Site Manager

Parkinson Lee; Newcastle-under-Lyme; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading FMCG manufacturer in the North East is seeking a Site Manager to oversee a large-scale manufacturing operation. This pivotal role involves full ownership of the site’s performance across multiple disciplines, including HR, Production, and Quality. Candidates should have a solid background in food or FMCG manufacturing and proven leadership in high-volume environments. Competitive salary between £100,000 and £130,000, along with an executive package, will be offered. Ideal for someone passionate about people development and operational excellence.

Benefits

Executive package

Autonomy and influence in the role

Qualifications

• Experience in high-volume, regulated manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience running a large-scale manufacturing site.
• Background in FMCG or food manufacturing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead site performance and manage a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership in manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Safety and compliance

Operational metrics balancing

People development

Education

Manufacturing / Mechanical / Electrical Engineering background

Job description

Site Manager – FMCG Manufacturing (Confidential)

Location : North East (Newcastle area)

Salary : £100,000 – £130,000 + Executive Package

Operation : Large-scale, 24 / 7, high-volume manufacturing site

Headcount : Significant multi-shift workforce

The Opportunity

We're supporting a well-established FMCG manufacturer with a long-standing reputation for quality, consistency, and reliability to appoint a Site Manager for a flagship operation in the North East.

This is a business where people matter, standards matter, and the product matters. The site operates at scale, supplies major customers, and runs at pace, but it does so with a strong sense of pride, accountability, and responsibility to its people, customers, and community.

The environment is food manufacturing, with a strong process backbone and a culture that values doing the basics brilliantly, every day.

The Role

As Site Manager, you will take full ownership of end-to-end site performance, leading a multi-disciplinary leadership team across HR, Finance, Logistics, Production, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and CI.

This is not a remote or theoretical leadership role. You'll be visible on the floor, close to the operation, setting expectations, removing barriers, and building capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Full accountability for site P&L, safety, quality, service, and cost
• Leadership of a large 24 / 7 workforce, creating clarity, stability, and engagement
• Embedding Manufacturing Engineering discipline to ensure asset reliability, process control, and right-first-time production
• Driving a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and pride in performance
• Ensuring uncompromising standards in H&S, food safety, and regulatory compliance
• Translating customer demand into robust, executable production plans
• Developing leaders and operators through clear standards, coaching, and ownership

Culture Fit

This business values leaders who are :

• Down-to-earth, straight-talking, and credible on the shop floor
• Passionate about people development and engagement, not just output
• Focused on long-term operational stability, not short-term firefighting
• Comfortable making decisions, holding standards, and backing their teams
• Proud of building something sustainable rather than chasing quick wins

Background & Experience

You’ll bring experience from high-volume, regulated manufacturing environments, ideally with a strong engineering backbone. Relevant sectors include :

• Food or FMCG manufacturing – Regulated process manufacturing, Ingredients, chemicals, or bulk processing, Consumer goods or personal care manufacturing, Packaging, paper, or converting operations
• Automated, high-speed production environments
• Proven experience running a large-scale manufacturing site
• Strong Manufacturing / Mechanical / Electrical Engineering foundations
• Experience leading 24 / 7 operations with complex labour models
• A track record of improving safety, reliability, engagement, and service
• A leadership style that’s firm, fair, and human

Your Background

• Proven experience leading a large, complex manufacturing site
• Strong grounding in Manufacturing / Mechanical / Electrical Engineering
• Track record of running 24 / 7 operations at scale
• Comfortable balancing people leadership with hard operational metrics
• Commercially astute, calm under pressure, and decisive
• Someone who doesn’t hide in meetings when the line’s down

Why This Role

A genuine site leadership role, not a caretaker position.

Significant autonomy and influence.

High-profile operation with clear expectations and backing

Competitive executive package (£100–130k) reflecting the scale and accountability.