General Manager / Head of Business

About Us: 

How many companies can say they’ve been in business for over 180 years?! 

Here at ZEISS, we certainly can! As the pioneers of science, ZEISS handles the everchanging environments in a fast-paced world, meeting it with cutting edge of technologies and continuous advancements. ZEISS believes that innovation and technology are the key to a sustainable future and solutions for global change. We have a diverse range of portfolios throughout the ZEISS family in segments like, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. We are a global company with over 42,000 employees and have over 4,000 in the US and Canada alone! Make a difference, come join the team! 

What’s the role?  

Overall, the GM is responsible for bringing to life the ZEISS COM (Consumer Optical Market) mission in their geography while sustainably building the business, the financial performance, the brand and the organisation in a manner consistent and fully aligned with the global strategic framework.

The GM’s key metrics are topline growth, P&L (revenue, MC and FCF), market penetration, brand fundamentals and GPTW scores.

Sound Interesting?  

Here’s what you’ll do: 

Strategic leadership and business growth

Set the vision for the geography; define, develop and implement business strategies to grow revenue, profitability and market share.

Define and deliver local go-to-market strategies, including plans to drive customer and consumer penetration and loyalty, while strengthening the brand’s market position.

Identify market dynamics, analyse market trends and developments and identify risks and growth opportunities.

Financial management and stewardship

Own the geography’s budget and financial performance (revenue, margin, MC & FCF)

Own the forecast, incl accuracy; ensure resources are allocated for maximum impact.

Deliver complete, compliant and timely financial reporting; ensuring financial objectives are met or exceeded.

Talent, organisation and culture

Build and lead the local leadership team; developing capabilities and capacity to support the immediate and future business. Set goals for leadership team and enable delivery.

Build and develop the organisation; mentoring and growing leaders and ensuring succession planning.

Champion and uphold ZEISS’ values within the geography; champion our mission.

Business Operations

Lead day-to-day operations and go-to-market execution; including sales, marketing, customer service, finance, IT, supply chain, local HR etc.

Analyse customer and competitor performance; adapt strategies & plans as needed.

Compliance, governance and risk management

Ensure full compliance with local laws and regulations; ensure full compliance with ZEISS’ values and systems.

Manage risks (data, cybersecurity, import/export control, regulations, health & safety etc) and maintain robust controls, including full audit compliance.

Represent the company externally, in industry bodies, governmental relations etc.

Ecosystem management

Build and develop key customer and channel relationships; manage partner and customer networks.

Engage with regional and global teams; coordinate, enable and contribute fully to the global ecosystem, as well as with other relevant ZEISS entities.

Represent ZEISS with customers, industry associations and regulators

Do you qualify? 

• University degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Engineering, Science, Healthcare or a related discipline; an MBA or comparable postgraduate qualification is considered an advantage.

• 5+ years of progressive senior leadership experience in general management, commercial leadership, country management or business unit leadership, ideally with full P&L accountability.

• Proven track record in defining and executing growth strategies, translating strategic priorities into measurable business plans and delivering sustainable financial results.

• Strong commercial mindset and customer orientation, with experience in customer-facing environments, channel management, key account development and market expansion.

• Experience leading multi-functional teams through senior leaders, with a clear track record of developing talent, building succession strength and fostering a high-performance culture.

• Sound financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, performance steering and management of key business KPIs.

• Ability to operate effectively in a highly matrixed, international organisation and to collaborate confidently with regional and global stakeholders.

• Strong change leadership skills, with the ability to drive transformation, simplification, digital enablement and continuous improvement.

• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and external representation skills; fluency in English is required, additional language skills are an advantage.

• Must be able to travel regularly across Canada as well as international travel to ZEISS regional and global interfaces are required.

The annual pay range for this position is $195,000 – $242,000 and is also eligible for a performance bonus or sales commissions. 

The pay offered for this role may be influenced by factors such as job location, scope of role, qualifications, education, experience, & complexity/specialization/scarcity of talent.

ZEISS also offers robust benefits, including medical plans, retirement savings plan and paid time off.

We have amazing benefits to support you as an employee at ZEISS!

• Medical

• Vision

• Dental

• RPP

• Employee Assistance Program

• Paid time off including vacation, personal, and sick days

• The list goes on! 

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of requirements, duties, or responsibilities. The Company reserves the right to interpret, amend, or otherwise modify, in whole or in part, any job description at any time, at its sole discretion.

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:

Holly Greenwood-Mosher

As part of our recruitment process, we currently do not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assess applications or make hiring decisions. This job posting is for an existing vacancy.

Accommodation

ZEISS is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices. Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs.