General Manager

Smurfit Westrock Company; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock Company in Leicester seeks a General Manager responsible for overall site performance across Sales, Operations, Quality, H&S and financial results. You will set strategic direction, build a high-performing team and deliver sustainable, profitable growth while leading commercial activity.

You will own the sales agenda, understand market dynamics, manage key customer relationships, and translate insights into growth strategies.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant technical, business or management discipline; 5–7+ years senior experience in manufacturing, operations, commercial or related environment.
• Proven leadership experience with accountability for business performance, sales/commercial growth and operational delivery.
• Strong financial, budgeting, forecasting and P&L management capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the management team and take overall accountability for Sales, Operations, Quality, Health & Safety and P&L performance.
• Develop and execute the site strategy, ensuring alignment with wider business objectives and delivering sustainable, profitable growth.
• Own the commercial and sales strategy, setting clear growth targets and working closely with customers and the sales team to deliver revenue and margin growth.
• Maintain a strong understanding of market dynamics, customer needs, competitor activity and industry trends, using market insight to identify opportunities, manage risks and shape future product and service offerings.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, leading customer visits, commercial discussions and initiatives to improve customer satisfaction and retention.
• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts and financial controls, with clear accountability for profitability, cost control and cash performance.
• Drive operational excellence, improving productivity, efficiency, quality, service and on-time delivery while controlling waste and operating costs.
• Ensure production, manpower and capacity plans meet customer and market requirements effectively.
• Lead continuous improvement and capital investment programmes to strengthen operational performance and competitiveness.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant Safety, Health, Environmental, Quality and employment requirements, maintaining high standards across the business.
• Create a high-performance, customer-focused culture through effective leadership, communication, coaching, development and succession planning.
• Develop strong relationships with regional and corporate functions to maximise commercial and operational performance.
• Lead change effectively, identifying opportunities to improve the business and ensuring successful implementation of agreed initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

P&L management

Strategic planning

Commercial growth

Market analysis

Stakeholder management

Change management

Continuous improvement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Opportunity:

As General Manager, you will have overall accountability for the performance and success of the site(s), leading Sales, Operations, Quality, Health & Safety and financial performance. You will set the strategic direction, build a high-performing team and ensure the business delivers sustainable, profitable growth. A key part of the role will be commercial leadership. You will own the sales agenda, develop a strong understanding of the market, customers, competitors and emerging trends, and translate these insights into clear sales and growth strategies. You will identify new business opportunities, strengthen existing customer relationships and ensure our products and services continue to meet changing market and customer needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the management team and take overall accountability for Sales, Operations, Quality, Health & Safety and P&L performance.


• Develop and execute the site strategy, ensuring alignment with wider business objectives and delivering sustainable, profitable growth.


• Own the commercial and sales strategy, setting clear growth targets and working closely with customers and the sales team to deliver revenue and margin growth.


• Maintain a strong understanding of market dynamics, customer needs, competitor activity and industry trends, using market insight to identify opportunities, manage risks and shape future product and service offerings.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, leading customer visits, commercial discussions and initiatives to improve customer satisfaction and retention.


• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts and financial controls, with clear accountability for profitability, cost control and cash performance.


• Drive operational excellence, improving productivity, efficiency, quality, service and on-time delivery while controlling waste and operating costs.


• Ensure production, manpower and capacity plans meet customer and market requirements effectively.


• Lead continuous improvement and capital investment programmes to strengthen operational performance and competitiveness.


• Ensure compliance with all relevant Safety, Health, Environmental, Quality and employment requirements, maintaining high standards across the business.


• Create a high-performance, customer-focused culture through effective leadership, communication, coaching, development and succession planning.


• Develop strong relationships with regional and corporate functions to maximise commercial and operational performance.


• Lead change effectively, identifying opportunities to improve the business and ensuring successful implementation of agreed initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Degree in a relevant technical, business or management discipline preferred, with 5–7+ years’ senior experience in manufacturing, operations, commercial or a related environment.


• Proven leadership experience with accountability for business performance, sales/commercial growth and operational delivery.


• Strong understanding of markets, customers, competitors and commercial drivers, with the ability to turn market insight into actionable business strategy.


• Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing business strategy and delivering profitable growth.


• Strong financial, budgeting, forecasting and P&L management capability.


• Excellent leadership, communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.


• Strong customer focus with the ability to develop trusted senior-level customer relationships.


• Experience of continuous improvement, change management and delivering operational efficiencies.


• Strong problem-solving, planning and decision-making skills, with the ability to challenge constructively and make fact-based decisions.


• Inclusive leadership style with a strong focus on employee engagement, development and performance.


• Good understanding of Safety, Health, Environmental, Quality and employment requirements.


• Results-focused, commercially aware and resilient, with the ability to balance customer, people, operational and financial priorities.