General Manager – Manufacturing
We are seeking an experienced General Manager to lead a well-established, employee-owned manufacturing business through its next phase of growth and operational improvement. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a business-minded manufacturing executive with strong financial acumen, commercial awareness, and a track record of building effective leadership teams.
The General Manager will initially oversee business operations while working closely with senior leadership, with a planned path to the CEO role within approximately two to three years, based on performance and business needs.
The company specializes in custom manufacturing, architectural millwork, retail fixtures, and complex project-based customer solutions, serving customers across multiple industries.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead overall business performance, including manufacturing operations, financial results, profitability, and strategic execution.
- Own and improve key P&L metrics, including revenue, margins, operating costs, working capital, and capital expenditures.
- Drive operational excellence through improved processes, cost controls, production efficiency, quality, delivery performance, and accountability.
- Partner across manufacturing, engineering, sales, finance, purchasing, and other functions to align operational execution with commercial commitments.
- Develop, coach, and hold the management team accountable for business results and organizational performance.
- Strengthen financial visibility, budgeting, forecasting, and decision-making to support profitable growth.
- Lead the business through changing market conditions and economic challenges while maintaining operational stability.
- Build strong relationships with employees, customers, senior leadership, and other key stakeholders.
- Introduce improvements thoughtfully while preserving a strong company culture and fostering employee engagement.
- Develop leadership depth and succession plans to support the company's long-term growth and planned CEO transition.
Qualifications:
- Significant leadership experience in manufacturing, ideally as a General Manager, Business Unit Leader, President, COO, or similar senior executive.
- Demonstrated ownership of, or direct accountability for, a substantial business P&L.
- Experience leading custom, engineer-to-order, project-driven, or high-mix manufacturing operations.
- Strong understanding of financial performance, including revenue growth, profitability, cost management, budgets, and working capital.
- Proven ability to improve operational performance and deliver measurable business results.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams spanning manufacturing, engineering, finance, sales, supply chain, or related functions.
- Demonstrated ability to develop managers, strengthen accountability, and build effective leadership teams.
- Commercial judgment and experience balancing customer commitments, pricing, production capacity, and profitability.
- Experience managing through economic downturns, demand fluctuations, or significant business disruptions.
- Strong communication, relationship-building, strategic thinking, and change-management skills.
Preferred Experience
- Background in custom fabrication, architectural millwork, commercial furniture, retail fixtures, construction-related manufacturing, or similar project-based manufacturing environments.
- Experience with multiple materials, complex customer specifications, and coordinated production and installation projects.
- Familiarity with ERP systems, inventory management, purchasing, and operational performance metrics.
- Experience in an employee-owned organization or an appreciation for employee ownership and long-term value creation.
Compensation and Career Opportunity
Location: Bensalem, Pennsylvania (On-site)
Base Salary: Approximately $250,000 per year
Bonus: $50,000–$100,000
Additional Compensation: Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) participation
Relocation assistance may be available for the right candidate.
This is an on-site leadership position based in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Candidates must be within commuting distance or willing to relocate.
