General Manager in Louth

Excellent opportunity to join a growing technical testing and engineering services business as a General Manager – Business Development & Operations on a permanent basis. Based in County Louth, Ireland, this is a senior leadership role offering the opportunity to take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of an established business while driving its next phase of commercial growth. Operating across the water, wastewater, utilities and infrastructure sectors, the business has built a strong reputation for technical expertise, quality and customer service, with significant opportunities to diversify and expand its service offering.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the General Manager will lead operational performance across laboratory testing, field services and support functions, while developing and implementing a long-term growth strategy. This is a commercially focused position requiring a balance of operational leadership, financial management and business development, with the autonomy to shape the future direction of the business.

As General Manager – Business Development & Operations, you will be responsible for:

• Taking overall responsibility for the day-to-day management and performance of the business across laboratory, field services and administrative functions

• Developing and executing the company's growth strategy, identifying new markets, services and commercial opportunities

• Driving revenue growth, profitability, gross margin, cash collection and operational efficiency against agreed business plans and budgets

• Leading, developing and motivating multidisciplinary technical and operational teams, building a strong management structure and high-performance culture

• Establishing and monitoring KPIs across all departments to improve productivity, resource utilisation and customer satisfaction

• Maintaining compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, INAB accreditation requirements, health and safety regulations and quality management systems

• Leading business development activities, including tendering, proposal development, key account management and contract negotiations

• Identifying opportunities to diversify into complementary services such as environmental monitoring, infrastructure testing, asset management and technical consultancy

• Evaluating potential partnerships, acquisitions and joint ventures to support the company's longer-term growth ambitions

• Monitoring market trends, competitor activity and emerging industry requirements to identify opportunities for expansion

• Reporting regularly to the Board on financial performance, operational delivery, commercial performance and strategic opportunities

The ideal General Manager will have:

• Significant senior management experience, ideally with at least 7 years in a commercially focused leadership position

• A proven track record of managing and growing an established technical services, engineering or related business

• Strong commercial and business development experience, with demonstrable success delivering revenue and profitability growth

• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical, engineering or operational teams

• Strong financial management capabilities, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, margin management and business planning

• Experience developing new business lines, entering new markets and identifying opportunities to diversify services

• Excellent negotiation, tendering, contract management and key account management skills

• A strong understanding of operational performance, resource planning and continuous improvement

• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management abilities

• A full driving licence and willingness to travel throughout Ireland

What's on offer:

• Full-time, permanent senior leadership position

• Competitive executive salary and package

• Direct reporting to the Board of Directors

• Significant autonomy and responsibility for the overall management of the business

• Opportunity to shape and deliver the next phase of growth for an established technical services business

• Scope to diversify the service offering and develop new markets across the water, wastewater, utilities and infrastructure sectors

• Opportunity to build a high-performing management team and influence the long‑term strategic direction of the business