Job Description
General Manager (F&B Industry / Operations)
At Switch, our mission is to challenge conventional supply practices with advanced, out-of-the-box solutions that deliver exceptional value to our customers. We focus on building sustainable partnerships and leveraging our supply chain intelligence network to solve complex sourcing and supply challenges for our customers. As a team, we are constantly adapting and evolving to ensure that we stay ahead of the game.
As we continue expanding, we are seeking a
high-performing General Manager
to lead our Australian operations, scale the business, and strengthen our teams across Sales, Sourcing, Quality, Logistics, Operations, and Finance.
Position Overview
The
General Manager
will oversee all Australian operations and teams — both onshore and offshore — and will serve as a key leadership figure driving business performance, people development, commercial growth, and risk mitigation.
This is a
strategic and empowering leadership role
reporting directly to the CEO, with the mandate to independently manage day-to-day operations, solve problems, make decisions, and ensure the organization is executing effectively at all levels.
The ideal candidate brings strong leadership skills, proven people management experience, commercial acumen, a background in sales or commercial contracts, and hands‑on operational management capabilities. They must be a team player, an exceptional communicator, and someone who elevates others while confidently navigating challenges.
Key Responsibilities
1. Leadership & People Development
Lead and inspire onshore and offshore teams across Sales, Sourcing, QA/QC, Logistics, Operations, Customer Service, and Support.
Provide mentorship, guidance, and direction to department managers and team leads.
Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Identify skill gaps, performance issues, and opportunities for team development.
Promote a people‑first environment while maintaining high performance standards.
2. Commercial & Sales Leadership
Drive commercial performance by supporting sales, pricing strategy, and customer relationship management.
Leverage experience in sales or commercial contracts to improve revenue, margins, and customer engagement.
Support development of new business pipelines and key strategic accounts.
Work closely with Sales Directors/BDMs to forecast sales, optimize revenue streams, and strengthen client partnerships.
3. Strategic Business Management
Translate CEO direction into detailed execution plans across all functions.
Lead annual planning, reporting cycles, performance reviews, and KPI development across departments.
Identify growth opportunities, expand product categories, and strengthen supplier relationships.
Drive company‑wide initiatives focused on innovation, efficiency, and scalability.
4. Operational & Supply Chain Oversight
Maintain high‑level oversight and hands‑on involvement across sourcing, production coordination, QC/QA, warehousing, and logistics.
Ensure systems, processes, and workflows are efficient and aligned across departments.
Guarantee operational continuity, product quality, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Support problem resolution between departments, suppliers, and customers with a root‑cause, solution‑focused mindset.
Act as the primary driver of risk mitigation across the business.
5. Risk Management & Problem Solving
Proactively assess risks in operations, supply chain, customer delivery, quality, and team execution.
Solve issues quickly, decisively, and collaboratively.
Reduce bottlenecks, anticipate future challenges, and implement preventive measures.
Maintain strong communication loops with CEO and leadership team on risk exposures and solutions.
6. Reporting & Executive Communication
Provide
monthly C‑level reports
covering business performance, revenue, margins, operations, risks, and strategic recommendations.
Present insights, improvements, and trends to guide decision‑making.
Ensure accurate, timely, and transparent communication with the CEO and leadership team.
Required Skills & Experience
Essential
Minimum
7–10+ years of leadership experience
in FMCG, food & beverage, ingredients sourcing, importation, or wholesale.
Proven
sales or commercial contracts experience
and a track record of generating revenue.
Hands‑on operational management experience across supply chain, production coordination, or logistics.
Demonstrated
problem‑solving skills
— able to handle complex issues and make sound decisions.
Experience managing cross‑functional teams both onshore and offshore.
Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to deliver C‑suite level reports and insights.
A genuine
team player
who elevates others.
Preferred
Experience working with ingredients, botanicals, natural products, or specialty food sectors.
Strong understanding of product compliance, QA/QC, and supplier negotiation.
Familiarity with ERP and CRM systems such as NetSuite.
Key Performance Indicators
1. Leadership & People KPIs
Staff Engagement: >80% satisfaction score
Team Performance: 90% of managers and teams achieving their KPIs
Retention: Maintain
2. Commercial & Sales KPIs
Revenue Growth: Achieve company‑targeted YoY revenue increase (12–20%)
New Revenue Initiatives: Minimum of X strategic commercial initiatives launched per quarter
Customer Retention: >90% retention of key accounts
Gross Margin: Maintain/improve margin targets across product categories
3. Operational Excellence KPIs
Operational Efficiency: Reduce bottlenecks or delays by at least 20% within 12 months
Order Accuracy: 98% error‑free dispatch and documentation
OTIF (On‑Time, In‑Full): 95–98%
SOP Compliance: 100% adherence across departments
4. Problem Solving & Risk Management KPIs
Issue Resolution: 24–48 hour resolution for critical issues
Risk Reduction: Implement quarterly risk mitigation plans across operations, sourcing, and logistics
Quality Issue Reduction: Decrease QC/QA issues and customer complaints by 25–30%
Supplier Reliability: Maintain >90% supplier performance score
5. Governance, Reporting & Financial KPIs
Monthly C‑Level Reporting: Submitted on‑time with accurate data & insights
Budget Management: Maintain
Compliance: 100% regulatory, audit, and documentation compliance
Cost Efficiencies: Achieve 5–10% cost savings through process/operational improvements
What We Offer
Competitive salary package
Leadership role with significant influence over business direction
A collaborative, innovative, and growth‑driven environment
Career progression opportunities within a scaling business
#J-18808-Ljbffr