Job Description
Job Title: Plant Manager
Location: North West England
Industry: Chemical Manufacturing
About the Company
Our client is a multi-billion-pound global leader in the chemical manufacturing sector. With an exceptional track record of quality, safety, and operational performance, the company operates multiple strategic sites worldwide. The role in question is at a key chemical production site in North West England.
The Role
This is a rare and exciting opportunity for a highly experienced and technically strong Site Manager (Plant Manager) to lead a several hundred person manufacturing facility. We are seeking a hands-on, engineering-driven leader to take over a well-run site and continue its excellence in performance, quality, safety, and cost management.
Key Responsibilities
* Full responsibility for site operations, including production, engineering, HSE, maintenance, and quality.
* Maintain and enhance site performance in safety, operational reliability, and product quality.
* Lead a team of 100 staff in a consensus-driven, open-dialogue culture – including good union relations.
* Ensure effective use of OPEX (£25M) and CAPEX (£2–6M annually), aligning with corporate priorities.
* Champion a strong safety culture and regulatory compliance across all functions.
* Foster talent development and succession planning at site level.
* Be the primary on-site decision-maker; must be comfortable “running the show” in a high-visibility leadership role.
Candidate Requirements
* Engineering background / education (Mechanical, Chemical, Process, Electrical, or related discipline).
* 10–15 years’ experience in manufacturing environments (chemicals preferred)
* Minimum 4 years of successful experience as a Plant/Site Manager, preferably at a single-site level with full operational accountability.
* Proven ability to lead in a unionised environment through open communication and mutual respect.
* Strong track record in maintaining high-performing operations – this is not a turnaround role; it’s about sustaining excellence.
* Skilled in managing capital and operational budgets with discipline and strategic foresight.