Unit Manager

Heidelberg Materials UK (formerly Hanson UK) is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of construction materials, employing over 4,000 people and operating around 300 manufacturing sites in the UK.

We are committed to building a more sustainable future and recognise that a diverse workforce is vital to our growth and advancement. We aim to promote a culture that values openness, transparency and individual achievement.

At the centre of our actions lies the responsibility for the environment. As the front runner on the path to carbon neutrality and circular economy in the building materials industry, we are working on sustainable building materials and solutions for the future. We enable new opportunities for our customers through digitalisation.

Unit Manager - Baston Asphalt & St Ives Asphalt

Competitive Salary plus bonus Company Car and benefits

At Heidelberg Materials UK, we're looking for an experienced and inspirational Unit Manager to lead our Baston Asphalt and St Ives Asphalt operations. This is a high-profile leadership role where you'll have full responsibility for operational performance, safety, people leadership, customer service, and financial delivery across two key asphalt production sites. If you're passionate about leading high-performing teams, driving operational excellence, and creating a culture where safety comes first, this is an opportunity to make a real difference within one of the UK's leading construction materials businesses.

What You'll Be Doing

As Unit Manager, you'll take ownership of all aspects of site performance, ensuring the safe, efficient and profitable operation of the unit. You'll lead and develop operational teams, drive continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to improve productivity, customer service and profitability.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading a strong safety culture and delivering continuous improvements in health, safety and environmental performance.
• Ensuring full compliance with all statutory requirements, company policies and operational procedures.
• Managing operational performance to achieve production, quality, service and financial targets.
• Driving operational excellence and identifying opportunities to improve plant efficiency and reduce costs.
• Maximising the utilisation of plant, equipment and resources across the unit.
• Working closely with logistics teams to deliver outstanding customer service and operational efficiency.
• Supporting strategic customer projects and major contract delivery.
• Managing budgets, forecasts, costs, asset utilisation and capital investment projects.
• Developing, coaching and motivating site teams while building strong succession plans for the future.
• Creating an inclusive, accountable and high-performing culture aligned to Heidelberg Materials values.
• Using performance management and regular feedback to support employee development and drive results.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a confident operational leader with a proven track record of delivering results within a manufacturing, construction materials, quarrying, asphalt, aggregates, concrete or heavy industrial environment.

You'll ideally have:

• Significant operational leadership experience within a production or manufacturing environment.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness with experience managing budgets and cost performance.
• A passion for health, safety and environmental excellence.
• Experience leading and developing teams across multiple locations.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to analyse operational performance and implement effective improvement plans.
• Experience managing plant reliability, preventative maintenance programmes and asset performance.
• A continuous improvement mindset with the drive to challenge the status quo and deliver sustainable business improvements.

Qualifications

• Higher level vocational or educational qualification.
• NVQ/QCF Level 5 or Level 7 qualification in SHE, Quarrying or Operations Management is desirable.
• Relevant operational management experience within a comparable environment.

Why Heidelberg Materials?

At Heidelberg Materials UK, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer an environment where you can lead with confidence, make meaningful decisions and shape the future success of our operations.

In return, you'll benefit from:

• A competitive salary and benefits package.
• Career development opportunities within a global organisation.
• A strong focus on safety, wellbeing and professional growth.
• The opportunity to lead high-performing teams and drive operational excellence across a key business unit.
• Arrmed Forces Covenant (Gold) | Disability Confident | 5% Club (Platinum) | Mates in Mind | Clear Assured | STEM Ambassador | MPQC Member
• Competitive Package: Salary, bonus incentives, generous pension, and life assurance
• Work-Life Balance: 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays), agile/flexible working, holiday purchase, and sabbatical options, Season and travel ticket loans
• Family-Friendly Policies: Enhanced support for maternity, paternity, adoption, IVF, neonatal care, and menopause
• Inclusive Culture: Paid volunteering day and active employee communities (LGBTQ+, Women in STEM, Armed Forces, and more)
• Wellbeing & Development: Employee Assistance Programme, retail discounts, and continuous learning opportunities