Managing Director, USA - Recycling

About the Company

Our client is a well‑established European manufacturing group and a recognized leader in sustainable plastics recycling and manufacturing. With more than three decades of experience, the company has built a strong international presence through innovative recycling technologies, engineering excellence, and a long‑term commitment to sustainability.

Operating across multiple European countries and the United States and Canada, the company manufactures high‑quality products from recycled plastics and recycled raw materials, serving customers across multiple industrial sectors. As part of its continued international growth strategy, the organization has established a manufacturing platform in Michigan and is now entering the next phase of its development in the U.S. market.

Privately owned and financially stable, the company is committed to long‑term investment, operational excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth while maintaining a people‑focused and entrepreneurial culture.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Managing Director to lead the U.S. business through its next phase of growth.

This is a unique opportunity to build upon an established manufacturing operation with an experienced team, and strong entrepreneurial foundation. The successful candidate will work closely with the international leadership team to execute the company’s long‑term growth strategy, strengthen organizational capability, drive commercial development, and ensure operational excellence.

This role offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape the future of the U.S. business while contributing to the long‑term international growth of the Group.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Lead the U.S. business with full responsibility for strategy execution, operational performance, financial results, and long‑term business development while aligning local initiatives with the Group’s global vision.
• Sales & Business Development: Strengthen existing customer relationships, identify new market opportunities, expand the customer portfolio, and drive sustainable revenue growth across the U.S. market.
• Operational Oversight: Provide visible leadership across all business functions, ensuring operational excellence, continuous improvement, high product quality, and outstanding customer service.
• Team Guidance: Lead, coach, and develop the management team while fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high‑performance culture. Build organizational capability and develop future leaders to support continued growth.
• Financial Acumen: Take full ownership of business performance, budgeting, profitability, cost management, and investment planning while ensuring the long‑term financial health of the business.
• Growth & Organizational Development: Lead the continued development of the U.S. organization, strengthen internal processes and management structure, and support future expansion initiatives in line with the company’s long‑term strategic objectives.

Requirements

• Proven success in a senior executive leadership position, ideally as Managing Director, General Manager, Business Unit Director, or equivalent within an industrial or manufacturing environment, or second level such as Technical Sales Director, Technical Director, etc. with ambitions to take the next step/level to be the Managing Director role.
• Full P&L responsibility and experience leading profitable business operations.
• Strong commercial acumen with a demonstrated ability to develop customers, grow revenue, and build long‑term business relationships.
• Experience leading manufacturing, industrial, engineering, recycling, plastics, automotive supply chain, or related technical businesses.
• Demonstrated success in developing organizations, building management teams, and leading businesses through periods of growth and transformation.
• Experience working within entrepreneurial or founder‑led organizations is considered a strong advantage.
• Strong financial and strategic decision‑making capability.
• An international mindset with the ability to collaborate effectively across cultures.
• High ethical standards and unwavering integrity in business practices.
• Strong sense of reliability, ensuring follow‑through on commitments and delivering consistent results.
• Empathy and interpersonal skills to build trust and strong relationships both within and outside the organization.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ambition to drive growth while maintaining long‑term stability.

This job description is not exhaustive. Responsibilities may evolve in line with business needs.

Benefits

• Opportunity to lead the U.S. business of a successful and growing international manufacturing group.
• Opportunity to shape the long‑term growth strategy and make a lasting impact on the future of the organization.
• Work within a values‑driven company committed to sustainability, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Competitive fixed salary, benchmarked against market standards.
• Performance‑based bonus tied to the company’s success.
• Company car or car allowance