General Manager

Position Summary

This opportunity is for a General Manager to lead a $90M business within a fire and life safety distribution and services organization. The role carries end-to-end responsibility for performance, growth, and profitability, including full P&L ownership. The GM will set commercial direction, raise operational performance, and strengthen customer value across product distribution, service, and connected offerings.

The position calls for a leader who can unite teams across functions, accelerate revenue, improve margins, and enhance the customer experience while staying aligned with the company’s broader strategy and values.

Business & Financial Leadership

• Take accountability for the complete P&L, including top-line growth, gross margin improvement, and EBITDA delivery.
• Build annual operating plans, budgets, and long-term strategic roadmaps.
• Spot and pursue organic growth opportunities in new markets, customer segments, products, and services.
• Apply pricing, cost control, and productivity improvements to strengthen profitability.

Commercial Strategy & Growth

• Set and lead the sales and go-to-market approach across direct sales, distribution, and service channels.
• Deepen relationships with major customers, vendors, and manufacturers.
• Improve account segmentation, sales pipeline discipline, and overall sales team effectiveness.
• Work with marketing to build stronger brand presence and demand generation.

Operations & Supply Chain

• Direct operations spanning distribution, inventory control, logistics, and service execution.
• Maintain strong customer service levels, dependable on-time delivery, and efficient operations.
• Improve supply chain performance, vendor collaboration, and working capital metrics such as inventory turns and cash flow.
• Champion continuous improvement across processes and systems.

People & Leadership

• Recruit, lead, and develop a high-accountability leadership team.
• Set clear expectations, KPIs, and development plans for talent growth.
• Promote a culture centered on safety, ownership, teamwork, and customer focus.
• Partner with HR on org design, workforce planning, and leadership development.

Customer & Market Focus

• Build a deep understanding of customer needs across industries and verticals.
• Deliver a distinctive customer experience across equipment sales and service.
• Track market movements, competitor activity, and regulatory updates affecting safety equipment.

Strategic Alignment & Integration

• Ensure the business strategy supports broader enterprise priorities.
• Collaborate with shared services teams such as HR, Finance, IT, and Legal.
• Assist with M&A integration work or strategic partnerships when needed.

Key Performance Indicators

• Revenue growth from existing business and new opportunities
• Gross margin and EBITDA results
• Sales pipeline quality and conversion performance
• Inventory turns and working capital efficiency
• Customer satisfaction and retention
• Safety performance measures

What You Bring

• A bachelor’s degree is required; an MBA or another advanced degree is preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience, preferably in GM, business unit leadership, or senior commercial/operations roles.
• Background in industrial distribution, safety equipment, fire/life safety, or a closely related sector is strongly preferred.
• Proven record of managing a substantial P&L.
• Strong commercial judgment with experience leading sales and growth efforts.
• Operational leadership experience in distribution, supply chain, and service delivery.

Leadership Profile

• Outcome-focused leader with solid business and financial understanding.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to turn plans into results.
• Customer-first approach and strong orientation toward value creation.
• Clear communicator and effective influencer at every level.
• Uses data to guide decisions and acts quickly.
• Builds trust, accountability, and strong team performance.

Why This Role Matters

This is a significant leadership role with the chance to scale a growing business on a well-funded platform. The General Manager will help strengthen market position, drive profitable expansion, and deliver excellent customer value in a competitive and operationally demanding environment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The employer is committed to a diverse workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.