Job Description

As a General Manager you will be responsible and accountable for all production functions and also for the leadership, strategic planning, resource planning and direction setting in respect of productivity and factory operations including but not limited to the collection, receiving, sorting, mending/ repairing, washing, drying, folding, packing, order make-up, loading, distributing and delivering of all products processed in the production and related processes.
Key deliverables
Strategic direction

• Align branch vision/ mission/ goals and objectives with overall business strategy and ensure that all employees by into and take ownership of the goals and objectives
• Develop and communicate the branch vison/ mission/ goals/ objectives to all employees and ensure cooperative goal alignment, buy-in and ownership
• Provide leadership/ coaching/ guidance/ mentoring to ensure that all business activities, departmental activities and individual activities are aligned with the vision/ mission/ goals and objectives of the branch and overall business strategy

Profitabilty

• Effectively and efficiently manage and control financial resources and the management of these financial resources to ensure optimal financial resource utilization
• Effectively and efficiently manage and control the use of people, raw material and equipment to ensure optimal productivity and return on investment
• Effectively and efficiently measure and manage the productivity and the operating costs of all areas under his/ her control to maximize profit margins
• Analyse, optimize and improve overall performance of the equipment, staff and the production process to ensure that assets are developed and utilized optimally
• Effectively manage purchasing functions to ensure optimal stock levels, competitive mark up and maximization of capital employed
• Effectively determine and communicate pricing of products/ units/ cost of sales to ensure competitive pricing structures, retention of business and the achievement to gross profit margins

Sales & Marketing

• Build client/ customer relationship to ensure retention of current business and the proactive renegotiation of services/products before the renewal date of the existing contract
• Ensure that all customer complaints and queries are resolved effectively and efficiently and that feedback is provided to all clients/ customers regarding his/ her complaint timeously
• Manage customer relationships and customer satisfaction and ensure that customer satisfaction surveys are conducted regularly and that issues regarding customer dissatisfaction are effectively resolved
• Provide guidance and direction top Sales team with regards to sales and marketing strategy and targeted markets and review branch and individual marketing plans on a regular basis
• Manage all new business sales, existing client renewals, new installations, existing business exchanges and all other related activities effectively to ensure customer satisfaction

Productivity

• Ensure that production schedules are compiled, communicated and distributed in time and that production planning is done in such a way as to optimize equipment and people utilization
• Ensure that production schedules make provision for optimal allocation or processing different products throughout the production processes
• Ensure that deviations from production schedules and quality standard are identified and dealt with proactively
• Raw materials utilization measured and monitored hourly/ daily and corrective action is taken upon deviations/ inefficiencies (water, chemicals, coal efficiencies, steam, etc.)
• Ensure preventative maintenance and breakdown maintenance is done in such a way as to eliminate/ reduce production time losses
• Ensure that all equipment and staff related efficiencies are optimized and that assets are sweated to maximize productivity
• Ensure that production targets per area/ machine is set, measured and monitored hourly/ daily and corrective action is taken upon deviations from set performance requirements
• Ensure that deviations from set production targets are investigated and the root cause for the deviation is addressed
• Ensure that production and related efficiencies are measured and monitored hourly/ daily and corrective action is taken upon deviations from set performance requirements

Distribution

• Manage, monitor and control the quality, quantity, cost and efficiency of the movement and storage of products/ units
• Ensure that all trucks are loaded to optimal efficiency and that all routes are planned in the most efficient and effective way
• Ensure that systems are implemented and maintained to ensure that loads and deliveries are secured and delivered timeously
• Ensure that systems are implemented and maintained to ensure the efficient and effective control of unbound and outbound activities
• Ensure that effective administration systems are implemented and maintained to track and record all distribution activities accurately

Finance & Costs

• Ensure that systems are implemented and maintained to effectively manager and control the financial resources and the allocation thereof
• Compile the budget/s for all areas of accountability/ responsibility and monitor, control and take corrective actions from planned expenditure
• Continuously monitor and control both fixed / variable and Capex expenditure, including but not limited to, maintenance cost / transport cost / energy costs, etc.
• Manage and control salary and wages expenditure and approve aforementioned expenditure on a weekly / monthly basis
• Research / determine / calculate accurate pricing per unit ensuring that all factors are considered including gross profit margins / competitor pricing / cost of sales, etc.
• Continuously review financial targets and performance levels and implementing initiatives / action plans to ensure that required financial performance is achieved

Legislative/ Standard compliance

• Ensure that quality management system is effectively implemented, adhered to and that ISO 9001 certification is achieved and maintained
• Ensure that OHSA systems are implemented / maintained / adhered to and that operations under your control is compliant with OHSA requirements
• Ensure that Human resources and Industrial relations systems are implemented / maintained / adhered to in order to ensure BCEA and LRA compliance.
• Ensure that skills development and employment equity requirements as per SDA, SDLA and EEA are implemented / adhered to and maintained
• Ensure that skills development and employment equity requirements as per SDA, SDLA and EEA are implemented / adhered to and maintained
• Ensure that effective and accurate financial control and administration systems are implemented / adhered to / maintained, including ELCB requirements

People

• Staff performance and conduct is monitored and disciplinary steps are taken as and when required against employees who misconduct themselves or who are under performing
• Grievances when raised are dealt with effectively within a reasonable time frame
• Labor is planned, allocated and applied in such a manner as to minimize the necessity of casual labor, fixed term contract labor and overtime
• Regular communication with staff is done regularly to discuss targets, deviations, performance, customer requirements, customer complaints, etc.
• All relevant training gaps for all personnel is identified and prioritized and included in the Work Place Skills plan and training and development budget

Administration

• All relevant reports relating to the production activities and performance is obtained, analysed and corrective action is taken where required
• All relevant reports relating to the financial / finance activities and performance is obtained, analysed and corrective action is taken where required
• All relevant reports relating to the distribution activities and performance is obtained, analysed and corrective action is taken on deviations
• All relevant reports relating to the sales and marketing activities and performance is obtained, analysed and corrective action is taken where required
• All relevant reports relating to the employees' salaries / wages, absenteeism, discipline and performance is obtained, analysed and corrective action is taken where required
• All relevant reports relating to customer satisfaction, queries and complaints is obtained, analysed and corrective action is taken where required
• Prepare and compile monthly management reports including but not limited to, Exco reports, board reports, etc.

Key requirements

• Tertiary qualification on NQF level #5 or higher in a production/ service-related field
• 5 years' senior management experience in a production/ service related field
• Excellent communication and organizational skills with strong interpersonal and problem-solving abilities
• The ability to work under stress and resolve conflict
• Problem-solving skills
• Detail orientated
• Ability to communicate, both verbally and written, clearly and accurately in English
• Proficient computer literacy on MS Office related packages (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook) and Company related software systems