Chief Executive Officer

Simonyi Recruitment Pty Ltd; Hobart; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Simonyi Recruitment Pty Ltd in Hobart is assisting a precision engineering and manufacturing business to recruit a CEO/General Manager. You will inherit an established team, lead strategic direction, and work with a founder seeking to step back from day-to-day management.

The role focuses on shaping the leadership culture, scaling production, improving profitability, and delivering a high‑performance workplace.

Qualifications

• CEO/COO/GM level experience in manufacturing.
• Experience in "made-to-order" production environments.
• Proven track record of growing revenue and profitability.
• Ability to grow teams and coach performance.
• Experience applying Lean/Six Sigma to operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of a comprehensive business plan with KPIs.
• Develop capability and accountability across the leadership team.
• Scale production capacity to meet growing demand.
• Own commercial performance including revenue, costs and reporting.
• Champion a high‑performance workplace culture.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Profitability growth

People development

Lean Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Financial acumen

Job description

About the Company:

Established a little over 20 years ago, our client is a founder‑led, Hobart‑based, precision engineering and manufacturing business. The company designs, manufactures and tests a world‑leading range of products used in demanding operational environments by local and international customers, and maintains an unwavering focus on engineering quality, manufacturing excellence, product innovation, and on‑time delivery. The business is at a pivotal moment in its trajectory. Having built strong foundations under founder leadership, it is preparing to strengthen its management structure, enabling it to become less founder‑reliant and better positioned to scale.

About the Role:

This is a transformative leadership role in a technically sophisticated, growing Tasmanian business. You will inherit an engineering team possessing deep technical expertise, a robust quality assurance system, and a strong order book. Your mandate will be to shape the leadership team, culture, and strategic direction of the organisation, working with a founder committed to transitioning out of day‑to‑day management and creating genuine space for you to lead.

Operationally, your brief will include:

• Leading development and execution of a business plan with clear KPIs across all functions, incollaboration with your leadership team and shareholders.
• Developing capability and accountability across your leadership team.
• Scaling production capacity to cater for growing levels of demand.Taking ownership of the business' commercial performance, including revenue and profitability targets, cost management, and financial reporting.
• Championing a positive, high‑performance workplace culture.

About You:

You are proven at CEO, COO or General Manager level in manufacturing businesses, with experience in “made-to-order” production environments in the engineering, defence or aerospace sectors particularly desirable. You bring to the table:

• Experience in privately held businesses, in roles involving direct engagement with owners/shareholders. Ideally, this includes having worked in a growth‑stage business, alongside an owner.
• A track record of profitably scaling revenue, and the operations supporting that revenue growth, in the above environments.
• A demonstrated ability to grow teams, and coach those in them to higher levels of performance.
• A history of applying continuous improvement methodologies (e.g. Lean, Six Sigma) to operational processes and systems, thereby achieving quantifiable performance gains.

Plesae note that to be considered for this role, you must hold current, unrestricted working rights in Australia. Should you have questions prior to applying, feel welcome to contact Michael Simonyi on 04 670 or [e-mail]. Please do not forward applications to that address.