Plant General Manager

REFRESCO; Pontefract; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Enhanced pension

28 days annual leave

Leave purchase option

Life assurance

Income protection

Virtual GP access

Wellbeing support

GroceryAid support

Cheers platform

Job summary

Refresco is seeking a Plant General Manager for the Bondgate site in the United Kingdom. This pivotal role leads a high-volume beverage manufacturing operation with ~150 colleagues, guiding strategic direction, operational excellence and a high-performing culture.

You will drive safety, quality, productivity and customer service while delivering the site’s investment plans and long-term growth ambitions.

Qualifications

• Experience leading FMCG/high-volume manufacturing operations.
• Strong leadership and change-management capabilities.
• Strategic and hands-on operational mindset.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering site strategy aligned with Refresco's objectives and growth plans.
• Leading manufacturing, engineering, warehousing and site services to drive safety, quality, productivity and OEE.
• Creating a high-performing culture through leadership, capability development and engagement.
• Owning site financials including P&L accountability, budgeting and cost improvements.
• Ensuring health & safety, food safety, quality and regulatory compliance.
• Building strong relationships with senior leaders, customers and stakeholders.

Job description

Career Opportunities: Plant General Manager (17651)

Requisition ID17651-Posted11/09/2026-United Kingdom-Bondgate

This is an exciting opportunity to join Refresco UK as General Manager for our Bondgate manufacturing facility. Reporting to the Manufacturing Director, you will lead a strategically important and highly agile operation producing approximately 147 million units annually with a workforce of around 150 colleagues. As the site enters an exciting phase of investment and growth, you will play a pivotal role in shaping its future, developing capability, driving performance and creating a high-performing culture that delivers exceptional results.

What's in it for you?

• Annual bonus and regular pay reviews
• Private medical insurance for you and your family
• Enhanced pension scheme
• 28 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase additional leave
• Life assurance coverage
• Income protection
• 24/7 virtual GP access for you and your family
• Employee assistance and wellbeing support
• GroceryAid support services offering financial, legal, wellbeing and practical guidance
• Cheers benefits platform providing discounts, free perks and wellbeing tools

About The Role

As General Manager, you will have full responsibility for the safe, efficient and profitable operation of the Bondgate site. You will provide visible, inspiring leadership while setting the strategic direction for the facility, ensuring operational excellence and creating an environment where colleagues can thrive.

This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a site with significant future investment plans, combining strategic leadership with hands‑on operational management to unlock the site's full potential and support Refresco's long‑term growth ambitions.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering a clear site strategy aligned with Refresco's business objectives, investment plans and future growth ambitions.
• Leading operational excellence across manufacturing, engineering, warehousing and site services, driving improvements in safety, quality, productivity, OEE and customer service.
• Creating a high‑performing culture through strong people leadership, capability development, succession planning and employee engagement.
• Owning site financial performance, including P&L accountability, budget management and delivery of productivity and cost improvement initiatives.
• Championing the highest standards of health & safety, food safety, quality and regulatory compliance.
• Building strong relationships with senior leaders, customers, trade union representatives and key stakeholders while promoting collaboration across the wider Refresco network.

About You

The successful candidate will be an experienced manufacturing leader with a proven track record of delivering operational excellence, leading change and developing high‑performing teams within an FMCG, food, beverage or other high‑volume manufacturing environment.

You will be a visible and engaging leader who can balance strategic thinking with operational execution, creating stability and driving sustainable improvements across the site.

We want someone who will lead and role model the Refresco core values of Agile, Responsible, Excellent, Passionate and Entrepreneurial. Find out more about our values here:

Refresco is the global independent beverage solutions provider for Global, National and Emerging brands, and retailers with production in Europe, North America, and Australia. Refresco offers an extensive range of product and packaging combinations from juices to carbonated soft drinks and mineral waters in carton, PET, Aseptic PET, cans, and glass.

Refresco continuously searches for new and alternative ways to improve the quality of its products and packaging combinations in line with consumer and customer demand, environmental responsibilities and market trends.

Refresco is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and has more than 13,500 employees.

Our drinks on every table. That's the Refresco vision.

We're the proud owners of six drinks manufacturing sites within the UK, employing over 1,800 colleagues who produce private label soft drinks and fruit juices for many of the UK's leading retailers.

Whether it's packed in cartons, bottles or cans, we ensure that our products are made to the highest quality standards and delivered to our customers when and where they need them.

Refresco believes that equal opportunity for all is fundamental to our company's values and all our applicants can expect fairness and transparency in our recruitment process.