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General Manager - Food Distribution, Commercial Leadership & Strategic GrowthJoin to apply for the General Manager - Food Distribution, Commercial Leadership & Strategic Growth role at Placed RecruitmentGeneral Manager - Food Distribution, Commercial Leadership & Strategic Growth2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicantsJoin to apply for the General Manager - Food Distribution, Commercial Leadership & Strategic Growth role at Placed RecruitmentThe OpportunityExceptional leadership opportunity to guide an established food distributor under $100M through strategic evolution to $120-140M. Whether your strength lies in commercial operations or relationship-driven growth, this role offers the chance to build on extraordinary foundations while adding the disciplines required for scale. The infrastructure is world-class, systems operational, customer relationships exemplary - now they need a strategic leader to unlock untapped potential.The CompanyDistinguished Sydney food distribution business with 20+ years market presence, operating from a state-of-the-art 10,000+sqm semi-automated facility. Serving Sydney''s most prestigious restaurants, luxury hotels, and specialty retailers through a sophisticated dual-channel model - high-volume commodity distribution via national consortium membership plus exclusive premium product ranges.Strong Foundation:Recent multi-million dollar automation and WMS implementationDigital customer platform and advanced BI systems are operationalIndustry-leading delivery operation with midnight startsExclusive distribution agreements with sought-after producersStrong balance sheet with significant growth capacityThe RoleThe business seeks an exceptional leader who reports to the owner as managing director with full autonomy. Whether you bring deep commercial expertise or exceptional relationship capabilities, you''ll be supported by strong functional leaders across all areas.Two Candidate Profiles We''re Seeking:Path 1: Commercial Operations LeaderYour likely background:Branch Manager at Bidfood, PFD, or similarRegional Operations Director from major distributorState Manager FMCG with operational oversightOperations Director with transformation experienceWhat you bring:Deep understanding of warehouse operations, logistics, supply chainFull P&L management including labour, wastage, marginsExpertise in procurement, rebates, supplier negotiationsTrack record implementing WMS and automationYour focus:Implementing supplier agreements and commercial frameworksBuilding commercial disciplines and KPI frameworksOptimising technology investments and facilityDriving margin improvement through procurementPath 2: Sales & Relationship LeaderYour likely background:GM Sales or National Sales Manager from food distributionHead of Sales from premium food/beverage companyCommercial Manager with artisan/specialty expertiseSenior BDM who has scaled customer portfoliosWhat you bring:Exceptional ability building trust with premium suppliers/customersRevenue growth through relationship managementDeep understanding of premium brand positioningNetwork within Sydney''s hospitality sectorYour focus:Strengthening commercial documentation while preserving relationshipsExpanding premium supplier partnershipsGrowing share with top-tier hospitalityBuilding artisan portfolio and market presenceCore Accountabilities (Both Paths)Implement comprehensive supplier agreements and MOUsEstablish QA protocols and recall procedures with cost recoveryDrive margin enhancement across all categoriesOptimise procurement through consortium leverageStrategic & FinancialFull P&L accountability to ownershipDevelop and execute growth strategy to $120-140MBalance dual-channel requirements (commodity/premium)Optimise working capital and inventory efficiencyTeam LeadershipLead 100+ staff across multiple functionsBuild a performance culture, preserving service excellenceDevelop talent pipeline and succession planningEssential RequirementsMinimum 5+ years senior management food/FMCGProven P&L management responsibility ($60M+ preferred)Track record of driving significant growthExperience managing 60+ staffStrong negotiation and stakeholder managementCritical AttributesStrategic thinking with execution focusCultural intelligence and change leadershipCommercial acumen (whether primary strength or developing)Commitment to service excellenceAll inquiries handled with absolute discretion.This is a rare opportunity to lead a successful business through a critical transformation. The company is open to different paths to success - what matters is your ability to drive growth while preserving what makes them special.Seniority levelSeniority levelExecutiveEmployment typeEmployment typeFull-timeJob functionJob functionManagementIndustriesStaffing and RecruitingReferrals increase your chances of interviewing at Placed Recruitment by 2xSign in to set job alerts for General Manager Distribution roles.Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2 weeks agoSydney, New South Wales, Australia 1 year agoAssociate Vice President, Operations, Governance & SecuritySydney, New South Wales, Australia 5 days agoMillers Point, New South Wales, Australia A$5,000.00-A$10,000.00 1 month agoSydney, New South Wales, Australia 1 day agoWere unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI. #J-18808-Ljbffr