General Manager

Love wine? Want to get out of working in the CBD? Great executive opportunity to be part of a growing, dynamic, out of the box thinking, prestigious business.
- Family owned winery with proud history
- Based in dress circle of McLaren Vale with continued growth plans
- Attractive Executive Remuneration

**About the Client**:
Located in the dress circle of McLaren Vale, Hugh Hamilton Wines is custodian to the pioneering family who planted the first grape vines and made the first wine in South Australia and are Australia’s oldest wine family. This dynamic 6th generation wine business has a rich 186 year history thrives in the modern wine world where it has carved out its own progressive niche.

The Hamilton’s have a history of being black sheep who march to the beat of their own drum and Hugh and daughter Mary Hamilton are no exception. Not one to follow the flock, their wines are different and embody the personalities of the black sheep. With characters such as ‘The Oddball’ Saperavi and ‘The Agent Provocateur’ Grenache, Shiraz Frontignac - this is no ordinary line up.

Hugh Hamilton Wines remains a high-end boutique winery with one of the best direct to consumer wine programs in the country. The family have a focus on their soils in their vineyards which are farmed 100% pesticide free. Immaculate viticulture has enabled them to find elite parcels of grapes to create their flagship wines like ‘Pure Black’ and ‘Oddball the Great’ as well as their ‘Black Blood’ trio; with every wine having a compelling story to tell.

Driven by their purpose ‘Family Connection’ and their core values ‘Think Outside the Box’, Be Fired Up’, ‘Be Real’ and ‘Wow with Service’, this is a family business that knows it will achieve its vision to be the place where outstanding wines are created and customers are wowed with extraordinary service.

**What you will be doing and will be responsible for**:
The General Manager will have overall responsibilities for the day-to-day operational activities across the business. Leading the Executive Management Team, this role will assist in actively driving the strategic direction of business and will require both a strategic lens as well as a SME, hands on, operational approach in balance.

The General Manager will work with the management team to drive processes and systems that deliver high quality products and customer satisfaction. They will identify opportunities and drive improvement programs which will create efficiencies and reduce waste, whilst developing a culture of business excellence.

**Key Responsibilities**:
Leading a team of 5 Managers, some of the key areas of responsibility include:

- Operational Leadership - ensuring operational plans are in place to deliver against strategic priorities and business as usual and optimise the organisation’s operational capabilities
- Financial - develop budgets and all reporting to ensure stay on track and identify any corrective action required proactively
- Sales and business growth - Identify opportunities for sales opportunities and value creation and ensure that strategies put into place are in-line with the Company’s strategic plan and are effective and executed.
- Human Resources - oversee HR activities, policies, systems and initiatives (working with external HR) to be the senior lead on ground
- Continual Improvement - Develop, design and implement operational strategies to ensure continuous improvement and efficiencies to products and processes and build a culture of business excellence
- Cost Control - monitor performance and take corrective action to ensure realising benefits of systems and processes
- Service Delivery - ensure the delivery of effective and efficient cellar door, production and administrative process to ensure exceptional service
- Operational Processes and Systems - measure and analyse operational processes and systems to ensure efficiency, accuracy and execution against requirements
- Communication - lead all internal communication to all levels to ensure appropriate information is shared at appropriate levels, ensuring relevant consultation and involvement where applicable to build ownership
- Inspiring Leadership - provide effective and inspiring leadership by driving the business towards its vision, being actively involved in all operational activities and systems, developing a broad and deep knowledge of all activities and living and leading the company values.

**About the Successful Applicant**
- 7+ years prior experience leading a diverse group of support functions for a medium size family operated business as either a General Manager, Business or Operations Manager or Chief Operating Officer.
- Excellent project manager with the proven ability to set business targets, time-lines, plans and financial targets.
- Prior experience with a Membership, VIP club or similar viewed favourably.
- Advanced level in Microsoft Office Suite and Excel and generally IT and sys