General Manager

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.

2. Key Responsibilities

A. Operational Management and Service Delivery

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 locations to share resources, expertise and capacity where commercially beneficial.

B. Financial Performance and Profitability

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.

C. Business Development and Customer 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.

D. Health, Safety, Environmental and Regulatory Compliance

Take personal leadership responsibility for a strong health, safety and environmental culture.

Ensure activities comply with legislation, company policies, operating procedures and customer requirements.

Work with central Health & Safety to maintain compliance with the Integrated Management System.

Ensure suitable risk assessments, method statements, permits and safe systems of work are followed.

Ensure employees receive appropriate training, competency assessments and supervision.

Promote proactive reporting of hazards, near misses, incidents and unsafe conditions.

Ensure incidents are reported, investigated and corrective actions implemented promptly.

Maintain vehicle, plant and equipment safety standards.

Ensure waste management, environmental and transport regulatory requirements are met.

Immediately escalate significant safety or compliance risks.

E. People Leadership and Development

Provide visible, hands-on leadership to Manchester employees.

Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations and accountability.

Build a positive, professional and performance-driven culture.

Manage staffing levels, workforce planning, recruitment and retention.

Ensure employees are trained, competent and equipped for their duties.

Manage attendance, absence, holidays, overtime and temporary labour costs.

Conduct regular team meetings, performance reviews and development discussions.

Address performance, conduct and capability issues promptly and fairly with HR.

Develop supervisory and management talent for succession and growth.

Encourage teamwork and collaboration across the business.

F. Fleet, Plant and Equipment

Ensure Manchester vehicles, plant and specialist equipment are effectively managed and utilised.

Coordinate fleet availability, maintenance, inspections and statutory compliance with Transport.

Minimise avoidable vehicle and equipment downtime.

Ensure defects, damage and maintenance needs are reported and addressed.

Control hired equipment costs and off-hire promptly when no longer needed.

Improve asset utilisation and reduce unnecessary external hire.

Contribute to fleet replacement and capital expenditure planning.

Maintain depot security, storage and maintenance arrangements.

G. Planning, Reporting and Management Accountability

Participate actively in weekly operational management meetings.

Provide updates on financial performance, delivery, customers, staffing, safety and risks.

Maintain accurate, timely operational information in management systems.

Maintain a forward schedule of confirmed work, labour, vehicles and equipment.

Track outstanding quotations, expected orders and forward workload.

Identify operational constraints and take proactive corrective action.

Prepare monthly performance reports and contribute to Board reporting as required.

Develop an annual Manchester operating plan aligned with company objectives.

Own agreed improvement actions and deliver against deadlines.

3. Key Performance Measures

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

Performance measures will be reviewed regularly, with targets established and refined as reliable baseline data becomes available.

4. Experience, Skills and Qualifications

Essential

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.

Desirable

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.

5. Personal Attributes

Ownership and accountability: Takes responsibility for results and follows through on commitments.

Commercial focus: Understands how operational decisions affect revenue, margins and profitability.

Visible leadership: Leads from the front across depot and customer operations.

Customer orientation: Builds lasting relationships and delivers high service standards.

Operational discipline: Values planning, organisation, reliable information and execution.

Safety leadership: Places employee, customer and public safety at the centre of decisions.

Continuous improvement: Identifies practical ways to improve performance.

Collaboration: Works constructively across Mantank.

Resilience and adaptability: Remains effective in a demanding, fast-moving environment.

6. Authority and Accountability

The General Manager will have day-to-day responsibility for Manchester within agreed budgets, delegated authorities and company policies.

The role will have authority to make operational and commercial decisions within agreed parameters, including resource allocation, job scheduling, customer quotations and routine expenditure.

Significant capital expenditure, material contractual commitments, senior appointments and expenditure outside agreed authority levels will require appropriate approval.

The General Manager remains accountable for Manchester’s performance while working within the company's central governance, financial controls and compliance arrangements.

7. Success in the Role

Success will be demonstrated by a well-managed, safe, profitable and growing Manchester operation characterised by:

• Consistent delivery of financial budgets and operational targets.
• Improved workforce productivity and resource utilisation.
• Strong customer relationships and a growing pipeline of profitable work.
• Effective control of operating costs, WIP and invoicing.
• High standards of health, safety and regulatory compliance.
• A motivated, capable and accountable workforce.
• Effective collaboration with other operations and central support functions.
• Sustainable profitable growth across Manchester and the North West.

Overarching expectation: The General Manager is the accountable leader of the Manchester business, owning its people, customers, operational delivery, financial results and future development.