General Manager

Dion Lee is a designer brand hailing from Sydney, Australia, established in 2009 by its eponymous Creative Director. Renowned for experimental construction combined with traditional tailoring, the brand has pioneered a modern identity for Australian fashion.

With an NYC based studio and the imminent opening of US retail stores, Dion Lee is searching for an experienced and innovative General Manager to join the team.

Reporting to the Sydney based CEO, the General Manager, will be their right-hand person in NYC. As an experienced executor, the General Manager will be hyper-focused on achieving the company’s primary business strategies through thorough leadership, staff management, financial management, planning, product margins, budget forecasting implementation and control, and support to the heads of business in the USA and EU.

The General Manager role is a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves position supported by a lean and bright team. This person through experience will connect the dots between each of the companies’ departments, managing the leadership, financial and administration requirements of these departments, and also managing administration and compliance collaboration partners including but not limited to: HR, Payroll, banking, suppliers, legal, leasing, IT and external finance.

KEY RESPONSIBILTIES:

• Directing daily management and financial operations of the company and the financial responsibilities of Director Roles (Retail, Design, Brand & Marketing, Sales, Production) including but not limited to staff performance and productivity, forecasting, budget, and cash flow management.
• Analyse business case project profitability requested by Director Roles and present to CEO for approval (Retail, Design, Brand & Marketing, Sales, Production)
• Evaluate and improve operations and financial performance, creating strategies to minimise stock-losses, implementing initiatives to reduce company costs, and increasing employee efficiencies.
• Working closely with the Creative Director, Production Director, Design Director, Operations Director, and Brand Director with the objective to monetise the execution of their workflow.
• Work with Creative Director, Design Director & Production Director to monetise concepts and initiatives: sourcing, producers and manufacturers and ensuring Gross Margin goals are profitability goals are met.
• General Management of financial operations overseeing including but not limited to: execution of contracts, partnerships, HR, payroll, reconciliation, transfer pricing, invoicing, and financial administration responsibilities.
• Management of external business relationships including but not limited to: suppliers, legal, leasing, IT and external finance.

CANDIDATE CRITERIA:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Management, Law or related major.

• MBA or advanced degree, preferred.

Essential Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of Fashion Management experience or equivalent in any sector. Luxury Fashion experience is not required, but fast growing/entrepreneurial leadership experience is a must. Knowledge of the Australian fashion market and it’s international translation will be highly regarded.
• A track record that indicates the ability to not only be a member of a company’s management team but to be an active participant in the company’s culture and day-to-day business operations.
• Demonstrated people management skills across a diverse team of employees and departments, with a practical understanding of HR principles including recruitment, coaching, mentoring and conflict resolution.
• An ability to maintain employee focus on achievement of commercial outcomes.
• In-depth knowledge of corporate governance and general management best practices
• Must possess leadership skills to effectively partner with CEO as well as the personal qualities of confidence, resourcefulness, flexibility, creativity, and integrity.
• Specific and demonstrated experience in operations concepts and statistical and analytical methods. Experience using data effectively to develop and implement operational plans and actions.