General Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an accomplished General Manager to spearhead the launch and ongoing success of a new South Africa Resource Hub in Cape Town. This pivotal role is designed for someone who thrives on building high-performing teams, ensuring robust compliance with local regulations, and acting as the essential bridge between South African operations and UK-based business functions. The organisation is renowned for its people-first approach.

As General Manager based in Cape Town, you will be entrusted with shaping every aspect of the new South Africa Resource Hub's operations. Your days will be varied-balancing strategic oversight with hands-on involvement in compliance management, recruitment drives, employee relations matters, and stakeholder engagement. You will work closely with both local colleagues and UK-based leaders to ensure that all processes meet rigorous legal standards while reflecting the organisation's core values. By championing best practices in governance and people management, you will help create an environment where everyone feels supported to achieve their best. Your ability to build relationships across cultures will be vital as you embed a collaborative ethos that connects teams across borders. Success in this role means not only meeting regulatory requirements but also cultivating a thriving workplace where innovation flourishes through shared purpose.

Ensure full compliance with all South African statutory, legal, regulatory, tax, and corporate governance requirements by proactively liaising with external advisors and authorities.
Act as the primary point of contact between the South Africa team and UK-based business leads to ensure seamless alignment of operational strategies and people management initiatives.

Embed organisational culture and values throughout the hub by supporting change initiatives and encouraging collaboration between local and international teams.
Oversee employee relations by providing guidance on disciplinary matters while ensuring strict adherence to local employment law.
Coordinate with UK business functions to align HR policies, performance management systems, and employee engagement activities with global standards.
Drive operational excellence through efficient resource allocation, process improvement initiatives, and regular monitoring of key performance indicators.
Support remote or cross-border teams by facilitating clear communication channels and promoting knowledge sharing across geographies.
Represent the local entity in all matters relating to government bodies, external legal advisers, auditors, and other stakeholders.

What you bring:

To excel as General Manager in this unique setting requires more than technical expertise; it calls for genuine passion for people development combined with deep knowledge of both South African regulations and international business practices. Your background should reflect significant achievements in leading diverse teams through periods of growth or transformation-ideally within sectors like professional services or consulting. You will bring proven experience navigating complex compliance landscapes while remaining approachable when guiding others through change. Your interpersonal strengths will enable you to resolve sensitive issues thoughtfully while always prioritising fairness. A natural collaborator at heart, you thrive when connecting individuals across locations towards shared goals. Above all else, your commitment to nurturing talent ensures that every team member feels empowered to contribute fully within an inclusive environment.

Proven experience in a senior operational or general management position within an international or UK business context is essential for this role.
Comprehensive understanding of South African corporate law, employment legislation, compliance frameworks, and tax regulations is required to ensure robust governance.
Demonstrated ability to manage a local legal entity while interacting effectively with government agencies, external legal advisers, auditors, and professional bodies is crucial.
Exceptional leadership skills are needed to inspire teams through recruitment cycles, on boarding processes, training initiatives, change management projects, and daily operations.
Outstanding communication abilities are necessary for building trust with internal stakeholders as well as representing the organisation externally at industry events or forums.
A track record of supporting remote or cross-border teams by fostering open communication channels and promoting inter-personal collaboration is highly valued.
Experience working within professional services environments such as finance or consulting will be advantageous for understanding sector-specific challenges.
Strong interpersonal skills are required for managing sensitive employee relations issues while maintaining a positive workplace atmosphere built on respect and empathy.
Familiarity with aligning HR policies across different jurisdictions ensures consistency in performance management systems globally.
A commitment to upholding organisational values around inclusivity, supportiveness, continuous learning, and ethical conduct is fundamental.