General Manager - #2176940

The General Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, management, commercial development and financial performance of the company's Manchester operation.

The role has full responsibility for delivering a safe, efficient, profitable and customer-focused operation, ensuring that resources are effectively deployed, contracts are successfully delivered and the business achieves its agreed financial and operational objectives.

The General Manager will be expected to combine strong operational leadership with commercial acumen, taking ownership of the Manchester operation’s profitability, customer relationships, workforce performance and future growth.

As a senior member of the management team, the General Manager will contribute to the wider development of the business, working collaboratively with the Industrial Cleaning, Drainage, Transport, Finance, HR and Health & Safety functions.

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day management and performance of the Manchester operation.
• Ensure the safe, efficient and profitable delivery of all services undertaken by the depot.
• Plan and coordinate labour, vehicles, plant, equipment and subcontractors to meet customer requirements.
• Maximise workforce productivity, vehicle and equipment utilisation, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure effective job planning, scheduling, supervision and completion.
• Minimise operational downtime, unnecessary expenditure, rework and unproductive labour.
• Maintain high standards of service delivery, responsiveness and customer satisfaction.
• Identify and implement operational improvements, including better working practices, systems and processes.
• Work closely with other company locations to share resources, expertise and capacity where commercially beneficial.

• Take full accountability for the financial performance of the Manchester operation against agreed budgets and targets.
• Prepare and deliver annual operating budgets and financial forecasts in conjunction with Finance.
• Manage revenue, gross margins, labour costs, subcontractor expenditure, equipment costs and other controllable overheads.
• Ensure individual jobs and contracts are appropriately priced, costed and delivered profitably.
• Monitor job profitability and investigate adverse variances.
• Ensure all completed works are accurately recorded and invoiced promptly.
• Maintain effective control of work in progress (WIP), unbilled revenue and outstanding commercial issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins through pricing, productivity, procurement and resource utilisation.
• Provide accurate and timely financial and operational reporting to senior management.

• Take responsibility for growing the Manchester operation’s revenue and profitability.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing customers, ensuring retention and repeat business.
• Identify new customers, contracts and commercial opportunities across Manchester and the North West.
• Work closely with Sales & Marketing to develop and convert a strong pipeline of opportunities.
• Ensure enquiries, quotations and tenders are responded to promptly and professionally.
• Take ownership of the quality, competitiveness and profitability of Manchester quotations.
• Monitor quotation conversion rates and follow up outstanding opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to cross-sell industrial cleaning, drainage and associated environmental services.
• Represent the company professionally in customer meetings, site visits and negotiations.
• Support long-term customer relationships and framework agreements.

The General Manager will be assessed against a balanced set of financial, operational, commercial, people and safety measures. Specific targets will be agreed through the annual budgeting and business planning process.

Area

Key Performance Measures

Financial

Revenue, gross profit, operating profit and performance against budget

Operational

Labour productivity, resource utilisation, job profitability and efficiency

Commercial

New business revenue, quotation pipeline, conversion and customer retention

Working Capital

Timely invoicing, WIP and resolution of commercial issues

Health & Safety

Incidents, near misses, compliance, training and corrective actions

People

Attendance, retention, productivity, training and workforce development

Fleet & Equipment

Availability, utilisation, maintenance compliance and external hire costs

Customer Service

Service quality, complaints, responsiveness and repeat business

• Significant operational management experience within industrial cleaning, drainage, environmental services, waste management or a related sector.
• Experience managing a depot, operational business unit or geographically defined operation.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience managing budgets, costs and profitability.
• Proven ability to manage field-based teams, supervisors and specialist equipment.
• Understanding of health, safety and environmental compliance in operational businesses.
• Experience managing customer relationships and identifying commercial opportunities.
• Strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyse financial and operational performance and take corrective action.
• Confident communication and leadership skills.
• Competence in Microsoft Office and relevant operational systems.
• Full UK driving licence.

• Experience of industrial cleaning, high-pressure water jetting, tankering, vacuumation or specialist drainage.
• Experience with HGV fleets and specialist plant.
• Knowledge of waste management regulations and environmental permits.
• Familiarity with transport compliance and operator licensing.
• Experience managing business growth and operational change.
• Relevant management, engineering, transport or health and safety qualifications.