Interim Managing Director

Interim Managing Director

Rate: £600-£700 per day (Inside IR35)
Contract length: 3-6 months
Location: Birmingham (hybrid/on‑site as required)

We are seeking an experienced Interim Managing Director to lead a manufacturing business through a pivotal period, providing strong operational, commercial and cultural leadership while driving performance improvement.
This is a senior, hands‑on interim assignment with full responsibility for strategy delivery, operational execution and financial performance, within a governance‑led and values‑driven environment.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Asset Management, the Interim Managing Director will take overall accountability for the performance of the business, providing visible leadership across operations, commercial activity and governance. You will lead a small senior management team and have indirect responsibility for all production, logistics, commercial and support functions.Key objectives include:

Leading a profitable, well‑controlled manufacturing operation aligned to organisational governance and financial frameworks
Driving operational excellence, stability and performance across production and service delivery
Strengthening leadership capability and embedding accountability across the site
Maintaining momentum on product development and commercial improvement
Championing inclusive growth, employee engagement and ethical valuesKey Responsibilities

Lead the overall direction, strategy and performance of the business, ensuring delivery of agreed business plans and objectives
Provide strong day‑to‑day operational leadership, improving efficiency, output, quality and OTIF performance
Hold full P&L responsibility, ensuring robust financial control, forecasting and reporting
Drive commercial performance through effective pricing, customer segmentation and product strategy
Oversee compliance with health & safety, sustainability, accreditation and regulatory requirements (including ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001)
Represent the business internally and externally with key stakeholders, customers, suppliers and partners
Lead, develop and challenge the senior leadership team, addressing performance issues and building leadership capability.
Foster a collaborative, pragmatic and values‑led culture, aligned to ethical principles and inclusive employment practicesAbout You

You will be a seasoned interim leader with significant experience operating at Managing Director or equivalent level within manufacturing, ideally with sector‑specific expertise.Essential experience includes:

Strong operational leadership across complex, end‑to‑end manufacturing environments
A proven track record of improving productivity, efficiency and operational performance
Strong commercial and financial acumen with full P&L responsibility
Experience of product strategy and manufacturing‑led product development
A grounded, credible and transparent leadership style, able to engage at all levels
A pragmatic, resourceful and hands‑on approach, comfortable driving change at pace.
A degree‑level background in engineering, or equivalent senior manufacturing‑based business experience, is expected.

What you need to do now
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