Job Details
The Company and the Role:
The Company is a European independently owned fine foods wholesaler and importer and distributor of artisan food products. It has business units in the UK, Europe, Middle East, the Far East and Australia.
The client base of the business units is typically made up of high end / Michelin starred type restaurants, high end hotels, independent delicatessens and food halls etc.
The Company is seeking a Director of Operations to manage its operations in 4 Far Eastern Countries. The position is permanent.
This is a newly created position and the job holder will report direct to the Group CEO and take over the regional management of 4 separate business units which currently report into the Group CEO. The role will expand after 12 months and take over responsibility for additional business units located in Asia and Oceana.
It is envisaged that the home base of the successful candidate will be Thailand, but this is open to discussion with the Group CEO.
This is a truly outstanding opportunity for someone who wants to run business units as if they were their own.
Key Features of the Role:
General Management - full P & L responsibility of the 4 business units
Full management of all functions which will include the sales, telesales, purchasing, quality and operations teams.
Drive the overall commercial success of the 4 sites, in terms of revenue, profit and all associated KPI`s which contribute to the business
Work with the Group CEO to devise the overall business strategy and with the business unit General Managers to agree implementation of the strategy and 1 year and 3 year business plans in line with broader goals and to regularly review and refine
Provide leadership, direction, motivation and review to the team of Business Unit General Managers and their direct reports in a robust, inspirational and balanced manner in line with company vision, mission and values
By using judgement, experience or by studying outside practice or intentions, advise the Group CEO of short term and long-term recommendations, with regard to Company policy and procedures
Identify major competitor`s strategies/ tactics / and in conjunction with the business unit GM`s, devise and implement appropriate counter measures
Liaising with Suppliers, Group Head Office and business unit NPD and procurement of all the product ranges across all categories, ambient, chilled and frozen.
Supporting the business units marketing and sales of range of products to quality retail food halls and Michelin starred restaurants, high end hotels and develop account relationships with business units key account customers
Assuring excellence with the operations team to achieve full customer satisfaction.
Significant international travel both within the Far East and to France
Knowledge and Skills Required:
The ideal candidate will be a Delivered Foodservice professional with experience having been gained with a delivered foodservice wholesaler / importer and distributor of artisan foods.
You will have previous P + L responsibility, previous team management experience and ideally multi - site / regional responsibility.
The ideal candidate will combine strong backgrounds in both Operations and Sales. Having said this, the Company are very willing to recruit a capable individual showing strength in one of these areas coupled with the willingness and talent to grow the `lighter` area.
You should have a robust commercial background and will have operated at a senior level within a commercial business unit, again, ideally involving distribution, logistics, marketing and sales.
Entrepreneurial, you will be someone who can run a business autonomously and be a decisive decision maker.
Someone who is willing to work hours that the business requires as the leader and new driving force.
Must be able to speak English fluently and ideally some French.
Must have excellent management skills in communications, building relationships, inter-personal skills, motivation etc
Experienced with P&L`s / food margins / negotiations / budgets / reporting / recruitment / face to face and telephone client management experience.
Be numerate, have excellent presentation and communication skills, be able to communicate at all levels and be decisive, assertive and persuasive.
You will enjoy a high level of autonomy and therefore must be highly self-motivated to achieve agreed goals.
What`s on Offer?
Basic salary will be negotiable depending upon your experience, knowledge and skill set. In addition, there will be a management bonus scheme in operation based upon increasing EBIT, plus car allowance, mobile phone and the other usual benefits.
In addition, you will receive one paid return air trip to your home base.
The rol
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