Unit Manager Dagenham

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 - DagenhamSalary £68,000 + bonus Company Car
Lead a complex operation. Build a high-performing team. Drive change. Leave your mark.
We’re looking for an exceptional operational leader to take the helm at our Dagenham site.
This isn’t a conventional site management role. Dagenham is a fast-paced, multi-functional operation combining aggregates, asphalt, rail, marine logistics and major investment projects, all within one strategically important location serving the London market.
For the right leader, it represents a genuine opportunity to take ownership, make decisions, develop people, and shape the future performance of the operation.
If you enjoy complexity, thrive on responsibility and want a role where your leadership can make a visible difference, Dagenham offers exactly that.
A site with real scale and variety
The Dagenham operation brings together:
Wharf Sand & Gravel Plant
Rail Depot
Drum Asphalt Plant
Collect Asphalt Batch Plant
Inbound shipping and marine operations
Rail movements into and out of the site
Few operational leadership roles offer this breadth.
You'll be leading a team of up to 30 people across a multi-shift, seven-day operation, balancing safety, people, production, logistics, reliability, customer service, cost, and continuous improvement.
The opportunity
As Unit Manager, you'll have overall responsibility for the safe, efficient, and effective performance of the site, this role goes beyond keeping the operation running. We want someone who can build on what is there today and take the site forward.
You'll have the opportunity to:
Lead and inspire a diverse operational team, creating a culture of ownership, accountability and high performance.
Put safety first, setting the standard for health, safety and environmental leadership across the site.
Drive operational excellence, improving plant performance, reliability, productivity and service.
Lead through complexity, bringing together production, shipping, rail and road logistics in a demanding operating environment.
Shape future investment, playing a key role in significant CAPEX and site development projects.
Challenge how things are done, using continuous improvement to remove waste, simplify processes and unlock performance.
Develop the next generation, building capability, creating opportunities and strengthening succession within the team.
Own the performance, balancing operational delivery with strong commercial awareness and cost control.
Who are we looking for?
We're looking for a leader first. Someone who is comfortable being visible in the operation, engaging with people and making decisions, while also being able to step back, understand the bigger picture and set clear direction.
You'll be someone who:
Gets the best from people and enjoys developing teams.
Takes ownership and creates accountability.
Is comfortable operating in a complex, fast-moving environment.
Has strong safety leadership and operational discipline.
Understands the commercial impact of operational decisions.
Challenges existing ways of working and looks for better ones.
Can manage competing priorities without losing sight of the end goal.
Has the ambition and capability to continue developing their career.
Experience within aggregates, asphalt, manufacturing, logistics, heavy industry or another complex operational environment would be highly valuable, but equally important is your ability to lead people, drive change and deliver results.
This is a role that can define the next stage of your career. You'll gain exposure to multiple operational disciplines, complex logistics, people leadership and significant investment, while having the autonomy to make a genuine impact.
You'll inherit an operation with complexity, opportunity, and potential. What you do with it is where it gets exciting. If you're looking for a comfortable role where every day looks the same, this probably isn't it. But if you're an ambitious operational leader who wants ownership, challenge, variety, and the opportunity to make a lasting difference, we'd like to hear from you.
Rewards & Benefits
We’re proud to be recognised as an Employer of Choice, with accreditations including:
Armed 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