General Manager - Head of Division

General Manager / Head of Division 

Overview

Our client is a long-established and highly respected business operating across wholesale, distribution, and retail channels, serving the construction, building trade, and commercial sectors.

As part of its continued evolution and growth, the business is seeking to appoint a commercially driven General Manager / Head of Division to lead a key business unit and shape its next phase of development.

This is a rare opportunity to lead and shape a business within a business — combining full commercial accountability with the ability to influence strategy, supplier innovation, and long-term growth.

This is a senior leadership role with full ownership of operational and commercial performance, offering the opportunity to combine day-to-day leadership of a substantial business unit with the strategic development of its future direction.

The Role

Reporting to senior leadership, the General Manager / Head of Division will operate as the leader of a significant business unit, with full accountability for sales, profitability, and EBITDA performance.

This role combines the breadth of a General Manager with the commercial sharpness of a Category Leader — balancing operational control with the responsibility for setting direction and delivering growth.

A central focus will be to further strengthen the division’s operating model while ensuring both internal excellence and the development of new, profitable growth avenues are delivered in parallel.

Working closely with procurement, operations, and central support functions (finance, HR, and marketing), the role will play a key part in strengthening both internal capability and market-facing impact.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Ownership & Growth

·       Full accountability for commercial performance, margin delivery, and EBITDA

·       Set and deliver the commercial agenda to drive strong, profitable growth across customer segments and channels

·       Strengthen the division’s market position through clear prioritisation, disciplined execution, and focused category direction

Market, Customer & Supplier Leadership

·       Lead from the front in developing deep, insight-led engagement with key customers

·       Establish and own strategic supplier partnerships focused on joint business planning, innovation, and competitive differentiation

·       Drive the introduction of new products, technologies, and sustainable solutions aligned with evolving market demand

Operational & Organisational Excellence

·       Define and embed a structured, scalable operating model across the division

·       Set high standards for clarity of roles, processes, and performance management

·       Ensure strong operational cadence, visibility, and quality of decision-making

Leadership & Culture

·       Set clear expectations and drive accountability for performance and delivery across the team

·       Build a culture of ownership, pace, and commercial focus

·       Develop capability, strengthen succession, and raise the overall performance bar across the function

Entrepreneurial Leadership & Innovation

·       Bring an entrepreneurial approach to identifying and delivering step-change opportunities across the division over the medium term

·       Develop and execute initiatives that expand the business through new products, customer segments, routes to market, and value-added services

·       Leverage supplier relationships to unlock innovation, exclusivity, and differentiated propositions

·       Combine commercial instinct with disciplined execution — ensuring ideas translate into tangible, profitable outcomes

·       Create an environment where new thinking is encouraged, tested, and embedded, while maintaining focus on delivery and performance

·       Play a leading role in positioning the division to respond to evolving customer needs, technology shifts, and sustainability opportunities

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a commercially astute and credible leader with a proven track record of managing and growing a business unit within a customer-focused, operational environment.

They will combine strategic clarity with decisive execution, and will be comfortable setting direction, making calls, and delivering results in a dynamic environment.

Key Attributes

·       Proven experience managing a business unit with full P&L / EBITDA responsibility

·       Strong commercial instinct with the ability to drive consistent, profitable growth

·       Ability to set direction, prioritise effectively, and deliver through others

·       Experience working cross-functionally, particularly with procurement, operations, and sales

·       Track record of strengthening organisational effectiveness, processes, and performance standards

·       Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to deliver step-change growth

·       Strong leadership presence with the ability to engage, challenge, and align stakeholders

·       High levels of ownership, energy, and ambition

Experience & Background

Candidates will typically come from sectors such as:

·       Construction / Building Materials

·       Builders’ Merchants / Trade Retail

·       Distribution / Supply Chain

·       Manufacturing or related industries

What’s on Offer

·       Senior leadership role with full commercial and operational accountability

·       Opportunity to lead and shape a strong business unit with significant growth potential

·       High visibility and influence across the wider organisation

·       Platform for long-term career progression

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