General Manager-– Kerchanshe Equipment/ Construction Machineries Department 5 views

General Manager – Kerchanshe Equipment/ Construction Machineries Department

Company: Kerchanshe Trading PLC
Department: Kerchanshe Equipment/Construction Machineries
Position: General Manager
Reports To: Corporate Dealership and Assembly Business Manager
Duty Station: Gelan/Sheger City, Ethiopia (with frequent travel to operational sites, branches, and assembly facilities)
Employment Type: Full-Time

1. Job Purpose

The General Manager – Construction Machinery Department will provide strategic leadership and overall management of Kerchanshe Equipment’s Construction Machinery business, ensuring sustainable growth, operational excellence, profitability, and market leadership.

The position holder will be responsible for managing the entire business value chain, encompassing the importation, distribution, marketing, sales, assembly, installation, commissioning, maintenance, and after-sales support of construction machinery and related equipment.

A key responsibility of this role is to oversee the operations and development of the company’s construction machinery assembly plant, ensuring efficient production planning, assembly operations, quality assurance, technical compliance, productivity, and cost optimization.

The General Manager will lead the department as a fully accountable business unit, driving revenue growth, expanding market share, strengthening manufacturer and supplier relationships, developing customer relationships, and ensuring high standards of customer satisfaction and service delivery.

2. Key Roles and Responsibilities

A. Strategic Leadership and Business Management

• Develop and implement the department’s short-, medium-, and long-term business strategies in alignment with the company’s overall corporate objectives.
• Lead the development and execution of annual business plans, operational plans, budgets, and performance targets.
• Manage the department as a profit-generating business unit, ensuring revenue growth, profitability, operational efficiency, and sustainable business development.
• Identify new business opportunities, emerging market segments, and potential strategic partnerships within Ethiopia’s construction, mining, infrastructure, agriculture, and industrial sectors.
• Monitor market developments, competitors, industry trends, customer requirements, and regulatory changes to maintain the department’s competitive position.
• Establish appropriate organizational structures, operational policies, procedures, and management systems.
• Provide regular strategic and operational performance reports to executive management.

B. Construction Machinery Dealership and Commercial Operations

• Lead all dealership operations, including machinery sourcing, importation, distribution, marketing, sales, and customer relationship management.
• Develop and execute effective sales and marketing strategies to achieve agreed sales volume, revenue, and market-share targets.
• Manage relationships with international equipment manufacturers, OEMs, principals, and strategic suppliers.
• Lead negotiations for dealership agreements, distribution rights, pricing structures, commercial terms, and technical support arrangements.
• Ensure effective product portfolio management, including selection of machinery models based on market demand and customer requirements.
• Oversee machinery inventory planning, procurement, stock management, pricing, and sales forecasting.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with major construction contractors, government institutions, infrastructure developers, mining companies, rental companies, and other corporate customers.
• Oversee preparation and submission of commercial proposals, tenders, quotations, and major equipment sales agreements.
• Identify opportunities for equipment leasing, rental, financing, fleet sales, and other value-added commercial services.

C. Construction Machinery Assembly Plant Management

• Provide overall leadership and management of the construction machinery assembly plant, ensuring efficient, safe, and cost-effective operations.
• Develop and implement assembly plant operational strategies, production plans, capacity utilization targets, and performance indicators.
• Oversee machinery assembly processes, including component handling, assembly, installation, testing, commissioning, and final inspection.
• Ensure compliance with OEM assembly specifications, engineering standards, technical requirements, and applicable national regulations.
• Establish effective production planning, workflow management, material requirements planning, and inventory control systems.
• Ensure adequate availability of imported components, locally sourced materials, tools, equipment, and technical resources to support uninterrupted assembly operations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity, reduce assembly costs, minimize waste, and improve operational efficiency.
• Establish and maintain quality management systems, including inspection procedures, testing protocols, defect reporting, and corrective action mechanisms.
• Ensure proper maintenance of assembly plant machinery, production tools, facilities, and equipment.
• Coordinate with international OEMs and technical partners on assembly technology, technical training, engineering support, and technology transfer.
• Lead initiatives to enhance local value addition and progressively develop domestic assembly capabilities.
• Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety, environmental protection, and industrial workplace standards.

D. Aftersales Service, Spare Parts and Technical Support

• Oversee the department’s after-sales service operations, ensuring timely and professional technical support to customers.
• Establish and maintain an effective service network, including workshops, mobile service units, field technicians, and authorized service facilities.
• Ensure adequate availability of genuine spare parts, consumables, and maintenance components.
• Develop spare parts sales strategies, inventory management systems, and procurement plans.
• Monitor service response time, equipment uptime, warranty claims, repair turnaround time, and customer satisfaction.
• Establish preventive and corrective maintenance programs for customers.
• Ensure compliance with OEM service procedures, warranty policies, and technical standards.
• Develop service agreements, maintenance contracts, and other customer retention programs.
• Ensure continuous technical training and capacity development for service engineers, mechanics, and technicians.

E. Financial Management and Business Performance

• Lead the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of annual departmental budgets.
• Manage revenue, operating expenses, capital expenditure, working capital, and cash flow in line with approved budgets.
• Ensure effective control of procurement costs, inventory carrying costs, operational expenses, and assembly costs.
• Monitor financial performance, gross profit margins, operating profit, return on investment, and overall business performance.
• Establish effective internal controls and accountability mechanisms across sales, procurement, assembly, inventory, and after-sales operations.
• Ensure timely collection of receivables and effective management of customer credit exposure.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, productivity improvement, and resource optimization.
• Ensure accurate financial forecasting and timely management reporting.

F. Importation, Logistics and Regulatory Compliance

• Oversee machinery and component importation, shipping, customs clearance, inland transportation, and delivery processes.
• Ensure compliance with Ethiopian import, customs, taxation, investment, industrial, and machinery-related regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with relevant government institutions, regulatory authorities, customs offices, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure proper documentation and compliance for imported machinery, assembly components, and related equipment.
• Monitor import lead times, foreign currency requirements, customs duties, taxes, and logistics costs.
• Work closely with relevant internal departments to ensure efficient import and supply chain operations.

G. Organizational Leadership and Human Capital Management

• Lead, supervise, and develop the department’s management team and workforce.
• Establish clear departmental structures, roles, responsibilities, and performance accountability.
• Recruit, develop, motivate, and retain qualified professionals across sales, engineering, assembly, service, spare parts, and administration.
• Set individual and departmental KPIs and conduct regular performance evaluations.
• Promote a performance-driven, customer-focused, innovative, and accountable organizational culture.
• Identify competency gaps and implement technical, commercial, and managerial training programs.
• Develop succession plans for critical managerial and technical positions.

H. Customer Relationship Management and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic customers, institutional clients, government organizations, contractors, and business partners.
• Ensure effective management of customer complaints, service issues, warranty matters, and commercial disputes.
• Represent the department in high-level customer meetings, negotiations, industry forums, and business development engagements.
• Strengthen the company’s brand reputation through reliable equipment supply, quality assembly, and responsive after-sales service.

1. Required Qualifications and Educational Background

Essential Qualifications

• MSc in Automotive Engineering or Mechanical Engineering from a recognized university.
• A Bachelor’s degree in business management or Business Administration is a Plus
• Strong technical understanding of construction machinery, heavy equipment, mechanical systems, and industrial operations.

Additional Advantage

• BA/BSc in Business Management, Business Administration, or an equivalent business-related discipline.
• Professional certifications or executive training in business management, operations management, project management, or manufacturing management.

1. Required Work Experience

• Minimum of 10–15 years of relevant professional experience, with at least 5 years in a senior management or leadership position.
• Extensive experience in managing construction machinery dealerships, heavy equipment distribution, or related equipment businesses.
• Demonstrated experience in managing construction machinery sales, marketing, procurement, importation, and after-sales service operations.
• Proven experience in managing machinery assembly lines, industrial production facilities, or equipment assembly plants is highly advantageous.
• Experience working with international OEMs, machinery manufacturers, and equipment distribution partners.
• Demonstrated track record in business development, revenue growth, profitability management, and operational performance improvement.
• Experience managing large teams comprising engineers, technicians, sales professionals, and operational personnel.

Strong Competitive Advantage

• Direct experience managing construction machinery assembly plants or heavy equipment manufacturing/assembly operations.
• Previous experience working with internationally recognized construction machinery brands and dealership networks.
• Experience in the Ethiopian heavy equipment, construction machinery, infrastructure, mining, or industrial equipment market.
• Experience in establishing or expanding equipment dealership operations and assembly facilities.

5. Required Technical and Managerial Competencies

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following competencies:

Technical Competencies

• Strong knowledge of construction machinery and heavy equipment systems.
• Understanding of machinery assembly processes, production planning, and quality assurance.
• Knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, equipment diagnostics, and maintenance management.
• Familiarity with OEM technical standards, warranty management, and equipment lifecycle management.
• Understanding of supply chain, inventory management, importation, and logistics operations.

Business and Management Competencies

• Strategic business planning and execution.
• Commercial and financial management.
• Sales leadership and business development.
• Budgeting, forecasting, and profitability management.
• Negotiation and contract management.
• Organizational development and performance management.
• Project and operational management.

Leadership and Behavioral Competencies

• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation abilities.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and business ethics.
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver results within challenging business environments.
• Strong customer orientation and stakeholder management capabilities.

Ability to lead organizational transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.

6. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The General Manager will be evaluated based on the following key performance areas:

1. Business Growth: Achievement of annual revenue, sales volume, and market-share targets.
2. Profitability: Achievement of gross profit, operating profit, and departmental financial targets.
3. Dealership Performance: Growth in equipment distribution, customer acquisition, and OEM relationship performance.
4. Assembly Plant Productivity: Achievement of production and assembly targets, plant capacity utilization, and operational efficiency.
5. Assembly Quality: Compliance with OEM specifications, reduction in assembly defects, and achievement of quality standards.
6. After-Sales Performance: Service response time, repair turnaround time, equipment uptime, and customer satisfaction.
7. Spare Parts Performance: Spare parts availability, inventory turnover, and spare parts revenue growth.
8. Financial Discipline: Budget compliance, working capital management, receivables collection, and cost optimization.
9. Operational Excellence: Improvement in supply chain efficiency, procurement lead times, and inventory management.
10. Human Capital Development: Employee productivity, talent development, technical competency, and succession planning.
11. Customer Satisfaction: Customer retention, complaint resolution, and overall service quality.
12. Regulatory Compliance: Compliance with applicable legal, industrial, customs, safety, and environmental requirements.

7. Reporting and Working Relationships

Reports To: Corporate Dealership and Assembly business Manager.

Directly Supervises (subject to the approved organizational structure):

• Construction Machinery Sales Manager.
• Assembly Plant / Production Manager.
• Aftersales Service Manager.
• Spare Parts Manager.
• Supply Chain / Procurement Coordinator.

Key Internal Stakeholders:

• Corporate Management.
• Finance Department.
• Human Resources Department.
• Procurement and Supply Chain Department.
• Import and Logistics Department.
• Legal and Compliance Department.
• Other business units within Kerchanshe Group.

Key External Stakeholders:

• International OEMs and machinery manufacturers.
• Government regulatory authorities.
• Customs and tax authorities.
• Major construction and infrastructure companies.
• Mining and industrial companies.
• Financial institutions and equipment financing partners.
• Suppliers, distributors, and strategic business partners.

8. Overall Accountability

The General Manager is ultimately accountable for the overall business performance, financial sustainability, commercial growth, operational effectiveness, and strategic development of Kerchanshe Equipment’s /Construction Machinery Department.

The position holder must ensure that the dealership and assembly plant operate as an integrated business, delivering quality equipment, reliable technical services, competitive commercial solutions, and sustainable value to the company and its customers.

The ideal candidate will combine strong engineering expertise with proven commercial leadership and hands-on experience in construction machinery dealership management and industrial assembly operations.