General Manager

Southgate Fence

Location: Cambridge, Ontario

Employment Type: Full-Time

Benefits: Yes

Yearly STIP

Job Overview

Southgate Fence is seeking an experienced and hands-on General Manager to provide leadership and overall direction for the business. This position is responsible for the day-to-day performance of the operation, including team leadership, financial results, safety, quality, production, customer service, and the long-term sustainability of the business.

The General Manager will work closely with their direct reports to establish priorities, maintain accountability, and ensure customer commitments are met. The successful candidate will be a practical, results-oriented leader who is comfortable balancing operational demands with financial objectives, employee development, and customer relationships.

As part of the Empire Fence Group, the General Manager will also work collaboratively with senior leadership and other businesses across the group while maintaining accountability for the performance and continued growth of Southgate Fence.

Key ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Team Management

- Provide leadership, coaching, and day-to-day guidance to each direct report, establishing clear expectations and accountability.
- Build a positive, collaborative, and results-focused work environment.
- Ensure team members understand their responsibilities, priorities, and how their work contributes to the overall success of the business.
- Adjust team member responsibilities and priorities as the needs of the business change.
- Identify opportunities to develop employees, strengthen capabilities, and build succession within the organization.
- Ensure the business has the appropriate people, structure, tools, and processes required to operate effectively and sustainably.

Financial & Business Performance
- Take ownership of achieving the financial goals and overall performance objectives of the business.
- Manage the business with a strong understanding of revenue, margins, labour, operating expenses, productivity, and profitability.
- Monitor financial and operational performance and take appropriate action when results are not meeting expectations.
- Support budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and business planning activities.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, profitability, and sustainable business growth.
- Implement strategies that support the long-term sustainability of the business across people, tools, and processes.

Operations & Production
- Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure the business is operating safely,



efficiently, and effectively.
- Monitor production schedules and workflow to ensure customer orders and project commitments remain on track.
- Work closely with operations, production, sales, and other team members to identify and resolve scheduling, capacity, material, or resource challenges.
- Establish clear priorities and adjust resources as business requirements change.
- Continuously evaluate processes and identify opportunities to improve productivity, workflow, and overall operational performance.

Safety & Quality
- Ensure a safe work environment for all team members and reinforce a strong culture of safety throughout the organization.
- Ensure employees understand and follow company safety policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Promote a quality-first mindset in every customer engagement and throughout all areas of the operation.
- Ensure products, services, and installations meet Southgate Fence's quality standards and customer expectations.
- Address safety or quality concerns promptly and implement corrective measures when required.

Customer Service & Communication
- Ensure clear, consistent, and skilled communication with customers throughout the sales, production, and delivery process.
- Maintain strong relationships with key customers, suppliers, contractors, and business partners.
- Support the team in resolving customer concerns and ensure issues are addressed professionally and in a timely manner.
- Maintain a strong understanding of customer requirements, market conditions, and opportunities within the fencing industry.
- Reinforce a customer-focused culture throughout the organization.

Leadership Communication & Decision-Making
- Maintain regular communication with your manager regarding business performance, challenges, opportunities, and progress toward established objectives.
- Escalate significant business risks or concerns in a timely manner.
- Seek and obtain approval on critical business decisions before proceeding, where required.
- Provide accurate and timely updates on operational and financial performance.




- Collaborate with Empire Fence Group leadership and other operating companies where opportunities exist to share resources, knowledge, and best practices.

Business Development & Representation
- Represent Southgate Fence professionally at business meetings, trade shows, customer visits, industry events, and other external engagements.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships within the fencing, construction, and related industries.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen existing customer relationships and develop new business.
- Act as an ambassador for Southgate Fence and the Empire Fence Group in the marketplace.

Qualifications & Experience
- Proven leadership experience in a General Manager, Operations Manager, Branch Manager, or similar senior operational leadership role.
- Experience within the fencing, construction, building materials, manufacturing, distribution, or related industry is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing day-to-day business operations and leading multiple functions or departments.
- Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, revenue, costs, margins, and profitability.
- Experience managing production schedules, customer commitments, resources, and operational priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold team members accountable.
- Strong commitment to workplace health and safety and quality standards.
- Excellent customer service, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities with the capacity to manage competing priorities.
- Comfortable making decisions in a fast-paced, hands-on operating environment while recognizing when senior-level approval is required.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with business management, ERP, CRM, or operational systems is an asset.
- Valid driver's licence and ability to travel for customer visits, meetings, trade shows, and other business requirements.

What Success Looks Like Success in this role means building and leading a team that operates safely, delivers quality work, communicates effectively with customers, meets production commitments, and achieves the financial objectives of the business.

The General Manager will be expected to create accountability throughout the organization while ensuring Southgate Fence has the people, tools, processes, and leadership required for sustainable long-term success.

Pay: $100,000.00-$120,000.00 per year

Benefits

- Dental care
- Extended health care
- RRSP match

Work Location: In person

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