General Manager Operations

We are seeking an experienced General Manager – Operations to lead and manage the organisation’s day-to-day manufacturing and operational activities. The position requires a strong industrial background, in-depth knowledge of production processes, and demonstrated experience in project and cross-functional management.

Key Competencies

• Manufacturing and production leadership
• Product industrialisation
• Prototype-to-production transition
• Serial production planning
• Project and programme management
• Cross-functional coordination
• Supply chain and material planning
• Quality and process management
• Cost and productivity optimisation
• Team development and operational discipline

The GM – Operations will be responsible for establishing efficient production systems and ensuring the successful transition of products from the final prototype stage to the first production model and, subsequently, to full-scale serial production.

Take ownership of product industrialisation, including:

• Transition from final prototype to production-ready design.
• Development and execution of the first production model.
• Establishment of repeatable manufacturing processes.
• Scaling the product to serial production.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the organisation’s day-to-day manufacturing and operational activities.
• Lead the production team and ensure that production targets relating to quality, cost, timelines, and output are consistently achieved.
• Develop and implement production plans, operational processes, work instructions, and manufacturing controls.
• Coordinate closely with the Research and Development, Business Development, Supply Chain Management, Quality, Engineering, and Project Management teams.
• Review product designs and prototypes from a manufacturability, scalability, cost, quality, and production-readiness perspective.
• Identify manufacturing risks, production bottlenecks, and process gaps, and implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Establish production schedules, resource requirements, capacity plans, and material readiness plans.
• Ensure the timely availability of components, raw materials, tools, fixtures, machinery, and production documentation.
• Monitor project timelines and ensure that operational deliverables are completed in accordance with customer and organisational commitments.
• Implement appropriate systems for production planning, inventory control, traceability, quality management, and performance monitoring.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives relating to productivity, process efficiency, cost optimisation, quality, and delivery.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality standards, safety requirements, statutory regulations, and organisational policies.
• Develop, guide, and evaluate production managers, engineers, supervisors, technicians, and other operations personnel.
• Present regular operational reviews, production status reports, risk assessments, and corrective action plans to senior management.

What to Expect in the Role

The GM – Operations will serve as the central point of responsibility for converting product designs and prototypes into reliable, repeatable, and scalable production programmes. The role requires hands-on operational involvement, strong coordination across departments, and complete ownership of production readiness and execution.

The successful candidate will be expected to build robust manufacturing systems, lead the production workforce, resolve operational challenges, and ensure that products are delivered with the required quality, cost efficiency, and timelines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification in Operations Management, Project Management, or Business Administration would be an advantage.
• Experience in aerospace, defence, electronics, automotive, precision engineering, industrial equipment, or other complex engineering product environments would be preferred.
• Knowledge of quality management systems, lean manufacturing, ERP/MRP systems, and production performance metrics would be beneficial.