General Manager

General Manager

Location: Cape Town

Industry: Manufacturing / Packaging

Reports to: Managing Director / Board

Competitive based remuneration based on experience

About the Role
A well-established manufacturing business is seeking a driven, and highly commercial
General Manager to lead the organisation into its next phase of growth. This role requires
someone from the manufacturing or agricultural sector who understands operational
environments but also has the energy and ambition to push sales, drive commercial
performance, and scale the business.
The ideal person is both strategic and hands-on, able to improve operations while aggressively
driving revenue, profitability, and team performance.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial and Sales Leadership
● Drive top-line growth through strong sales leadership and customer engagement.
● Lead, mentor, and motivate the sales team to achieve revenue targets.
● Develop commercial strategies, pricing frameworks, and market growth plans.
● Set clear KPIs for sales and commercial performance, and ensure accountability.
● Identify new market opportunities, customer segments, and product growth areas.
Operational & Manufacturing Oversight
● Oversee day-to-day operations across production, quality, logistics, and supply chain.
● Ensure high levels of efficiency, output, and operational discipline.
● Implement KPIs across operations to drive productivity and performance.
● Ensure health & safety, quality, and industry standards are maintained consistently.
● Lead continuous improvement initiatives and efficiency upgrades.

Financial and business Management
● Manage the full P&L and ensure strong financial performance.
● Implement cost controls, budgeting, forecasting, and margin improvement initiatives.
● Analyse performance metrics and make data-driven business decisions.
● Evaluate investment needs (equipment, talent, technology) to support scale.

People Leadership
● Lead and inspire teams across commercial, operational, and support functions.
● Build a culture of high performance, accountability, and ownership.
● Set KPIs for all departments and ensure consistent performance tracking.
● Recruit, mentor, and develop high-performing managers and teams.
Business Growth & Strategy
● Drive the overall business growth strategy with a strong commercial lens.
● Identify new product lines, revenue streams, and expansion opportunities.
● Strengthen the business’s competitive position through innovation and efficiency.
● Ensure structures, systems, and processes are geared for scaling.
Requirements
Experience % Qualifications
● Minimum 8–12 years in manufacturing or agricultural industries.
● At least 5 years in leadership roles (Operations Manager, Plant Manager, GM,
Commercial Manager, etc.).
● Proven track record in driving sales, revenue growth, and commercial performance.
● Experience setting KPIs and managing teams to deliver against them.
● Tertiary qualification required

Skills and Competencies
● Highly commercial mindset — strong business judgment and P&L understanding.
● Sales-driven, results-oriented, and comfortable leading commercial growth.
● Hungry, ambitious, and driven to scale a business.
● Strong operational and process optimisation capability.
● Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
● Ability to work hands-on while also thinking strategically.

What This Role Offers
● The chance to lead a stable, established business into a high-growth phase.
● Autonomy to drive sales strategy, operational improvements, and team performance.
● A fast-paced environment suited to someone

Posted on 04 Dec 12:35, Closing date 2 Feb