General Manager

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 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