General Manager
Smurfit Westrock – Printed Carton Packaging
Based Newcastle £excellent negotiable package
Smurfit Westrock is a leading global paper and packaging solutions provider. With more than 97,000 employees operating across 500+ facilities, as well as 57 mills across 40 countries, they offer an unrivalled product portfolio and global expertise, delivering innovative solutions for a sustainable future. With a truly inclusive culture, their EveryOne Program ensures employees feel valued, respected, included and empowered and offers the opportunity to develop in a fast paced and progressive environment.
Their well-established Newcastle site, which employs c240 people, manufactures a diverse range of folding carton packaging. Using customizable shapes, high-quality printing and innovative designs to improve visual impact, Smurfit Westrock Newcastle support an impressive customer base in the food and beverage sectors.
A rare and exciting opportunity has now arisen for an inspirational leader to take up the role of General Manager, delivering a high-performance culture that drives employee engagement, operational excellence and profitable sales growth. Taking P&L responsibility, you will relish the opportunity to improve the performance of the business, harnessing the support of the workforce to deliver site strategy, whilst retaining a ‘hands-on’ approach where required.
Your previous experience of mentoring, coaching and developing teams will be particularly valued in a position where you will take overall strategic responsibility for developing the site’s potential and creating a workplace where people thrive and contribute meaningfully to the success of the business.
Degree level, you will have an impressive track record in General Management, gained within a fast paced, high volume, business to business, manufacturing environment such as packaging, paper, food, FMCG etc. Exceptional candidates with a strong Operations or Supply Chain background, with wider functional experience, seeking their first P&L role, may also be considered.
You will be able to demonstrate how your experience of driving and delivering business strategies, policies and objectives have improved profitability and site performance, gaining the support, trust and commitment of employees, internal stakeholders, customers and suppliers. This will be combined with proven experience of change management and the delivery of successful Lean/CI/Six Sigma initiatives.
All applications and contact from third parties must be made via our retained Recruitment Partner – SP Executive Recruitment Ltd. To apply please send your CV with current salary details quoting ref: SP2664. Applicants must hold a working visa for the UK.
If you have not been invited for interview within 7 days after the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Closing date: 8th May 2026.