Site Manager

We’re looking for an experienced Site Manager to lead our Spennymoor site, overseeing transport, plant operations, administration and customer service. You’ll be a confident people leader with the technical understanding to manage an operation involving heavy-duty machinery and the commercial awareness to manage budgets, control costs and deliver strong financial performance—all while keeping the site running safely and efficiently.

Combining hands-on leadership with commercial and financial accountability, you’ll lead managers and operational colleagues, develop a capable and engaged workforce, and ensure the site delivers against its budget and service commitments.

• Own the site’s P&L, with accountability for delivering annual budget, profitability and overall operational performance targets.
• Develop and manage the annual site budget, review monthly financial performance and work with functional leads to address variances and improve results.
• Lead the site’s functional managers across transport, plant operations, administration and customer service, ensuring clear priorities, effective coordination and delivery.
• Oversee labour, transport, maintenance and other operating costs, ensuring resources align with volumes and identifying opportunities to improve productivity and profitability.
• Oversee safe, reliable and efficient plant operations through the Plant Manager, ensuring effective maintenance, statutory inspections and timely resolution of operational issues.
• Lead transport performance through the transport management team, ensuring reliable collections and deliveries, achievement of delivery-in-full-and-on-time targets and coordinated resolution of service issues.
• Guide administration and customer service teams to deliver accurate records, clear communication and effective customer support, helping resolve more complex or escalated issues.
• Lead, motivate and develop the site leadership team, promoting clear expectations, regular feedback and effective performance management and colleague development throughout their teams.
• Set high standards for health and safety, environmental compliance, quality and housekeeping, working closely with SHEQ leads and functional managers to embed these across the site.
• Oversee readiness for external audits, including ISO, Environment Agency and health and safety audits, alongside duty of care visits, ensuring findings are addressed by the relevant leads.
• Oversee supplier and contractor performance across the site, ensuring service standards are met and resolving escalated issues in partnership with functional leads.
• Partner with People & Culture and functional managers on site-wide recruitment, retention, development and succession planning.
• Work with Commercial teams to assess site capacity and resource requirements for new business and changing volumes, drawing on input from plant and transport leadership.
• Ensure functional leads maintain accurate operational records, complete the Plant Site Diary daily and deliver the 99% asset scan accuracy target.
• Present financial and operational results at monthly regional business reviews, with clear actions and ownership to address performance gaps.
• Champion Sharpsmart’s culture and lead continuous improvement across the site, encouraging collaboration and delivery through the site leadership team.

What you'll bring

• Proven experience leading an operational, industrial or processing site, with direct responsibility for P&L and budget delivery.
• Experience overseeing multiple functions, including transport, plant operations, administration and customer service.
• Experience managing an environment involving heavy-duty machinery, with the technical understanding to oversee safe operation, preventative maintenance and equipment reliability.
• Strong financial and commercial awareness, including the ability to interpret P&L reports, understand cost drivers and act on variances.
• A track record of improving productivity, controlling costs and delivering financial and operational targets.
• Excellent people-management and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead, motivate and develop both managers and frontline operational teams.
• A strong commitment to safety, quality and regulatory compliance.
• Confident communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• A practical, accountable approach to problem-solving, continuous improvement and project delivery.
• The drive to develop your team, improve site performance and progress.
• 45 hour working week Monday to Friday - usual working hours 6am-4pm