General Manager

CLM Search; Indiana; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CLM Search is partnering with an established manufacturing business to appoint a General Manager with full P&L responsibility for two facilities in the automotive and industrial sectors.

The role requires a hands-on leader who blends financial and operational discipline with the ability to coach and develop a high-performing leadership team across Operations, Engineering, Materials, Maintenance, Quality, HR, Finance and IT.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years’ experience as a General Manager in manufacturing.
• Full plant P&L ownership including budgeting and financial performance management.
• Automotive manufacturing background with metal fabrication, welding and related industrial processes.
• Experience leading multi-shift manufacturing operations.
• Proven track record of improving operational and financial performance.
• Strong leadership, coaching and mentoring capabilities with high emotional intelligence.
• Ability to balance daily operational demands with longer-term growth, customer requirements and organisational development.

Responsibilities

• Own business performance. Take full responsibility for the plant P&L, budgeting and financial performance, improving profitability while ensuring effective day-to-day operational delivery.
• Deliver growth and successful launches. Prepare the operation for increased production volumes and upcoming programme launches, while maintaining performance across existing customer programmes.
• Maintain high operating standards. Drive consistent performance in safety, quality, delivery and customer satisfaction across a multi-shift manufacturing environment.
• Develop the leadership team. Coach and mentor managers, strengthen their capabilities and establish clear expectations, ownership and accountability.
• Drive continuous improvement. Build on existing systems and processes to improve productivity, efficiency and cost performance throughout the operation.
• Lead across all major functions. Provide leadership across Operations, Engineering, Materials, Maintenance, Quality, Human Resources, Finance and IT, ensuring teams work towards shared business priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching & mentorship

Financial discipline

Operational excellence

Emotional intelligence

Job description

We are particularly interested in hearing from manufacturing leaders currently based in Michigan, Indiana and North Carolina, although applications from other locations are also welcome.

Candidates should be open to discussing relocation. The role’s location and any relocation requirements will be discussed during an initial confidential conversation.

The opportunity

CLM Search is partnering with an established manufacturing business serving the automotive and industrial sectors to appoint a General Manager.

With full P&L responsibility for a manufacturing operation spanning two facilities, you will lead operational performance, profitability, customer programme delivery and the continued development of the management team.

The appointment follows an internal promotion. The operation has an engaged team, a strong safety and quality culture and a solid foundation of recent operational improvements. With new programme launches and increasing production volumes ahead, the business is seeking a leader who can guide the operation through its next phase of growth.

This opportunity will suit a hands-on General Manager who combines strong financial and operational discipline with the ability to coach, support and develop people.

Key responsibilities

• Own business performance. Take full responsibility for the plant P&L, budgeting and financial performance, improving profitability while ensuring effective day-to-day operational delivery.
• Deliver growth and successful launches. Prepare the operation for increased production volumes and upcoming programme launches, while maintaining performance across existing customer programmes.
• Maintain high operating standards. Drive consistent performance in safety, quality, delivery and customer satisfaction across a multi-shift manufacturing environment.
• Develop the leadership team. Coach and mentor managers, strengthen their capabilities and establish clear expectations, ownership and accountability.
• Drive continuous improvement. Build on existing systems and processes to improve productivity, efficiency and cost performance throughout the operation.
• Lead across all major functions. Provide leadership across Operations, Engineering, Materials, Maintenance, Quality, Human Resources, Finance and IT, ensuring teams work towards shared business priorities.

What we’re looking for

• A minimum of five years’ experience as a General Manager within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven responsibility for a full plant P&L, including budgeting and financial performance management.
• An automotive manufacturing background, with relevant experience in metal fabrication, welding and related industrial manufacturing processes.
• Experience leading multi-shift manufacturing operations.
• A demonstrable track record of improving both operational and financial performance.
• Strong leadership, coaching and mentoring capabilities, supported by high emotional intelligence.
• The ability to balance daily operational demands with longer-term growth, customer requirements and organisational development.

Leadership approach

You will be a visible, approachable leader who sets clear expectations and creates an environment in which people can succeed.

Your ability to develop a relatively new leadership team will be particularly important. You will help recently promoted managers build confidence, strengthen their decision-making and take ownership of their functions, while maintaining clear accountability for results.