Case Study: Appointing a General Manager, Operations & Delivery
Access Industries
Client: Access Industries
Role: General Manager, Operations & Delivery
Search Type: Retained Executive Search
Sector: Social Enterprise | Manufacturing | Supported Employment
Location: Multi-site NSW (Seven Hills, Newcastle, Lithgow)
The Challenge
Access Industries is one of NSW’s most established social enterprises, providing meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities for people with disability through large-scale commercial operations in packaging, timber and supply chain services.
With a newly approved five-year strategic plan, the Board and CEO identified the need to create a new, senior operational leadership role — General Manager, Operations & Delivery — to unify and strengthen operations across multiple complex manufacturing and production sites.
This was a highly nuanced brief, requiring a leader who could operate confidently in a commercial manufacturing environment, while deeply understanding the responsibilities of supported employment and inclusive workplaces.
Key challenges included:
- Leading complex packaging and manufacturing sites with strict quality, safety and compliance requirements (including TGA, ISO and customer accreditation standards)
- Balancing commercial performance, margins and DIFOT with social purpose and supported employment outcomes
- Integrating multi-site operations into a more unified and consistent delivery model
- Leading large, diverse workforces including supported employees, supervisors and operational leaders
- Operating at an executive and Board level, contributing to long-term growth, acquisitions and service diversification
This role required a rare blend of hands-on operational expertise, strategic leadership capability, and values-led people leadership.
Our Approach
Be Executive partnered with Access Industries through a retained search, working closely with the CEO and Board to shape and refine the role before going to market.
Our approach focused on:
- Deep discovery to understand Access Industries’ commercial model, social mission and future growth plans
- Translating a complex brief into a compelling executive narrative that would resonate with senior operational leaders
- Conducting a targeted national search across manufacturing, FMCG, packaging and industrial operations — including candidates not actively seeking new roles
- Assessing candidates not only on technical and commercial capability, but on leadership style, cultural alignment and values fit
- Testing the ability to operate across strategy and execution, particularly in environments with vulnerable workforces and high compliance requirements
Given the seniority and impact of the role, the retained process allowed for a measured, high-quality assessment and close partnership with the client throughout decision-making.
The Outcome
The search resulted in the successful appointment of a General Manager, Operations & Delivery with the capability to:
- Lead and integrate large-scale production operations across multiple NSW sites
- Strengthen operational discipline, efficiency and commercial outcomes
- Maintain high standards of safety, quality and accreditation
- Build strong relationships with major commercial customers
- Lead and develop diverse teams, including supported employees
- Contribute meaningfully to Access Industries’ Executive Committee and long-term strategic objectives
The appointment provides Access Industries with a senior operational leader who can bridge commercial performance and social impact, supporting both immediate operational excellence and future growth.
Why Retained Search Was Critical
This role could not be filled through a transactional or volume recruitment approach.
A retained search enabled:
- Access to a broader and more senior talent pool
- Careful assessment of leadership capability in complex, regulated manufacturing environments
- Alignment between operational delivery, people leadership and organisational values
- A trusted advisory partnership with the CEO and Board throughout the process
- Confidence that the final appointment could deliver on both commercial and social outcomes
The Result
✔ Appointment of a senior operational leader aligned to Access Industries’ mission
✔ Strong capability across manufacturing, people leadership and executive contribution
✔ Increased confidence in delivering the five-year strategic plan
✔ A leadership structure fit for growth, complexity and purpose
