
9. Solid experience from the manufacturing industry
10. Proven leadership capabilities and substantial experience in managing people and organisations
11. Experience of operations and working as part of the senior management team
12. Strong financial and business understanding
13. A university degree or equivalent experience
It is considered an advantage if you also have experience of lean manufacturing and change management.
As a person, you are a clear, inspiring and values-driven leader who creates trust and engagement. You work in a structured and goal-oriented way, are comfortable making decisions, and have a genuine interest in developing both people and performance.
Our Offer
At Holmen, you will step into a senior, strategically important role within an international, sustainability-driven organisation with strong values and long-term ambitions. You will be entrusted with a broad mandate and significant autonomy, with real influence over the mill’s performance, development and long term competitiveness.
We have an open and welcoming atmosphere, shaped by our values of courage, commitment and responsibility. The role combines strategic responsibility with hands-on leadership, offering the opportunity to drive change, shape priorities, and deliver tangible impact in a core part of our business.
This is a unique opportunity for you who want to operate at a high strategic level within a global company, while also benefiting from close collaboration and fast decision-making, and from living and working close to the Lake District, an environment that offers exceptional access to nature, outdoor activities, and a high quality of life.
Apply today
Does this sound like your next challenge? You are warmly welcome to submit your application; we will review applications on an ongoing basis.
Employment level
Permanent employment
Working hours
Day
Occupation degree
Full time
Location
Workington
Last day of application
15 March, 2026
Katie Cartner
Head of Human Resources
01900 600215
Send email Send application
Last modified
13 February, 2026
We let the forest grow and give
Holmen’s operations are powered by the forest. The growing trees, the water rushing down the mighty rivers and the wind blowing through the treetops. This is the heart of Holmen, a business built around the forest ecocycle and the renewable products we can create from it. Our business areas are Forest, Renewable Energy, Wood Products, Paperboard and Paper. With a workforce of 3 500 people, we create a sustainable future and value for shareholders, customers and society with courage, commitment and responsibility.
Premium paperboard and innovative paper products from fresh fibre Holmen produces premium paperboard and innovative paper products for everything from cosmetics, electronics, pharmaceuticals and food to books, magazines, advertising and transport packaging. Our products are appreciated by conscious customers due to their exceptional properties and low climate footprint. We use fresh fibre from sustainably managed and certified forests. Our production and processing facilities are located in Braviken, Hallstavik, Iggesund and Strömsbruk in Sweden and Workington in the UK.