Managing Director / Managing Directress

Managing Director / General Manager

W Talent has been exclusively retained to appoint an exceptional Managing Director / General Manager for a well-established UK manufacturing business based in Coventry. The organization is entering an exciting new phase of growth, providing a rare opportunity to lead a successful engineering and manufacturing company with a strong reputation, a loyal customer base, and ambitious plans for the future.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Managing Director, General Manager, or Senior Operational Leader who thrives in a precision manufacturing environment and has the capability to lead the business through its next stage of development. This role offers significant influence across every aspect of the organization, combining strategic leadership with hands-on operational and commercial accountability. You will inherit an established business with strong technical capability and be empowered to:

• Build a high-performing leadership team
• Improve profitability
• Deliver sustainable growth

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Develop and deliver the long-term business strategy alongside the owners.
• Identify opportunities for organic growth, new markets, and increased revenue.
• Drive business transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Create a culture focused on accountability, performance, and innovation.

Commercial & Financial Leadership

• Take full ownership of business performance and profit and loss.
• Drive revenue growth, profitability, and margin improvement.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and investment planning.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key customers and stakeholders.

Operational Excellence

• Lead manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, and procurement functions.
• Improve productivity, operational efficiency, and customer delivery performance.
• Establish robust KPIs and performance management across the business.
• Champion lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.

People & Culture

• Lead, coach, and develop the senior leadership team.
• Build a high-performing, collaborative, and engaged culture.
• Develop succession plans and organizational capability.
• Promote a strong health, safety, and quality-first mindset throughout the business.

About You

We are interested in speaking with ambitious leaders who have operated within manufacturing, engineering, or industrial businesses and can demonstrate a track record of delivering commercial and operational success. We are looking for candidates with:

• Significant senior leadership experience within manufacturing or engineering.
• Proven P&L ownership and commercial accountability.
• Experience leading multi-functional teams across operations, engineering, and commercial functions.
• A strong understanding of manufacturing operations, quality, and supply chain.
• Demonstrable experience in improving business performance, profitability, and operational efficiency.
• The ability to influence at board and shareholder level while remaining visible across the operation.

Advantageous Experience:

• Precision engineering, metal manufacturing, industrial manufacturing, or technical production environments.
• Privately owned, family-owned, or SME manufacturing businesses.
• Experience in growth, transformation, or business improvement programmes.
• Experience in highly regulated or technically demanding manufacturing sectors.

What Success Looks Like

The successful Managing Director / General Manager will be measured by their ability to:

• Deliver sustainable revenue and profit growth.
• Improve operational performance and productivity.
• Develop and retain key customer relationships.
• Build a high-performing leadership team.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, quality, and safety.
• Execute a clear strategy for long-term business growth.

What's on Offer?

• Salary: £100,000 to £150,000, depending on experience.
• Executive benefits package.
• Significant autonomy to shape the future direction of the business.
• Direct reporting line to the owners with genuine influence over strategy and investment.
• Opportunity to lead a respected manufacturing business through an exciting period of growth and transformation.

Apply Now

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

W Talent has been exclusively retained to manage this appointment on behalf of our client. All enquiries and applications will be managed in the strictest confidence by Joe Walton.