Site Manager

We’re looking for an experiencedSite 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.

• Owning the site’s P&L, with accountability for delivering annual budget, profitability and operational performance targets.

• Developing and managing the annual site budget, reviewing monthly financial performance and taking corrective action to address variances.

• Leading the transport, plant operations, administration and customer service teams, ensuring clear priorities, effective coordination and accountability.

• Controlling labour, transport, maintenance and other operating costs, aligning resources with volumes and identifying opportunities to improve productivity and profitability.

• Overseeing the safe and efficient operation of heavy-duty plant machinery and processing equipment, ensuring effective maintenance, statutory inspections and timely resolution of breakdowns to minimise downtime.

• Managing transport and distribution performance to support reliable collections, deliveries and delivery-in-full-and-on-time targets.

• Ensuring administration and customer service activities support accurate records, timely communication and effective resolution of customer issues.

• Leading, motivating and developing managers and frontline operational colleagues through clear expectations, regular feedback and performance management.

• Maintaining high standards of health and safety, environmental compliance, quality and housekeeping, working closely with SHEQ leads.

• Ensuring readiness for external audits, including ISO, Environment Agency and health and safety audits, alongside duty of care visits.

• Managing third-party suppliers and contractors involved in equipment testing, maintenance and other site services.

• Partnering with People & Culture on recruitment, retention, development and succession planning.

• Working with Commercial teams to assess site capacity and resource requirements for new business and changing volumes.

• Ensuring daily completion of the Plant Site Diary and maintaining accurate, auditable asset tracking, including achieving 99% scan accuracy.

• Presenting financial and operational results at monthly regional business reviews, with clear actions to address performance gaps.

• Championing Sharpsmart’s culture and driving continuous improvement across the site.

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