General Manager

Location: Dubai
Salary: AED 35,000 - 40,000

Job Code: 356/001/457
Industry: Mineral Water Production

Job Brief:

Our client is seeking an accomplished and commercially driven General Manager to lead and develop its mineral water production business. The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for the UAE operations while also overseeing business operations in the company's European office. The role requires frequent international travel based on business requirements.

The General Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership across manufacturing, operations, sales, business development, finance, human resources, procurement, and cost management. A key focus of the position will be to establish and optimize the business from the ground up, develop efficient water manufacturing processes, drive commercial growth, and progressively build the organizational structure and team as the business scales.

This is a hands-on leadership position requiring a strong startup mentality. During the initial stage, the General Manager will be expected to operate independently without an established team, take ownership of multiple business functions, and build the necessary processes, systems, partnerships, and operational framework from scratch. The ideal candidate will have previous experience with established mineral water brands in the UAE, combined with strong business development capabilities and the ability to transition a growing operation into a structured and scalable business.

Job Responsibilities:

Provide overall strategic and operational leadership for the mineral water production business in the UAE while overseeing operations in the European office.
Take full ownership of establishing, developing, and scaling business operations from the ground up.
Lead all key business functions, including operations, manufacturing, sales, business development, human resources, finance, procurement, and cost management.
Develop and execute short-term and long-term business strategies aligned with organizational growth and profitability objectives.
Oversee mineral water manufacturing operations and identify improved, efficient, and cost-effective methods of production.
Drive operational excellence by establishing appropriate processes, systems, controls, policies, and performance standards across the business.
Develop and implement strategies to optimize manufacturing efficiency, production quality, capacity utilization, and overall operational performance.
Lead business development activities and identify new customers, markets, distribution opportunities, strategic partnerships, and revenue streams.
Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, distributors, suppliers, business partners, and other key stakeholders.
Develop sales strategies and commercial plans to increase market penetration, revenue, and profitability.
Oversee financial performance, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, cost management, and profitability.
Identify opportunities to reduce operating and manufacturing costs without compromising product quality or business performance.
Oversee procurement activities and develop effective supplier and vendor relationships to ensure quality, cost efficiency, and continuity of supply.
Establish appropriate organizational structures and progressively recruit, develop, and manage teams as the business grows.
Oversee human resources requirements and ensure the development of an effective, performance-driven organizational culture.
Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across business functions and regularly monitor operational and commercial performance.
Ensure manufacturing and business operations comply with applicable quality, health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
Monitor market trends, competitor activities, customer requirements, and industry developments to identify opportunities for business improvement and expansion.
Provide regular business, operational, financial, and commercial updates to key stakeholders.
Oversee operations across the UAE and Europe, ensuring effective coordination and alignment between locations.
Travel frequently within the UAE and internationally based on operational and business requirements.
Initially, manage key business functions independently and progressively build the required team, systems, and organizational infrastructure as operations become established and the business scales.

Job Requirements:

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or a related field. A Master's Degree or an MBA will be an advantage.
Extensive senior management experience within the mineral water production or bottled water industry.
Previous experience working with well-established mineral water brands in the UAE is mandatory.
Proven experience managing manufacturing and operational functions within the mineral water or beverage production industry.
Strong business development and commercial management experience with a proven ability to identify and develop new business opportunities.
Demonstrated ability to establish, build, or scale business operations from the ground up.
Strong understanding of mineral water manufacturing processes, production efficiency, quality management, and operational improvement.
Broad functional knowledge across manufacturing, operations, sales, business development, finance, human resources, procurement, and cost management.
Strong financial and commercial acumen with experience in budgeting, cost optimization, profitability management, and business planning.
Experience developing and implementing business strategies, operational processes, systems, and performance frameworks.
Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to initially work independently and subsequently build, develop, and lead high-performing teams.
Entrepreneurial and startup-oriented mindset with a hands-on approach to business establishment and growth.
Excellent communication, negotiation, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills.
Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic business environment and manage multiple strategic and operational priorities.
Willingness and flexibility to travel frequently within the UAE and internationally, particularly to Europe, based on business requirements.

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