Job Description
We are working with a manufacturing business in Leeds who are in a period of ambitious growth. They are seeking a Business Manager to partner directly with Joint Managing Directors and work with the senior leaders in the business.
Strategic guiding principles include empowering people, embracing new technologies, creating new IP, expanding global presence, and maximising supply chain efficiencies.
They are looking for a strategic orchestrator who can keep the operational tempo of the business steady and rhythmic, provide executive support to the Managing Directors and break down silos to ensure successful delivery of initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Initiative Execution and Framework Ownership
* Establish the governance and accountability framework to drive the execution of the joint MD’s strategic initiatives.
* Report on KPIs, hold regular initiative review cadences, and ensure cross-functional teams have clear ownership of their deliverables.
* Analyse, and present data to provide decision-ready insights, ensuring the leadership team is always focused on the most critical constraints.
2. Operational Rhythm and Prioritisation
* Establish and maintain the tempo, ensuring that projects move forward with a consistent, manageable rhythm rather than reactive urgency.
* Make day-to-day operational decisions on behalf of the Joint MDs to unblock bottlenecks and keep cross-functional initiatives moving.
3. Matrix Management & Cross-Functional Leadership
* Act as the central point of coordination for matrixed teams. Support workload management and initiative prioritisation through understanding constraints and working with the line managers to address these.
* Foster collaboration between technical/lab teams, sales, and operations, ensuring everyone is aligned on projects underpinning the 2030 growth roadmap.
4. Executive Support
* Oversee the executive operating rhythm, including managing schedules, setting agendas, preparing comprehensive materials for Board and leadership meetings and tracking delivery of agreed actions.
* Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, acting as a central coordination point for matters requiring MD attention. On occasion represent the MDs at internal meetings as agreed.
Experience and Qualifications
* Significant experience in business management, project management or similar.
* Proven track record of driving business performance and contributing to process improvements or change projects.
* Confident to influence outcomes without direct line management responsibility.
* Demonstrable impact of establishing and improving cross-departmental processes.
* Experienced managing multiple conflicting demands.
* High level of discretion, integrity and professional judgement.
* Relevant degree or management qualification preferred.
This will be an on-site role in Leeds, paying £60k - £70k + package.