General Manager

The Business

We are an independent custom plastic and aluminium fabrication business in Melbourne specialising in manufacture for trade of signage, retail displays, brand activations, industrial components, and one-off custom work. We’re quick-turnaround, low volume specialists trusted by clients from national businesses to boutique designers.

We have two small workshops, one in Melbourne’s South East and the other in the West. There are 2 owners that will support you as required. You run the business.

The Role: Delivery, Then Growth

We grow by retaining customers — and by those customers referring us to new ones. That only happens when we deliver. So the order of operations is fixed: Delivery is paramount, and Growth is built on top of it.

Delivery (~80%). On-time, right the first time. Production planning, on-time delivery, consistent quality standards, and fast, competitive quoting.

- Run the production schedule across both workshops
- Drive on-time delivery to high levels and keep it there
- Improve quality standards and QA processes; deliver consistent quality; prevent rework at the root cause
- Own quoting. Fast, accurate, and competitive
- Digitise: adopt and leverage technology to improve the business

Growth (~20%). Deepen existing accounts and win a larger share of their projects. Convert delighted customers into referrals, and then use targeted outbound work to grow.

- Own relationships with our top customers; grow repeat volume and share of their projects
- Turn reliable delivery into a steady flow of referrals
- Use your industry network to open doors — with hands-on coaching from the Directors on selling strategies if required

Team

- Lead a small team (7 team members)



across two sites (South East, and West of Melbourne) including attending both sites regularly. You will set clear standards, give direct feedback, and build a delivery focused culture.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re not looking for someone with years of GM experience. We’re looking for an excellent operator that is ready to step up in their career. An experienced Industrial Designer, Production manager, or Project Manager from the either the fabrication, signage, shopfitting, or similar industry. Someone who is hungry to learn and grow professionally.

- Proven track record delivering quality work on time in a fabrication environment
- Hands-on in the workshop. You know how the work actually gets done
- Commercial instincts. Understand quoting, job costing, and margins
- Great with people. Both colleagues and customers. Having an existing network of people in the industry you know would be an advantage (this can be developed in future if you are fundamentally good with people).
- Ambition: you want to become more than a delivery person, and you’ll put in the work to get there

The role won’t suit

This is a working operator role. It is not a corporate GM sitting above the work. It won't suit pure salespeople, or managers who don’t touch the work, or anyone after a caretaker gig. You’ll be on the floor,



in the schedule, and talking to customers.

The Pathway

This role is a deliberate career step-up, and the progression is explicit:

- Stage 1 (months 0–6): own delivery. Improve On-time Delivery, production efficiency, and quality standards. Evidenced by less rework and more customers giving positive reviews.
- Stage 2 (months 6–12): own growth. Developing relationships with our top customers, increasing repeat orders, starting to generate consistent referrals, first outbound wins of new customers.
- Beyond: run the business. Full operational autonomy, with compensation upside that scales with the results you create.

Compensation

There will be a modest base salary plus a generous profit share program tied to your results growing the business. The package is designed so the person who grows the business shares in the upside. You will be able to take profit share as cash or equity to further increase your future upside. Further details can be shared on compensation during subsequent discussions.

Why are we hiring?

The business has been operating for over 20 years and has a strong and loyal client base. The business was acquired by 2 new owners over a year ago and is now ready for an experienced operator to step in and take it to the next level. The owners will step back from the day-to-day so the new GM role can take the lead. Both owners have extensive experience in business and a strong desire to share their skills to support and develop the right person.

Interested?

If you fit the brief and are excited about the role, please apply!

Pay: $100,000.00 – $150,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

📌 General Manager (Cheltenham East)
🏢 Plastifab Australia
📍 Cheltenham East