For employers looking to fill a General Manager vacancy, the following sample position description can help you to attract the best candidates for the role. By tailoring this position description according to your company's specific job requirements, you have an excellent interview tool for comparison purposes.
For job seekers looking for a General Manager role, this job description details what the role may involve and what skills and experience are required to give you the best chance of securing the position.
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director (CEO) or the Business Owner, the General Manager ensures the smooth running of the business or the division and will look after a broad range of areas or disciplines from IT, HR, and Operations through to finance depending on how the company is structured.
As part of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) the General Manager is responsible for the management of the organisation. Depending on the size of the company and whether it is public or private, the General Manager performs a wide range of responsibilities. These may include, but are not limited to:
Manage the day-to-day operations of the business unit or the organisation such as production, pricing, sales, distribution, professional services, finance, IT, HR etc.
Design, coordinate and implement growth strategies
Provide regular reporting and updates to the Owner or Managing Director
Goal setting and facilitating strategy to ensure the goals are reached
Ensure that the Sales Strategy is being executed and Sales Goals are being met
Ensure that the Product or Service that the organisation sells is being managed properly
Manage and oversee the IT strategy through either an external outsourced provider or an in-house IT team
Work with external parties such as Legal, Bankers, and professionals where relevant
Manage the HR side through either an HR Professional or being responsible for the hiring of staff, training of staff etc.
Work closely with the Head of Finance/FD/CFO on the financial affairs of the business
Identifying areas of opportunity and improvement within the business
Overseeing and driving the culture of the business
The more common skills and attributes that are most needed for this role may include the following:
10+ years' experience in a Management role
Leadership skills and a proven people manager
Sound Strategic and decision-making skills
Results-oriented and metrics-driven
Exceptional time management and ability to solve problems
Exceptional interpersonal communication and leadership skills, with the ability to communicate and manage staff at all levels
Ability to lead by example and demonstrate a strong sense of integrity, ethics and dependability
Professional written and oral communication skills
Confident in presenting results to an audience
Ability to work under pressure
Ability to collaborate with upper management to organise, plan and achieve company financial goals
Knowledge of getting the best out of technology
A suitable qualification such as a degree in commerce
$200 - $400k + Super + Bonus + Shares / Equity (if applicable)
The GM will often report to the Owner or Shareholder and is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the business from Sales to Finance to Operations to Marketing depending on the sector specifics of the business. Not all organisations employ a General Manager.
To become a GM, most people will have worked their way up through the organisation and have broad experience across a range of areas. As an example, a finance background is a common pathway. More responsibilities would be added to the remit such as Operations or Sales. Generally, you will have demonstrated particular competencies to take on the additional responsibilities.
No - a Finance Manager only looks after the financial management of the business/division however, a General Manager is responsible for the entire operations of the organisation.
This varies from industry sector to sector. For a business with a turnover of approximately $50m, a General Manager could expect to earn a base of between $250 - $350k with an additional incentive scheme.
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