General Manager

General Manager
This is an exciting white space opportunity at a global bakery ingredients business investing in its US expansion. The General Manager will drive revenue growth and new customer acquisition for the US business unit.The ideal candidate will have a commercial sales background and existing relationships with North American bakery ingredients buyers. You will build a team and develop solutions for Industrial, Foodservice, and ISB customers.The General Manager will report to the Group Director in Europe who values entrepreneurial and results driven leadership.

Responsibilities

• Drive profitable sales in the USA with a strong focus on P&L management and solutions-based selling.
• Identify business trends and new opportunities for commercial growth within the industrial customer segment, incorporating market insights, customer feedback, and internal capabilities.
• Develop new business opportunities, leveraging an in-depth knowledge of bakery products and value propositions.
• Lead the commercial planning and sales execution process and develop growth strategies for the short and mid-term.
• Develop and execute strategic plans to leverage international key accounts, aligning with the company’s overall objectives and growth targets.
• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process with consideration for costing/pricing to ensure profitable growth.
• Optimize operational procedures to enable high customer satisfaction and retention.
• Build and manage all functions including business development, technical sales, marketing, customer services, logistics, and finance.
• Set a strong personal example for colleagues; mentor, guide, and develop staff; establish trust and delegate responsibility appropriately.
• Ensure compliance with Group policies and local food regulations.

Personal Characteristics

• Demonstrates strong commercial acumen and an entrepreneurial mindset, thriving in a start-up-like environment.
• Capable of thinking outside the box to develop innovative business strategies aligned with company objectives.
• Exhibits a strong customer orientation with a commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction and building long-term relationships.
• Possesses a high energy level and strong problem-solving skills, with a result-driven “can-do” mentality and enjoys operating in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Displays strong leadership skills to guide both global and local teams, fostering collaboration and driving performance.
• Demonstrates strong analytical skills to monitor key performance metrics and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage with stakeholders at all levels.
• Intellectually curious and able to diplomatically challenge the status quo, driving continuous improvement.
• Possesses a solid technical background to understand and support the technical aspects of the business.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Food Science, Marketing, Economics, or a related field.
• Proven track record of delivering top-line profitable growth within a compressed timeframe.
• 10+ years of experience in business development, key account management, or commercial roles within the food ingredients industry.
• B2B experience and customer knowledge of the bakery ingredients industry, preferably ranging from raw materials to higher complexity, functional food ingredients.
• Experience in functional bakery ingredients (bread improvers, cake improvers, industrial applications) is preferred but not required.
• Excellent project management skills, including the design and implementation of business development strategies.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present information effectively to key stakeholders.