Founding General Manager – Water Quality Solutions

Private Advertiser; Makati; On-site; PHP 2,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Private Advertiser in the Philippines is seeking a Founding General Manager to build, launch, and lead a new Water Quality Solutions division from the ground up, reporting to Group Management.

This is not a conventional GM role; you will establish the unit, handle permits, regulatory requirements, partnerships, recruitment, and the commercial launch, driving growth and scalability with strategic support.

Qualifications

• Significant prior experience in water treatment, filtration, purification, testing, or related services.
• Previous experience as a General Manager, Business Unit Head, Operations Head, Commercial Head, Country Manager, Founder, Senior Manager, or similar leadership role.
• Experience launching, expanding, or growing a business or business unit.
• Strong understanding of water-treatment systems and how the water industry operates.
• Knowledge of permits, licenses, regulations, certifications, testing requirements, and industry standards.
• Experience with residential and commercial filtration systems, RO systems, water testing, pumps, softeners, UV treatment, wastewater treatment, or related solutions.
• Existing relationships with potential customers, developers, property managers, corporate accounts, suppliers, distributors, laboratories, contractors, or strategic partners.
• Demonstrated ability to generate sales and secure recurring service contracts.
• Experience recruiting and managing technical and operational teams.
• Strong commercial and financial judgment.
• Ability to work independently and make practical business decisions.

Responsibilities

• Develop the initial business plan, operating model, pricing strategy, and go-to-market plan.
• Lead registrations, licenses, permits, accreditations, insurance, and other regulatory requirements.
• Identify required water-treatment technologies, equipment, testing requirements, inventory, facilities, vehicles, manpower, and initial capital needs.
• Establish relationships with manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, laboratories, contractors, technical specialists, and other industry partners.
• Develop operating procedures, technical and quality standards, customer-service standards, reporting systems, and internal controls.
• Build the initial customer pipeline and secure the division’s first customers and recurring accounts.
• Recruit and manage the initial operating and technical team.
• Oversee system assessment, installation, testing, maintenance, repair, and after-sales service.
• Ensure projects and services are completed professionally, safely, efficiently, and profitably.
• Develop systems for scheduling, inventory, procurement, customer service, collections, warranties, service calls, and recurring maintenance.
• Monitor margins, operating expenses, productivity, customer satisfaction, and service quality.

Skills

water treatment experience

leadership

entrepreneurial mindset

commercial acumen

independent decision making

Job description

Division: Water Quality Solutions
Industry: Water Treatment / Filtration / Purification / Testing
Employment: Full-Time
Reports To: Group Management / Board

About Our Group

We are part of a diversified investment group based in the Philippines with established interests in advertising, real estate, and services, while continuing to pursue new businesses aligned with the Group’s long-term objectives and strategic opportunities.

Our approach is focused on growth, sustainability, strategic investment, and building businesses with strong long-term potential. For this new division, the Group will provide the necessary capital, strategic support, and resources required to establish and grow the business.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Founding General Manager to build, launch, and lead our new Water Quality Solutions business.

This is not a conventional General Manager role where an established team, operation, and customer base are handed over.

The successful candidate will be responsible for building the division from the ground up — including business setup, permits and regulatory requirements, supplier and technical partnerships, recruitment, operating systems, sales development, customer acquisition, commercial launch, and expansion.

The company will provide the financial resources and strategic support. We are looking for a proven industry operator who brings the technical understanding, commercial capability, industry relationships, and leadership required to build a successful and scalable water-quality business.

Key Responsibilities

Business Setup & Launch

• Develop the initial business plan, operating model, pricing strategy, and go-to-market plan.

• Lead registrations, licenses, permits, accreditations, insurance, and other applicable regulatory requirements.

• Identify required water-treatment technologies, equipment, testing requirements, inventory, facilities, vehicles, manpower, and initial capital needs.

• Establish relationships with manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, laboratories, contractors, technical specialists, and other industry partners.

• Develop operating procedures, technical and quality standards, customer-service standards, reporting systems, and internal controls.

Business Development & Sales

• Build the initial customer pipeline and secure the division’s first customers and recurring accounts.

• Leverage existing industry relationships and networks to accelerate market entry.

• Develop residential, commercial, institutional, property-management, developer, and corporate accounts.

• Lead client presentations, proposals, quotations, negotiations, and contract closing.

• Develop solutions and packages for water treatment, filtration, purification, testing, maintenance, and recurring service requirements.

• Establish partnerships and referral networks.

• Build a professional sales organization as the business grows.

• Identify opportunities for geographic expansion and additional products or services.

Operations

• Recruit and manage the initial operating and technical team.

• Establish training, certification, safety, quality-control, and performance standards.

• Oversee system assessment, installation, testing, maintenance, repair, and after-sales service.

• Ensure projects and services are completed professionally, safely, efficiently, and profitably.

• Develop systems for scheduling, inventory, procurement, customer service, collections, warranties, service calls, and recurring maintenance.

• Monitor margins, operating expenses, productivity, customer satisfaction, and service quality.

Financial & Strategic Management

• Prepare annual budgets, business plans, forecasts, and growth strategies.

• Take responsibility for the division’s revenue, profitability, cash flow, and growth.

• Establish KPIs and provide regular performance reports to Group Management.

• Recommend capital expenditures and expansion investments based on expected returns.

• Continuously improve pricing, margins, productivity, and customer acquisition.

• Build the division into a scalable and independently functioning business.

Who We Are Looking For

This position is intended for an experienced water-quality industry operator, not someone looking to learn the industry for the first time.

Applicants without relevant experience in water treatment, filtration, purification, water testing, or a closely related industry will not be considered.

The ideal candidate should have:

• Significant prior experience in water treatment, filtration, purification, testing, or related environmental/technical services.

• Previous experience as a General Manager, Business Unit Head, Operations Head, Commercial Head, Country Manager, Founder, Senior Manager, or similar leadership role.

• Experience launching, expanding, or substantially growing a business or business unit.

• Strong understanding of water-treatment and filtration systems and how businesses in the industry operate.

• Knowledge of relevant permits, licenses, regulations, certifications, testing requirements, and industry standards.

• Experience with residential and commercial filtration systems, RO systems, water testing, pumps, softeners, UV treatment, wastewater treatment, or related solutions.

• Existing relationships with potential customers, developers, property managers, corporate accounts, suppliers, distributors, laboratories, contractors, or strategic partners are highly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to generate sales, develop new accounts, and secure recurring service contracts.

• Experience recruiting and managing technical and operational teams.

• Strong commercial and financial judgment.

• Ability to work independently and make practical business decisions.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with the discipline of a professional manager.

What Success Looks Like

During the initial stage, the Founding General Manager should be able to:

1. Establish a clear business and operating plan.

2. Complete required registrations, licenses, permits, supplier arrangements, and operating requirements.

3. Recruit and organize the initial team.

4. Establish systems, procedures, technical standards, and internal controls.

5. Launch commercial operations.

6. Acquire the first group of customers and recurring accounts.

7. Establish a credible and active sales pipeline.

8. Demonstrate a clear path toward profitability.

9. Build a management and operational structure capable of supporting continued expansion.

Long-term success will be measured by revenue growth, profitability, customer retention, operational quality, market reputation, and the ability to scale the business.

Compensation

We offer a competitive executive package for the right candidate, which may include:

• Competitive executive-level base salary

• Salary adjustment based on performance and business milestones

• Performance-based bonuses

• Business-unit growth and profitability incentives

• Other executive benefits depending on experience

Exceptional candidates who successfully build and substantially grow the business will be rewarded accordingly.

Important

We are specifically looking for builders and operators.

The company will provide the capital and resources required to establish and grow the business. The Founding General Manager is expected to bring the industry experience, technical understanding, execution capability, network, commercial ability, and leadership required to build it successfully.

Applicants should be prepared to discuss:

• Businesses or divisions they have previously managed or helped build

• Revenue or growth they were responsible for

• Teams they have managed

• Relevant licenses, certifications, and industry knowledge

• Existing supplier, laboratory, contractor, and industry relationships

• Types of customers or accounts they can realistically pursue

• Their proposed strategy for launching and growing the division