General Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

We are conducting a search for a General Manager on behalf of a leading fire & life safety distribution and services company. This role is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and growth of a $90M business line, owning full P&L accountability and driving commercial strategy, operational excellence, and customer value across equipment distribution, service, and related offerings.

.The GM will lead cross-functional teams to accelerate revenue growth, expand market share, optimize margins, and enhance customer experience while ensuring alignment with enterprise strategy and values.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Business & Financial Leadership

• Own and deliver on full P&L performance, including revenue growth, gross margin expansion, and EBITDA targets
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, budgets, and long-range strategic plans
• Identify and drive organic growth opportunities across new markets, segments, products, and services
• Implement pricing, cost, and productivity strategies to improve profitability

Commercial Strategy & Growth

• Lead sales and go-to-market strategy across key channels including direct sales, distribution, and services
• Strengthen key customer and vendor/manufacturer relationships
• Drive account segmentation, pipeline discipline, and salesforce effectiveness
• Partner with marketing to enhance brand positioning and demand generation

Operations & Supply Chain

• Oversee operations including distribution, inventory management, logistics, and service delivery
• Ensure high levels of customer service, on-time delivery, and operational efficiency
• Optimize supply chain performance, vendor partnerships, and working capital (inventory turns, cash flow)
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across processes and systems

People & Leadership

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing, accountable leadership team
• Establish clear performance expectations, KPIs, and talent development plans
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and customer focus
• Partner with HR on organizational design, workforce planning, and leadership development

Customer & Market Focus

• Deeply understand customer needs across industries and verticals
• Ensure a differentiated customer experience across equipment sales and service
• Monitor market trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes impacting safety equipment

Strategic Alignment & Integration

• Align strategy with broader enterprise priorities
• Collaborate cross-functionally across shared services including HR, Finance, IT, and Legal
• Support M&A integration efforts or strategic partnerships as applicable

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Revenue growth (organic and new business)
• Gross margin and EBITDA performance
• Sales pipeline health and conversion rates
• Inventory turns and working capital efficiency
• Customer satisfaction / retention
• Safety performance metrics

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree
• Preferred 10 years of progressive leadership experience, including GM, business unit leader, or senior commercial/operations roles
• Experience in industrial distribution, safety equipment, fire/life safety, or adjacent sectors strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success managing a P&L of meaningful size
• Strong commercial acumen with experience leading sales and growth initiatives
• Operational leadership experience across distribution, supply chain, and service delivery

LEADERSHIP PROFILE

• Results-oriented leader with strong business and financial acumen
• Strategic thinker with the ability to execute and drive outcomes
• Customer-centric mindset with a focus on value creation
• Effective communicator and influencer across all levels
• Data-driven decision-maker with a bias for action
• Builds trust, accountability, and high-performing teams

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity to own and scale a growing business within a well-capitalized platform. The GM will play a critical role in strengthening market position, driving profitable growth, and delivering exceptional customer value in a competitive and operationally complex environment.

Ripple Talent is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by law.