General Manager

Join an industry-leading association at the forefront of innovation and excellence. We are seeking a dynamic professional to drive operational success and lead a high-performing team. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of the industry, influence strategy, and contribute to long-term growth and development.

Purpose of the Role

The role is responsible for the execution of the company’s strategy as defined by the CEO, ensuring the achievement of operational, financial, and HR objectives. While the CEO focuses on high-level strategy, international growth, lobbying, and board engagement, this role manages the day-to-day operations. This includes overseeing finance, human resources, and guiding the leadership team towards achieving the company’s 1, 3, and 5-year goals.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Oversight

• Deliver on financial targets as set in the annual budget.
• Ensure the company maintains a strong operating surplus by overseeing financial reporting, compliance, and tax.
• Monitor and control revenue growth (targeting a 10% annual increase) and profitability (minimum 15% net margin).
• Oversee all financial systems and risk management processes, reporting directly to the board.

2. Human Resources & People Management

• Lead the HR strategy, covering recruitment, retention, and talent development.
• Achieve a 90% retention rate for key employees through competitive compensation, career development, and engagement initiatives.
• Develop and implement HR policies that ensure legal compliance and promote a positive work culture.

3. Leadership Team Guidance

• Collaborate with department heads (training, commercial, technical, marketing, operations, and digital) to ensure short-term and long-term business objectives are met.
• Provide leadership to the management team, ensuring timely and budget-conscious delivery of projects.
• Lead teams of 20+ individuals (not all direct reports), focusing on senior leaders to meet operational and strategic goals.
• Partner with the CEO to execute high-priority initiatives, fostering communication across departments.

4. Operational Leadership

• Oversee daily operations across all departments, ensuring alignment with the company’s strategic objectives.
• Support the management team in driving key training, membership, and commercial growth initiatives, with the goal of doubling the company’s revenue.
• Lead efforts to automate member processes, improve internal systems, and establish a robust operational foundation for future growth.

5. Reporting & Accountability

• Report directly to the CEO, ensuring transparency in financial, HR, and operational performance.
• Present quarterly updates to the board on progress towards financial, operational, and strategic targets.
• Ensure that KPI tracking is thorough and accurately reflects progress towards goals such as revenue, profitability, and employee retention.

Key Relationships

• CEO: Serve as the operational leader, closely working with the CEO to implement the company’s strategy.
• Management Team: Lead, mentor, and support department heads in Training, Commercial, Marketing, Technical, and Operations.

Key Competencies and Qualifications

Essential:

• Strong financial acumen and experience managing financial targets and reporting.
• Proven ability to guide management teams in delivering long-term strategic goals.
• Extensive experience in HR management, covering recruitment, retention, and policy development.
• Experience leading businesses through significant revenue growth and operational expansion.

Desirable:

• Background in the fire safety or related industries.
• Familiarity with digital transformation and process automation.