General Manager

With more than 20 years of experience in the market, we serve a diverse customer base ranging from individual tradespeople and DIY customers to construction businesses and large contracting companies. Our extensive product range includes building materials, fasteners and fixings, power and hand tools, machinery, paint and flooring products, and other construction-related products.

As our business continues to develop, we are seeking an experienced General Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across the company and drive sustainable business growth.

About the Role

The General Manager will be responsible for the overall management, strategic direction, and commercial performance of Lovens Building Supplies.

Reporting to the Managing Director, the General Manager will oversee the company's day-to-day business operations, including sales, procurement and sourcing, inventory management, supplier relationships, distribution, financial performance, customer service, workforce management, and business development.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Managing Director and management team to establish business objectives, improve operational efficiency, strengthen supplier and customer relationships, optimise product and inventory strategies, and identify opportunities for sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and Business Management

• Develop and implement business strategies, annual operating plans, and organisational objectives in consultation with the Managing Director.
• Translate strategic objectives into practical commercial and operational plans.
• Monitor market conditions, construction-sector demand, competitor activity, customer trends, and emerging business opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to expand product categories, distribution channels, customer segments, and revenue streams.
• Review overall business performance and implement strategies to improve profitability, efficiency, and market position.
• Provide strategic and commercial advice to the Managing Director on major business decisions and investments.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Take responsibility for the overall commercial and financial performance of the business.
• Oversee annual budgets, financial forecasts, operating expenditure, and business performance targets.
• Monitor revenue, gross margins, operating costs, cash flow, and profitability across major product categories and business activities.
• Analyse financial and operational performance and implement corrective measures where required.
• Review pricing structures, product margins, discounts, trade terms, and other significant commercial arrangements.
• Establish appropriate financial and operational controls to protect company assets and profitability.

Procurement and Supplier Management

• Oversee the company's procurement and product sourcing strategy across building materials, tools, machinery, hardware, and related product categories.
• Manage and develop relationships with key domestic and international suppliers.
• Evaluate supplier performance, product quality, pricing, commercial terms, delivery performance, and supply reliability.
• Participate in negotiations relating to major supplier agreements, purchasing arrangements, pricing, and distribution terms.
• Monitor international sourcing requirements, lead times, landed costs, and supply-chain risks.
• Identify new products and suppliers that support customer demand and the company's commercial objectives.

Inventory and Supply Chain Management

• Oversee inventory planning and stock-management strategies across the business.
• Monitor stock levels, inventory turnover, product availability, ageing stock, and slow-moving items.
• Ensure appropriate stock is maintained to meet customer demand while controlling inventory investment and carrying costs.
• Coordinate procurement, warehousing, sales, and distribution requirements.
• Identify and address supply-chain risks, stock shortages, excess inventory, and distribution inefficiencies.
• Develop systems and procedures to improve inventory accuracy and operational efficiency.

Sales and Business Development

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for the company's sales activities.
• Establish sales targets and monitor performance against revenue and margin objectives.
• Develop strategies to grow trade, commercial, contractor, and retail customer segments.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with key customers and commercial accounts.
• Identify new business opportunities, partnerships, products, and market segments.
• Review major customer pricing, trade arrangements, and commercial proposals.
• Ensure sales strategies remain aligned with inventory availability, product margins, and overall business objectives.

Operations and Customer Service

• Oversee the company's day-to-day retail, wholesale, distribution, and customer-service operations.
• Establish operational standards, procedures, and performance expectations across the business.
• Ensure effective coordination between sales, procurement, inventory, warehouse, distribution, administration, and customer-service functions.
• Monitor service quality and ensure customer enquiries, orders, deliveries, returns, warranties, and other service matters are managed effectively.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, workflow, productivity, and customer experience.
• Ensure appropriate resources are allocated to support efficient business operations.

People and Organisational Leadership

• Provide leadership and direction to managers and employees across the organisation.
• Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability.
• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment requirements, staff development, and performance management.
• Develop management capability and support managers in resolving significant operational and staffing issues.
• Promote effective communication and cooperation across different areas of the business.
• Build an organisational structure and workforce capability capable of supporting future business growth.

Risk, Compliance and Governance

• Oversee key commercial, financial, operational, supply-chain, and business risks.
• Ensure appropriate internal policies, procedures, controls, and approval processes are maintained.
• Monitor compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, employment, health and safety, and commercial requirements.
• Ensure appropriate systems are in place for product quality, warranty, supplier, and customer-related matters.
• Identify significant business risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Report significant performance, operational, and risk matters to the Managing Director.

Skills and Experience Required

The successful candidate will have:

• A relevant Bachelor's degree or higher qualification in Business, Management, Commerce, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline.
• Significant management experience in a general management, senior operations management, commercial management, or similar leadership role.
• Strong commercial and financial management capability.
• Demonstrated experience managing business operations, budgets, resources, and organisational performance.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• Sound understanding of procurement, inventory management, supplier management, sales, and business operations.
• Strong negotiation, stakeholder-management, and commercial decision-making skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple business functions and make sound decisions in a commercially focused environment.

Senior management experience within building supplies, wholesale, retail, distribution, tools and hardware, construction products, or a related industry would be advantageous.