CEO / GM

Mecad Systems; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Mecad Systems is seeking a CEO/GM in Cape Town to oversee all aspects of the business—from product development and production to client liaison and strategic growth. You will lead R&D, telematics, marketing, quotes, grants, and operations with a hands-on, founder-type sensibility.

The role requires a practical engineering mindset, strong leadership, and 5+ years in general management, with a track record of building businesses and managing key client relationships.

Qualifications

• Engineering background or practical mindset preferred.
• Experience building hardware preferred.
• Founder-type mindset and startup involvement.
• Hands-on problem solver; small business context.
• Understands technical details of product; practically minded.
• Growth mindset for high-level sales & expansion.
• 5+ years in General Management; age 40+.
• Ability to work with clients and manage relationships.
• Flexible, self-starter attitude for solo or small-team work.
• Analytical thinker with a process orientation.
• Experience with industrial B2B products and logistics.

Responsibilities

• R&D project management and oversight.
• Telematics and portal oversight with a capable IT team.
• New business development for select UK, EU and SA clients.
• Develop quotes using energy balance calculations.
• Create marketing material for new products.
• Conduct client presentations and respond to inquiries.
• Attend tradeshows and conferences.
• Oversee operations with COO for streamlined manufacturing.
• Manage installation and delivery with staff.
• Lead staff management with 3 direct reports.
• Provide financial oversight and reporting assistance.
• Coordinate grant funding initiatives.
• Assist with legal matters alongside founders.
• Oversee marketing initiatives and collateral quality.
• Manage supplier relationships with key partners.

Skills

Engineering mindset

Hardware experience

Founder mindset

Startup exposure

Problem solving

Client liaison

Sales & growth strategy

General management

Client relationship

Self-starter

Analytical thinking

Process orientation

Industrial B2B experience

Logistics contacts

Education

Engineering background

Job description

CEO / GM POSITION

Manager / CEO who can oversee all aspects of the business. This will include small-scale production, high-level client liaison, quotes, grant funding, marketing, product development, etc.

Skills / Requirements

• An engineering background or practical mindset is strongly preferred
• Experience building hardware is not an absolute requirement, but it is preferred
• An ideal candidate should have a “founder” type mindset
• Been involved in building own business or start-up.
• Hands-on problem solver. Business too small to outsource all aspects
• Must understand technical details of product Practically minded person (Engineering background preferred, but no absolute requirement)
• Ability to grow a business via high-level sales, strategic plans for expansion
• 5yrs minimum experience in a General Management position – age 40yrs +
• Ability to work with clients
• Flexible, self-starter mindset that can work on own & with a small team.
• Analytical thinker
• Process-oriented
• Application in industrial-related products for B2B market
• Logistics contacts

Tasks To Be Performed

• R&D (20%) - project management
• Telematics & Portal (20%) - only oversight. Very good IT team
• New business development (100%) – only a few potential B2B enterprise clients
  • Solutions for clients in UK, EU & SA
  • New products (3 other products)
  • Quoting (using energy balance calculations)
  • Marketing material for new products – small requirement
  • Presentations to clients
  • Dealing with customer queries – very limited
  • Attending Tradeshows + conferences
• Operations (20%) - very well run and managed by current staff – only oversight required
  • Highly competent COO in place
  • Manufacture & Production (assist in streamlining processes)
  • Installation
• Management of Staff / 3 direct reports - 15 competent Staff - no issues
  • Hiring as required
• Financial control (30%) - only oversight. All accounting & reporting v good. Competent accountant in place. Founders also provide oversight.
• Grant Funding (100%)
• Legal (50%) - Founder will assist – very little legal
• Marketing (50%) - Oversight to ensure all marketing collateral good, marketing initiatives, publication articles. Founders will assist
• Supplier relationships (100%) – only 4 main suppliers. Very close relationship & joint R&D