General Manager
3 days ago
Cincinnati
We are seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial General Manager for a well-established European industrial manufacturer with a growing U.S. presence. This executive-level role carries full operational and strategic responsibility for the U.S. entity, including P&L ownership, technical sales expansion, service and spare parts infrastructure development, and the phased build-out of local assembly capabilities. The General Manager will lead a small but growing team, oversee the relocation and operational setup of the U.S. facility, and drive sustainable revenue growth and market penetration across North America. The ideal candidate will bring strong industrial business development experience, hands-on leadership capability, and the ability to build scalable processes while aligning closely with international headquarters to support long-term expansion and profitability. Company Overview Our client is a well-established, family-owned European manufacturer with more than a century of industrial heritage and a strong global presence. The company specializes in engineered packaging and strapping systems, serving heavy industrial markets including steel service centers, steel mills, wood processing, and other demanding material-handling environments. Known for premium quality standards, robust mechanical engineering, and a strong service culture, the organization delivers high-performance capital equipment, integrated system solutions, and aftermarket support. With operations across Europe and North America, the company is currently expanding its U.S. footprint and investing in local leadership, service infrastructure, sales on machine systems. The culture combines German engineering precision with an entrepreneurial growth mindset, offering stability, long-term vision, and a commitment to sustainable expansion. Position Overview The General Manager is responsible for the full operational and strategic leadership of the U.S. entity. This role will lead the expansion of technical sales, service infrastructure, spare parts operations, and the sales of packaging systems in the market, jointly in the support from the German motherhood. phased development of local assembly and manufacturing capabilities. The position includes full P&L responsibility, team leadership (initially 5–6 employees), relocation of operations from Mooresville to Cincinnati, and the strategic build-out of U.S. This is a highly entrepreneurial leadership role requiring strong alignment with European Headquarters and a hands-on execution mindset. Key Responsibilities • Grow the U.S. Subsidiary, • Drive sustainable revenue growth, market penetration, and operational excellence across the United States., • Establish Operational Infrastructure, • Successfully relocate operations to Cincinnati and build a scalable spare parts and service organization. Business Development and Technical Sales • Build and develop the U.S. technical sales organization for German-manufactured products., • Identify and develop new customers and distribution channels., • Drive revenue growth and strengthen market positioning., • Provide technical consultation and solution-based selling to customers., • Align sales strategies with Headquarters and ensure brand consistency., • Prepare budgets, forecasts, and structured sales planning. Relocation and Operational Setup • Lead and execute the relocation of operations from Mooresville to Cincinnati., • Manage the transfer of spare parts warehouse and related infrastructure., • Ensure uninterrupted business continuity throughout the relocation process., • Establish new warehouse structures, logistics processes, and operational workflows., • Implement scalable operational systems to support future growth. Spare Parts and After-Sales Organization • Develop and optimize spare parts inventory management systems., • Recruit and lead spare parts and logistics personnel., • Implement efficient order fulfillment and delivery processes., • Oversee repair operations for handheld devices and aggregates., • Ensure high service levels and strong customer satisfaction. Service Organization Development • Build and lead a team of 2–3 field service technicians., • Define service standards, KPIs, and response times., • Develop preventive maintenance programs and service contracts., • Coordinate technical support and knowledge transfer with Headquarters., • Lead, coach, and develop a growing team (initially 5–6 employees)., • Foster a performance-driven, accountable, and customer-focused culture., • Assume full P&L responsibility for the U.S. entity., • Implement structured processes, KPIs, and reporting systems., • Ensure compliance with U.S. regulations and corporate guidelines., • Act as the primary interface between U.S. operations and German Headquarters. Strategic Development • Develop and execute a mid-term business plan for sustainable U.S. growth., • Identify opportunities for localization, value creation, and margin improvement., • Align U.S. operations with corporate long-term strategy., • Serve as a key strategic partner to Headquarters. Candidate Profile • Proven experience in a senior leadership role with full operational responsibility., • Strong background in technical sales and business development within industrial or mechanical environments., • Demonstrated success building organizations, teams, and processes from the ground up., • Experience managing spare parts operations, service organizations, and after-sales structures., • P&L responsibility experience required., • Experience in manufacturing setup or assembly operations is highly desirable., • Strong technical background (engineering exposure preferred). Skills • Strong strategic and operational leadership capabilities., • Entrepreneurial mindset with hands-on execution ability., • Ability to lead relocation and expansion projects., • Strong financial acumen and business planning capabilities., • Excellent communication and negotiation skills., • High intercultural competence and ability to collaborate closely with German Headquarters., • Ability to balance long-term strategy with daily operational execution. Why Join This Opportunity? • Be part of a globally respected, family-owned industrial manufacturer with a strong engineering heritage and long-term strategic vision., • Lead the transformation and expansion of the U.S. subsidiary during a pivotal growth phase., • Take full ownership of building and scaling the U.S. organization across sales, service, operations, and future manufacturing., • Work directly with European executive leadership and influence strategic decision-making., • Drive the relocation, service expansion, and phased setup of local assembly and production capabilities., • Operate in an entrepreneurial environment with real autonomy and decision-making authority., • Receive executive-level compensation aligned with performance and long-term business growth., • Make a tangible and lasting impact on the future of the North American organization.