General Manager

Monaghan Mushrooms Limited; Leckford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mushroom production company is seeking a General Manager to oversee its high-intensity substrate operation in Leckford, England. This role involves leading up to 20 colleagues, implementing continuous improvement strategies, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. The successful candidate will possess significant experience in managing complex production facilities and will need strong leadership skills to motivate teams effectively. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of an advanced substrate operation with substantial investment and ambition.

Qualifications

• Significant experience running complex production or agri-food facilities.
• Hands-on leadership with capability to manage multilingual teams.
• Strong communication skills to influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a high-intensity production environment with continuous monitoring.
• Lead and inspire teams across substrate production phases.
• Drive operational excellence and ensure compliance with health and safety standards.

Skills

Leadership in production environments

Data-driven decision making

Continuous improvement

Team motivation

Commercial acumen

Education

Degree in Agriculture or related field

Job description

Lead a mission-critical site - oversee a seven-day, high-intensity production environment with 24-hour monitoring, ensuring the consistent delivery of a world-class product. Build and inspire high-performing teams - lead c.20 colleagues, including three key managers across each phase of substrate production, developing capability, engagement, and accountability. Drive continuous improvement - elevate productivity, quality, and reliability through cultural leadership, data-driven decision making, and operational excellence. Own the full production ecosystem - from raw material management and supplier relationships to environmental compliance, maintenance oversight, and long-term strategic planning. Protect the environment and our community - uphold the highest standards across Health & Safety, environmental permits, and community relations.

• Weekly production of 1,000+ tonnes of substrate, aligned to Group schedules and customer demand.
• End-to-end site management: H&S, environmental performance, maintenance, security, quality, and staffing.
• Accurate forecasting, supply chain coordination, and raw material optimisation.
• A culture rooted in safety, high standards, accountability, and improvement.
• Long-term strategic planning to ensure reliability, efficiency, and future‑fit capability.
• Significant experience running a complex production, farming, agri‑food, composting, or recycling facility.
• A hands‑on, performance‑driven leadership style with the ability to motivate multilingual teams.
• Strong commercial acumen and comfort managing budgets, forecasts, and key operational KPIs.
• A track record of delivering continuous improvement and operational upgrades.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to influence across supply chain, procurement, and senior leadership.
• Ideally, an agricultural background or related degree (helpful but not essential).
• Shape the future of a world‑leading substrate operation.

Monaghan Mushrooms is at the forefront of mushroom production, innovation, and sustainability. At the heart of this success is our advanced substrate manufacturing capability, and our Tunnel Tech South site represents one of the most sophisticated substrate operations in the UK. Following more than £10m of investment over the past decade, Tunnel Tech South is a state‑of‑the‑art facility located on the John Lewis Leckford Estate. It produces over 1,000 tonnes of high‑quality substrate every week, supplying both Monaghan growers and select third‑party partners. We are now seeking a General Manager to lead this flagship operation and drive its next chapter of performance, capability, and growth. This is not just another operations role. It's a chance to shape the future of one of the UK's most advanced substrate operations, a site with scale, investment, and ambition. This is your chance to shape the future of a world‑leading substrate operation, and for the right individual, the visibility, impact, and long‑term career opportunity are exceptional.