The General Manager will take full ownership of the company's day-to-day operations, bringing structure, system, and accountability to all departments. This role is critical in transforming the company from a reactive, ad-hoc setup into a well-organized, performance-driven operation.
The GM must be hands-on, experienced in food manufacturing, and capable of implementing systems, SOPs, and reporting structures to ensure the company runs efficiently, profitably, and in compliance with industry standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Set up and implement proper systems and SOPs across all departments (Production, Admin, Sales, Marketing, and Finance).
- Create clear workflows, checklists, and reporting structures to ensure accountability and smooth operations.
- Introduce tracking and documentation processes for inventory, orders, costing, and performance monitoring.
- Establish company-wide communication and coordination processes to reduce confusion and delays.
- Standardize approval procedures for purchasing, costing, promotions, and project execution.
- Lead, mentor, and monitor all department heads to ensure alignment with company goals.
- Clearly define job scopes, responsibilities, and KPIs for each department.
- Build a culture of discipline, ownership, and teamwork - ensuring every team member is responsible for their deliverables.
- Conduct regular meetings to track progress, identify issues, and implement corrective actions.
- Train, guide, and motivate staff to adopt new systems and procedures.
- Oversee daily production activities and ensure product quality, consistency, and efficiency.
- Work with the Production Manager to implement production planning, inventory tracking, and raw material control.
- Introduce preventive maintenance schedules and proper documentation for machinery and production output.
- Ensure all products comply with SFA, Halal, HACCP, and other food safety standards.
- Monitor yield, wastage, and manpower efficiency to improve cost control.
- Supervise the Sales and Merchandising teams to ensure proper coverage and growth in all channels (supermarket, vending, distribution, etc.).
- Set achievable but challenging sales targets, with regular performance reviews.
- Ensure clear systems for order taking, invoicing, and stock delivery.
- Develop relationships with key customers and negotiate major contracts where necessary.
- Identify new business opportunities and channels for expansion.
- Work closely with the Accounts team to ensure accurate and timely reporting of sales, expenses, and profit.
- Review cost structures regularly to maintain healthy margins.
- Implement budget control for each department and ensure spending accountability.
- Review supplier pricing, costing breakdowns, and P&L performance monthly.
- Build proper financial documentation and audit readiness systems.
- Ensure all processes meet food safety, hygiene, and legal requirements.
- Implement clear documentation for audits (Halal, SFA, internal QA).
- Ensure regular housekeeping, pest control, and hygiene checks are done and recorded.
- Develop incident management and corrective action systems.
- Identify key problem areas in current company structure and propose long-term improvement plans.
- Introduce measurable KPIs for every department and monitor progress.
- Drive digital adoption (e.g., inventory system, Notion or ERP setup, automated reports).
- Regularly review processes to ensure efficiency and sustainability.
Requirements
- Minimum 8-10 years of managerial experience in food manufacturing or FMCG.
- Proven track record in setting up systems and SOPs for production, admin, and sales departments.
- Strong leadership and communication skills - able to manage teams from different backgrounds.
- Hands-on, detail-oriented, and capable of solving daily operational issues.
- Strong financial literacy and understanding of cost control, budgeting, and P&L.
- Practical, process-driven mindset with a sense of urgency and accountability.
Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Implementation of SOPs and systems across departments within agreed timeline.
- Reduced operational errors and production wastage.
- Improved departmental accountability and performance.
- On-time delivery and customer satisfaction improvement.
- Achieving company's sales and profitability targets.
- Improved internal communication and workflow efficiency.
