This isn't a role for someone who simply keeps a factory ticking over.

We're looking for an experienced General Manager / Plant Director / Senior Operations Leader who knows how to take ownership of an engineering operation, lead from the front and make it perform.

You'll take full responsibility for a well-established manufacturing site in Walsall, leading a team of circa 50 and owning the operation from P&L and people through to safety, quality, delivery and continuous improvement.

The business supplies engineered industrial products into demanding sectors including automotive, aerospace and general manufacturing. It needs a leader who is equally comfortable on the shop floor, around the management table and in front of senior stakeholders.

THE ROLE

You'll have genuine ownership of the site, including:

• Full P&L and operational responsibility
• Leadership and development of the site team
• Driving safety, quality, delivery, cost and productivity
• Improving operational performance through Lean / continuous improvement
• Building stronger processes, accountability and KPI discipline
• Identifying opportunities around capacity, efficiency, waste and cost
• Working cross-functionally across engineering, production, quality and supply chain
• Creating a culture where people take ownership and performance improves

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The important bit.

We need an established senior manufacturing leader from a heavy engineering or technically demanding manufacturing environment.

You'll ideally already be operating as a:

General Manager | Plant Manager | Plant Director | Operations Director | Head of Operations

You must bring:

• Significant senior operational leadership within heavy engineering / industrial manufacturing
• Experience leading a complete manufacturing or engineering operation
• P&L / budget accountability
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and operational KPIs
• A demonstrable record of improving productivity, cost, quality, delivery and safety
• Strong Lean / CI / operational excellence credentials
• The ability to lead managers as well as shop-floor teams
• An Engineering or relevant technical degree

Experience within automotive, aerospace, metals, machining, fabrication, engineered components or similarly demanding manufacturing would be particularly relevant.

WHY CONSIDER IT?

This is a proper operational leadership role.

You'll have the autonomy to shape the site, develop the team and make tangible improvements to the performance of the business.

It should appeal to someone who enjoys being close enough to operations to understand what's really happening, but senior enough to change it.

Salary: up to £80,000 + package
Location: Walsall, West Midlands

If you've built your career leading engineering and manufacturing operations and you're ready to take full ownership of a site, we'd like to hear from you.

There are Senior Civil Engineer roles where you inherit a job description.

And there are roles where you get the chance to shape what comes next.

We’re working confidentially with a busy and growing engineering consultancy looking for a Civil Engineer to become a key part of its civils function.

They’re open-minded about exactly who that person is.

You might be an experienced Civil Engineer who’s ready to step up, take on more responsibility and start making your mark.

Or you could already be operating at Senior level and want the opportunity to take the lead, develop the function and help build the team around you.

Either way, you need to be someone who still enjoys doing the engineering.

This is a hands-on role.

The workload is growing, projects are moving and they need someone who can get stuck into the design work, manage projects and deal confidently with clients.

The majority of the work is residential and commercial development, covering:

• Drainage design, including SuDS and surface water
• Highway and access design
• Technical drawings, calculations and reports
• Projects from early-stage design through to delivery

There is some highways work, but this isn’t a major infrastructure / National Highways role. The sweet spot is someone who understands drainage, access and highways within the development environment.

You’ll also be visible to clients, so you need to be comfortable having conversations, building relationships and representing the consultancy rather than disappearing behind the drawings.

What are they looking for?

Strong drainage and highways experience is important, but just as important is your attitude.

They want someone with energy, initiative and the confidence to take responsibility.

Someone who sees a growing workload and thinks opportunity, not problem.

CEng / MICE would be welcomed, but they’re more interested in finding the right engineer than ticking every box.

What’s the opportunity?

For the right person, this can become much more than another Senior Civil Engineer position.

There’s scope to shape the civils function, influence how it develops and potentially build a team around you as the workload continues to grow.

If you’re earlier in your career, it’s a genuine step-up opportunity.

If you’re already experienced, it’s a chance to take the lead.

£40,000–£55,000 DOE
📍 Berkshire / Thames Valley
🏗 Residential & commercial development
📈 Growing project pipeline
👷 Hands-on technical role
🤝 Client-facing
🚀 Genuine scope to develop into a leadership position

Interested? Get in touch for a confidential conversation and I can tell you more