General Manager

Guardian Recruiting; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking an experienced leader for a pivotal role in Cape Town. The role requires a strong engineering background and proven skills in technology transformation. Candidates should have experience owning P&L for businesses and driving technical teams. This position demands flexibility for international collaboration and requires robust leadership in engineering design and business growth. A bachelor's degree in engineering is mandatory, while an MBA is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Strong background in engineering design and development environments, ideally in automotive.
• Proven leadership in technology-enable transformation in technical organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering and development teams with full P&L ownership.
• Drive technology and transformation initiatives.

Skills

Engineering design and development

Technical leadership

CAD-based design understanding

Technology transformation

Automation experience

AI and data-driven operating models

Financial performance improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering (BEng)

MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification

Job description

Summary of Key Outcomes & Accountabilities

• Engineering & Development Leadership (Foundational)
• Full P&L & Business Ownership
• Technology, AI & Transformation Leadership
• Operational Excellence & Labour Optimisation
• Strategic Growth & Advanced Thinking
• Leadership & Organisational Development

Engineering & Technical Foundation (Non-Negotiable)

• Strong background in engineering design and development environments (automotive or similar complex engineered products).
• Credible technical leader able to engage deeply with engineers and customers.
• Understanding of CAD-based design, development lifecycles, and delivery constraints.

Transformation and Technology Experience

• Proven experience leading technology-enable transformation in engineering or technical organisations
• Strong exposure to automation, digital systems, AI, and data-driven operating models
• Ideally suited to a CTO/CIO mindset but grounded in engineering execution

Background & Career Profile

• Possible Consulting background strongly preferred, with experience bringing new thinking into operating businesses.
• Experience from mid-sized consulting or technology firms (±80100 employees), not large bureaucratic corporates.
• Must have owned the profit and loss of a business and demonstrated consistent financial results improvements

Education

• Bachelors degree in engineering (BEng) or related technical field.
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification advantageous.

• On-site role based in Cape Town.
• Flexibility required to support international collaboration and meetings.

Kindly note that by submitting your application for this career opportunity, you agree that Guardian Recruiting may use your application for the purpose of the recruitment and selection of the said position, and this information may be shared with the relevant stakeholders in the business.

Please note that only short‑listed candidates will be contacted. Should you not have heard back within a two‑week period, please assume that your application was unsuccessful.

All job postings are in accordance with our Client's BEE requirements. Please only send certificates when requested to do so.