Sulzer
Factory General Manager - Leeds

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Sulzer is a leading engineering company with a proud heritage of innovation. Join our global team to grow your expertise and develop innovative solutions that enable a prosperous and more sustainable society.
About The Role
As Factory General Manager, you will lead Sulzer Pumps UK, with full accountability for the SPUK manufacturing operations, you will lead the complete value chain from order intake through to project execution and customer delivery. This role combines strategic leadership, operational excellence, financial stewardship, and people leadership to drive sustainable growth, exceptional customer satisfaction, and a high-performing culture.
You will play a critical role in shaping the future of the UK business while aligning local priorities with Sulzer's global strategy.
Your Main Tasks And Responsibilities
- Provide overall leadership and accountability for the legal entity, ensuring compliance with all statutory, regulatory and corporate governance requirements while acting as the custodian of the business and promoting the highest standards of ethics, integrity and corporate values.
- Lead the business with full Profit & Loss responsibility, developing and delivering strategic plans that drive sustainable growth, profitability, operational performance and long-term success in line with organisational objectives.
- Direct and optimise all site operations, including Project Management, Engineering, Procurement, Production, Planning & Logistics, Quality, Continuous Improvement and ESH, ensuring operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, cost, cash and customer satisfaction.
- Champion a culture of health, safety and environmental excellence by providing visible leadership, ensuring compliance with corporate standards and legislation, and embedding continuous improvement and Lean manufacturing principles throughout the organisation.
- Build and develop a high-performing leadership team and workforce, fostering an engaging culture where employees are empowered to succeed through talent development, capability building, cross-training and effective people management practices.
- Oversee financial planning, budgeting, cost control, investment proposals and resource management, ensuring the business has the capacity, technology and infrastructure required to achieve current and future operational objectives.
- Establish strong relationships with employees, unions, customers, suppliers, partners and key stakeholders, while actively participating in sales and operations planning, leadership forums and executive meetings to ensure alignment with business priorities and strategic goals.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
To Succeed in This Role, You Will Need
- Significant leadership experience within an engineered-to-order manufacturing environment.
- Proven success in senior operational, manufacturing, general management, or managing director positions.
- Strong experience leading complex manufacturing, supply chain, and project execution functions.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver operational transformation, continuous improvement, and sustainable business growth.
- Solid financial acumen with experience managing P&L responsibility and business performance.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at executive level.
- Experience working within an international matrix organisation.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and change management capabilities.
- Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams and create an engaging workplace culture.
- Experience within rotating equipment, industrial engineering, or related sectors is advantageous.
- Chartered Engineer status and/or a relevant engineering degree preferred.
- MBA or equivalent management qualification would be advantageous.


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What we offer you
- The opportunity to lead a strategically important manufacturing business within a global engineering organisation.
- A highly visible leadership position with significant influence on the future direction of the UK business.
- Global career development opportunities and exposure to senior international stakeholders.
- A collaborative and innovative working environment focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Sulzer is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in the strength of a diverse workforce and are committed to offering an inclusive work environment.
We are proud to be recognized as a Top Employer 2026 in Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland, South Africa, the UK and the USA.
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