General Manager

We are recruiting a General Manager for a growing technical services business based in Harpenden. This is a hands-on operational leadership role with responsibility for a busy testing division, including its people, processes, service delivery and continued development.

The division manages a high volume of technical samples each year and supports several important client contracts. The General Manager will lead a team of field-based Technicians and office-based Coordinators and Administrators, ensuring work moves efficiently from initial booking and collection through to processing, reporting and completion.

This position would suit an experienced General Manager, Operations Manager, Testing Manager or Service Delivery Manager who enjoys improving how a business operates. You will need to be comfortable managing people, solving day-to-day problems and introducing better systems and working practices.

THE ROLE

As General Manager, you will take overall responsibility for the smooth running and performance of the testing operation.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, supporting and developing a team of field-based Technicians and office-based Coordinators and Administrators
• Ensuring work is scheduled, collected, processed and reported accurately and within agreed timescales
• Managing workloads and priorities across the division, responding quickly when operational issues arise
• Reviewing existing processes and introducing practical improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy and service quality
• Monitoring operational performance and ensuring high standards of compliance, health and safety and quality control
• Working closely with clients to understand their requirements, maintain strong relationships and resolve any service issues
• Managing supplier relationships and ensuring external partners deliver against agreed expectations
• Supporting the continued development of internal systems and the company s customer portal
• Improving the visibility and accuracy of operational information, reporting and workflow management
• Working with senior management to support growth and ensure the division has the right structure, systems and resources
• Encouraging accountability, consistency and a positive working culture across the team

This is not a purely strategic or desk-based General Manager position. The successful person will remain close to the day-to-day operation, understand where problems are occurring and take ownership of resolving them.

ABOUT YOU

You do not necessarily need to come directly from the testing sector. Experience within environmental testing, laboratories, construction materials, geotechnical services, waste management or another technical service environment would be advantageous, but it is not essential.

We are particularly interested in speaking with candidates who can demonstrate:

• Previous experience as a General Manager, Operations Manager, Testing Manager, Service Delivery Manager or in a comparable operational leadership role
• Strong people-management skills, including the ability to support, mentor and develop employees
• Experience managing both field-based and office-based teams
• A practical approach to process improvement and operational problem-solving
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a busy, service-led environment
• Strong client and supplier relationship-management skills
• A good level of commercial awareness and an understanding of how operational performance affects customers and business results
• Confidence using technology and identifying opportunities to improve systems, reporting and automation
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to make sound decisions, use initiative and take responsibility
• A considerate and empathetic leadership style, combined with the confidence to set expectations and maintain standards

THE OPPORTUNITY

This General Manager role offers the chance to take ownership of an established division within an ambitious and growing business. There is already a strong operational foundation, but there is also significant scope to improve processes, make better use of technology and help shape how the division develops.

The company is looking for a General Manager who can bring structure and consistency while remaining approachable, practical and willing to get involved. For someone who performs well, there is genuine potential to take on broader operational responsibility as the business continues to grow.

The role is based from the company s Harpenden office. Some flexibility is available, but regular office attendance is essential, alongside occasional travel to operational and client sites.

The package includes a salary of circa £50,000, a car allowance, pension, private healthcare, a generous annual leave allowance and ongoing training and development.