South Africa: General Manager posted by Deka Minas (Pty) Ltd

Please note that this position will be based in Qatar.

The General Manager (GM) is fully accountable for the profitability, growth, and long-term sustainability of the business. Reporting directly to the CEO / Chairperson, the GM leads the organization end-to-end, translating shareholder objectives into executable strategy, operational excellence, disciplined financial performance, and a high-performance culture.

The role carries full P&L responsibility, oversight of all assets, people, and contracts, and acts as the primary executive interface with key clients, regulators, and strategic partners. The GM is expected to scale the business, strengthen market leadership in temporary power and cooling solutions, and ensure robust governance, compliance, and risk management.

Duties and Responsibilities 1. Business Leadership & Strategy

• Provide overall leadership and direction across all business functions to achieve strategic objectives, sustainable growth, and profitability.

• Hold full P&L accountability, including revenue, margins, EBITDA, cash flow, and asset returns.

• Act as the primary executive advisor to the Owner / Chairperson, delivering clear, data-driven recommendations on strategy, capital investment, and risk.

• Develop, execute, and lead the annual strategic planning cycle, including measurable 35 year growth objectives.

• Ensure robust corporate governance, risk management, internal controls, and ethical standards.

• Lead monthly management reviews to assess performance, risks, and corrective actions.

• Ensure strict adherence to professional ethics, confidentiality, and Integrated Management System (IMS) policies.

2. Sales & Business Development

• Drive top-line growth and margin expansion through disciplined sales and commercial strategies.

• Lead market penetration initiatives, key account development, and framework agreements.

• Identify and execute diversification and growth opportunities across sectors, solutions, and contract models.

• Ensure pricing discipline aligned with asset utilization, market conditions, and return targets.

• Sponsor continuous improvement initiatives that support scalable growth without margin erosion.

3. Operations & Asset Performance

• Provide strategic oversight to operations to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective service delivery.

• Ensure optimal asset utilization, lifecycle management, and minimal equipment downtime.

• Resolve major operational issues, service failures, or incidents in coordination with operational leadership.

• Maintain strong client communication for critical operational matters.

• Ensure full compliance with HSE standards, regulatory requirements, and professional site presentation.

4. Financial Management

• Partner with the Finance Manager to develop annual budgets, forecasts, cash flow plans, and financial reviews.

• Monitor actual performance against budgets and forecasts, driving timely corrective actions.

• Lead capital expenditure planning, including fleet expansion, renewals, and disposals, supported by robust ROI analysis.

• Own working capital performance, including receivables, inventory, and payables.

• Support resolution of long-outstanding receivables through structured payment plans and senior-level client engagement.

• Approve major expenditures and procurement within delegated authority.

• Present regular financial and performance dashboards to the Owner / CEO.

5. Quality, Compliance & IMS

• Ensure full compliance with IMS and ISO standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 / QHSE).

• Oversee process improvements, documentation updates, and internal and external audit readiness.

• Ensure successful completion of audits with no major non-conformities.

• Be personally accountable for QHSE performance and fostering a zero-harm culture.

• Ensure effective business continuity planning and crisis management preparedness.

• Maintain ongoing regulatory compliance across all operations.

6. Marketing & Growth Initiatives

• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and industry developments to inform strategy.

• Oversee corporate branding, marketing communications, digital presence, and public relations activities.

• Evaluate and approve marketing initiatives, sponsorships, and investments in consultation with the Finance Manager and Owner / CEO.

7. People Leadership & HR Governance

• Build and sustain a high-performance, people-centric culture grounded in accountability, trust, and ethical leadership.

• Oversee performance management, succession planning, leadership development, and talent retention.

• Ensure compliance with Qatari Labour Law and internal HR policies.

• Guide senior-level recruitment, disciplinary, grievance, promotion, and termination processes.

• Ensure leadership behaviours consistently reflect company values and professional standards.

8. General Management Duties

• Review and act on departmental reports, KPIs, and risk indicators.

• Approve procurement strategies and fleet renewal plans to maintain operational competitiveness.

• Support senior leadership recruitment and succession planning.

• Ensure alignment across all functions in support of strategic objectives.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Thinking & Commercial Acumen Ability to develop long-term strategies while understanding market dynamics and driving profitable growth.

• Leadership & Decision-Making Strong capability to lead teams, make informed decisions, and inspire confidence at all organizational levels.

• Financial & Operational Analysis Proficient in analyzing financial and operational data to guide strategy and optimize performance.

• Planning, Organization & Execution Excellence Skilled in setting priorities, managing resources, and delivering results.

• Customer-Centric Mindset & Negotiation Skills Strong focus on customer value while achieving commercially sound outcomes.

• Resilience, Accountability & Results Orientation Persistent, responsible, and outcome-driven in demanding environments.

Education & Experience

• Bachelors degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (Masters degree preferred).

• Minimum 15 years experience in the equipment rental industry, with strong exposure to temporary power and cooling solutions.

• Proven senior leadership experience in comparable business environments.