The General Manager – Multi-Site Operations is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of multiple production and distribution facilities across the UK for a rapidly growing industrial gases business and company has been on profit for the last 8 years. This role ensures safe, reliable, and efficient operations while supporting the company’s expansion strategy and increasing market demand across key sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and food processing.
Operating within highly regulated environments, the General Manager leads all aspects of production, engineering, logistics, and site performance, ensuring compliance with UK safety and environmental legislation including the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (COMAH) where applicable. The role is critical in scaling operational capacity, strengthening safety culture, and delivering operational excellence as the business expands its footprint across the UK.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Provide full operational leadership across multiple production plants and distribution facilities.
- Ensure safe, reliable, and efficient production of industrial gases including oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, and specialty gases.
- Drive operational performance to meet growing market demand while maintaining high asset availability and plant reliability.
Growth & Expansion
- Support the company’s rapid growth strategy by leading operational scale‑up, new site integration, and capacity expansion.
- Oversee commissioning of new plants and infrastructure as part of the UK growth programme.
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, optimise distribution networks, and expand supply capability.
Safety & Compliance
- Champion a strong safety and process safety culture across all sites.
- Ensure compliance with UK regulatory frameworks including Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (COMAH), as well as oversight from the Health and Safety Executive and Environment Agency.
- Maintain robust operational risk management, incident investigation, and emergency response systems.
Operational Excellence
- Implement best-in-class operational practices to drive continuous improvement in efficiency, cost performance, and reliability.
- Lead performance management across sites through clear KPIs and operational metrics.
- Oversee maintenance strategies, engineering projects, and asset lifecycle management.
- Lead and develop multi‑disciplinary teams across operations, engineering, maintenance, and safety.
- Build a high‑performing leadership culture that supports business growth and operational excellence.
- Ensure strong communication and alignment across geographically dispersed teams.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Collaborate with senior leadership to align operational capabilities with commercial growth strategies.
- Build effective relationships with regulators, local authorities, and external partners.
- Represent the operations function in corporate decision‑making and strategic planning.
Key Requirements
- Extensive leadership experience in industrial gases, chemicals, energy, or other high‑hazard manufacturing environments.
- Proven track record managing multi‑site operations and scaling production capacity in a growing business.
- Strong understanding of process safety and UK regulatory frameworks including Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (COMAH).
- Experience leading large operational teams and driving cultural transformation.
- Degree in Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related technical discipline preferred.
Core Competencies
- Multi‑Site Operational Leadership ( Essential )
- Process Safety & Risk Management
- Operational Scale‑Up & Growth
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence
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