Managing Director

JR United Kingdom; Leeds; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based organization seeks a Managing Director to lead two renowned furniture brands. This pivotal role involves strategic oversight, operational management, and driving growth across domestic and international markets, ensuring both brands maintain their commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Training programmes

Supportive leadership environment

Commitment to sustainability

Qualifications

• Extensive experience at board or C-suite level.
• Background in managing large-scale operations within consumer goods.
• Experience in building partnerships with major retailers.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of business strategy and daily operations.
• Drive product excellence and manage supply chain.
• Develop scalable manufacturing strategies and foster a high-performing leadership team.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Operational Management

Supply Chain Management

Sustainability

People Skills

Education

Substantial experience in senior executive roles

Job description

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Managing Director, leeds, west yorkshire

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Client:

Robert Walters

Location:

leeds, west yorkshire, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Views:

3

Posted:

07.06.2025

Expiry Date:

22.07.2025

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Job Description:

A rare opportunity has arisen for an accomplished Managing Director to take the helm of two of the UK’s most respected furniture manufacturing brands, each with a rich heritage and a reputation for quality, innovation, and design. This pivotal role offers you the chance to shape the future of both a leading UK-based manufacturer and a globally recognised luxury import brand, steering their growth across established and emerging markets. You will be joining an organisation that is synonymous with long-standing excellence, trusted by major retailers and independent stores alike, and committed to sustainable practices and continuous improvement. With a focus on nurturing high-performing teams, driving operational efficiency, and championing design-led thinking, this position provides a unique platform for you to make a significant impact at both national and international levels. Flexible working opportunities are available, alongside generous support for professional development and a collaborative senior leadership team dedicated to shared success.

• Lead two iconic sofa brands with distinct identities—one rooted in UK manufacturing excellence, the other focused on global luxury brand development—offering you unparalleled scope for influence and achievement.
• Work closely with household-name retailers and premium partners while expanding into new markets such as online retail, the US, Middle East, and Asia, ensuring your strategic vision shapes the next chapter of growth.
• Benefit from flexible working opportunities, access to training programmes, and the support of an experienced senior leadership network committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace culture.

What you'll do:

As Managing Director, you will play a central role in shaping the future direction of two highly regarded sofa brands—one celebrated for its stylish UK-manufactured products and another renowned for its luxury appeal in international markets. Your day-to-day responsibilities will see you balancing strategic oversight with hands-on operational management: guiding teams through complex supply chains; nurturing relationships with key retail partners; exploring new avenues for growth; implementing sustainability initiatives; and ensuring that every aspect of production meets exacting standards. Success in this role will require you to blend commercial acumen with empathy for your teams’ needs; maintain open lines of communication across all levels; respond thoughtfully to changing market conditions; and consistently deliver results that reinforce each brand’s reputation for quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. By leveraging your experience in both domestic manufacturing environments and global brand development contexts, you will help secure lasting success for these iconic names.

• Oversee all aspects of business strategy and daily operations for two leading furniture brands, ensuring seamless integration between UK-based manufacturing and global luxury import activities.
• Drive product excellence by promoting innovative design, superior craftsmanship, and operational efficiency across both brands.
• Manage the entire supply chain journey—from sourcing raw materials through production, quality control, warehousing, and delivery—ensuring reliability and sustainability at every stage.
• Strengthen existing sales channels with major UK furniture retailers while identifying new opportunities in online retail and international markets including the US, Middle East, and Asia.
• Develop scalable manufacturing strategies that enable export readiness while maintaining high standards of quality and sustainability.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives in processes and materials to reduce waste and enhance environmental responsibility.
• Foster a high-performing leadership team that thrives on collaboration, agility, and shared goals within a performance-driven culture.
• Adapt proactively to evolving consumer trends, regulatory changes, competitor activity, and shifting market dynamics to ensure ongoing relevance and resilience.
• Collaborate closely with group leadership to ensure strategic alignment across all business units while providing clear reporting on KPIs, market insights, and long-term growth plans.
• Promote a design-led culture that keeps both brands differentiated in their respective markets through compelling storytelling and consistent brand positioning.

What you bring:

To excel as Managing Director in this context requires not only substantial experience at board or C-suite level but also a nuanced understanding of what it takes to balance tradition with transformation. Your background should include proven success managing large-scale operations—ideally within furniture manufacturing or related consumer goods industries—where you have been responsible for multiple brands or business units simultaneously. You will bring deep knowledge of supply chain best practices (including international sourcing), commercial strategy formulation (with particular emphasis on new market entry), partnership building (across both mass-market retailers & premium channels), as well as an instinctive feel for what makes design-led products stand out. Equally important are your people skills: your ability to inspire trust among colleagues; nurture talent within cross-functional teams; communicate openly about challenges & opportunities alike; adapt gracefully when circumstances change unexpectedly—all underpinned by genuine commitment towards sustainability & continuous improvement. If you thrive in environments where collaboration is valued above hierarchy—and where every decision is made with an eye towards long-term communal benefit—you will find this role both rewarding & impactful.

• Demonstrated experience in senior executive roles within manufacturing or consumer goods sectors where you have overseen multi-brand portfolios or complex business units.
• Proven ability to develop profitable growth strategies tailored to both established domestic markets and emerging international segments such as online retail or overseas expansion.
• Expertise in managing end-to-end supply chains—including sourcing decisions based on cost analysis, lead time optimisation, sustainability considerations, and supplier relationship management (especially in Asia).
• Track record of building strong partnerships with major retailers as well as premium lifestyle influencers to drive brand visibility and sales performance.
• Deep understanding of design-led product development processes coupled with an appreciation for craftsmanship, storytelling, and luxury positioning within competitive markets.
• Experience leading high-performing teams by fostering collaboration, supporting professional development initiatives, setting clear expectations around performance standards—and encouraging continuous improvement at every level.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing regulations (including legal compliance), industry specifications or competitor moves while maintaining focus on long-term objectives.
• Strong financial acumen demonstrated through successful budget planning; achievement of financial targets; effective resource allocation; risk management; reporting against KPIs; etc.
• Excellent interpersonal skills enabling you to communicate clearly across diverse stakeholder groups—from board members through frontline staff—and build consensus around shared goals.
• Commitment to championing sustainability initiatives that reduce waste while enhancing operational efficiency throughout all stages of production.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out as one of the UK’s most respected names in home furnishings—a group whose legacy spans more than 150 years yet remains firmly focused on future growth. With turnover exceeding £120m annually & partnerships extending from household-name retailers through leading independents nationwide (and beyond), they offer unrivalled stability combined with ambition. Their approach blends traditional craftsmanship with modern design sensibilities; local manufacturing expertise with global reach; operational rigour with creative flair. Employees benefit from flexible working arrangements designed around individual needs—as well as access to ongoing training opportunities that support personal & professional development at every stage. The senior leadership team is known for its supportive ethos: prioritising open communication; celebrating collective achievements; investing generously in wellbeing initiatives—and always striving towards greater inclusivity & representation across all levels. For those seeking not just a job but a meaningful career journey—where your contributions are valued & your ideas can shape industry standards—this is truly an exceptional place to belong.

What's next:

If you are ready to take on this influential role guiding two iconic brands into their next era of success—and believe your experience aligns with our vision—we encourage you to apply today.