General Manager

Lawson Williams; Papakura; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawson Williams is seeking a General Manager to work with the owner through a controlled transition, taking broader responsibility for the company’s performance and growth in New Zealand. You will lead across commercial, operations, finance and people, aligning the organisation to sharpen sales, systems and profitability.

The role demands a strong track record in manufacturing leadership, a customer and sales orientation, and proven ability to develop managers and implement major system changes

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience within manufacturing or related industrial environment.
• Broad responsibility across operations, people and commercial performance.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Experience leading and developing managers.
• Strong customer and sales orientation.
• Experience improving systems, processes and business performance.
• Ability to lead change while retaining what already works.
• Experience working with owners, boards, customers and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall business performance and day-to-day management.
• Translate strategy into clear priorities and actions in collaboration with the owner.
• Support and direct the Sales Manager to grow sales and strengthen customer relationships.
• Develop a capable and accountable management structure.
• Improve business planning, reporting and financial discipline.
• Implement and embed the new ERP system.
• Strengthen customer service, operational performance and internal systems.
• Support supply chain, procurement, inventory and supplier management.
• Lead health and safety, compliance and business risk.
• Identify opportunities for growth, efficiency and profitability.
• Build a business that can operate increasingly independently of the owner.

Skills

Senior leadership

Manufacturing

Commercial orientation

Financial acumen

People management

Strategy execution

Change leadership

Tools

ERP system

Job description

• Successful 35+ year business entering a new phase of development.
• Work alongside the owner through a planned leadership transition.
• Strengthen commercial focus, leadership capability & focus on business growth.

The Opportunity

Our client is a successful New Zealand manufacturing business with more than 35 years of operating history.

The business has a loyal customer base, experienced people, established products and a strong technical foundation.

The opportunity now is to build on that success.

The long-serving owner is looking to progressively reduce his day-to-day involvement and focus more time on international business and specialist projects. This creates the need for a General Manager who can work alongside him through a controlled transition, while progressively taking greater responsibility for the overall business.

A key focus will be re-energising the organisation, strengthening the sales and customer service focus, developing the management team, embedding better business systems and preparing the company for sustainable future growth.

The Role

Reporting to the owner, you will take responsibility across the commercial, operational, financial and people aspects of the business.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading overall business performance and day-to-day management.
• Working with the owner to translate strategy into clear priorities and action.
• Supporting and directing the Sales Manager to grow sales and strengthen customer relationships.
• Developing a capable and accountable management structure.
• Improving business planning, reporting and financial discipline.
• Implementing and embedding the new ERP system.
• Strengthening customer service, operational performance and internal systems.
• Supporting supply chain, procurement, inventory and supplier management.
• Leading health and safety, compliance and business risk.
• Identifying opportunities for growth, efficiency and improved profitability.
• Building a business that can operate increasingly independently of the owner.

The role has broad responsibility across strategy, commercial performance, operations, leadership and business improvement.

Skills & Experience

We are looking for an experienced General Manager or senior business leader with a strong commercial and operational background.

You will ideally bring:

• Senior leadership experience within manufacturing or a related industrial environment.
• Broad responsibility across operations, people and commercial performance.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Experience leading and developing managers.
• A strong customer and sales orientation.
• Experience improving systems, processes and business performance.
• Confidence working with owners, Boards, customers and suppliers.
• The ability to lead change while retaining what already works.
• Strong judgement, communication and relationship management skills.

Previous General Manager experience would be advantageous, although a senior Operations, Manufacturing or Business Unit leader with the breadth to step into a GM role may also be considered.

Experience within an owner-managed business would be particularly relevant.