Business Unit Executive

Recruiter:
Primeserv Recruitment

Job Ref:
JHB000204/VMC

Date posted:
Thursday, November 20, 2025

Location:
Johannesburg, South Africa

SUMMARY:
Business Unit Executive (Fluid Control/Valves) required for our exceptionally well-established, long-standing steel merchandiser, distributor and manufacturer providing product and value-added services to various industries (including construction, manufacturing, mining and transport). A minimum of 10 years' plus experience in Senior Management in a similar leadership role combined with an NQF Level 7 Degree in Engineering (or related) is required for the role combined with exceptional valves knowledge.

POSITION INFO:
Purpose of the Role:
Overall responsibility for the leadership, strategic and management direction and business results of the Business Unit. Work closely with the Executive Management team. Ensure the establishment of appropriate goals, and management of resources to meet these goals within the Business Unit and of the Group.

Strategy:

• Responsible for the overall implementation of a sound, long-term strategy for the Business Unit that is intended to increase the value as well as meeting the needs of customers, employees, and other stakeholders.
• Obtain and allocate resources consistent with strategic objectives and make timely adjustments in strategies when market conditions and other forces demand such change.
• Translate organisational goals applicable to the Business Unit as derived from business plan into clear direction, plan, and monitor and review effectively and efficiently and ensure that appropriate remedial actions are taken.
• Evaluate the business plan, set the Business Unit's targets and develop an operational plan to ensure approved objectives are achieved. Monitor the implementation of remedial actions.
• Ensure that the Business Unit's strategies are effectively implemented with timely progress towards strategic objectives.
• Review value of practices, systems and structures to determine appropriateness in light of the strategic intent and take remedial actions where necessary.

Financial Management:

• Take full ownership and responsibility to carry out a comprehensive budgeting process and monitor the Business Unit's performance against the budget.
• Determine and submit appropriate annual financial objectives for the Business Unit for approval by Executive Management and the Board.
• Monitor the attainment of the financial goals as well as maintain spending in accordance with approved capital expenditure and other investment budgets.
• Interpret business plan and develop operational, capex and labour budgets at Business Unit level.
• Plan and develop direct operational, labour and capex requirements within the Business Unit for efficient delivery of operational targets and submit recommendations to Executive Management.
• Effectively manage the Business Unit and its objectives in line with approved budgets (operational, capex and labour).
• Implement standardised budget control systems and enforce a culture of short intervals of control. Evaluate negative trends and introduce remedial solutions.
• Anticipate change and align reporting and information requirements. Forecast deviations and take long-term proactive action. Initiate internal audits.
• Ensure coordination of Group Business Unit activities.
• Provide effective intergroup support.
• Monitor and review the Business Unit's sales budget and ensure trading profit is achieved and optimized reflecting Business Unit sales efforts

Stakeholder Relations:

• Establish, monitor and manage healthy, diverse, workable internal and external relationships, to ensure the Business Unit's needs are met and organisational goals achieved. Implement remedial actions where required.
• Provide specialised technical / professional support to internal and external stakeholders to ensure achievement of function of organisational objectives.

Project Management:

• Actively seek to motivate and inspire employees to adopt the Group's values and culture and to realise the Organisation's vision.
• Accountable for the Business Unit's performance, within the agreed strategic framework and approved plans.
• Conduct workforce planning to ensure the Business Unit is suitably staffed to meet strategic functional objectives.
• Implement and manage people development processes such as performance management, succession planning and talent management to meet the department's performance standards.
• Agree and implement own and sub-ordinates' development plans.
• Develop and coach team members and encourage knowledge transfer.
• Mentor subordinates once removed.
• Analyse trends and identify competence training gaps and action.
• Forecast learning requirements and pipelines related to legislative and industry changes.
• Maintain, monitor, review current and future Employee Relations and pro-actively address non-compliance issues.
• Ensure the Business Unit's sales force is managed effectively and provided with the correct guidance to optimize sales efforts.

Governance, Compliance and Risk Management:

• Identify and communicate risks and opportunities to Executive Management and pro-actively deal with such risks.
• Foster a culture of ethical behaviour for the Business Unit in line with sound corporate governance principles.
• Manage the Business Unit's risk exposure through identifying, implementing and maintenance of risk control measures to minimise the Business Unit's and ultimately the Client's liability.
• Proactively ensure that the Business Unit complies with all of its legal and fiduciary obligations and responsibilities.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of organisational standards, policies and procedures within span of control and monitor implementation to ensure full compliance.
• Take accountability for the implementation and communication of health, safety and environmental policies and procedures.
• Implement safety objectives for the Business Unit and ensure that the Business Unit fully complies with all relevant legislation.
• Approve remedial actions timeously to address non-conformances.
• Ensure effective and regular communication of new statutory regulations, organisational standards, policies and procedures to ensure full awareness amongst employees and contractors.

Supplier Management:

• Establish, monitor and manage healthy, diverse, workable supplier relationships to ensure the Business Unit's needs are met and organisational goals achieved. Implement remedial actions where required.

Qualifications:

• NQF Level 7 Degree / Advanced Diploma – B.Com or Engineering field related qualification (essential).
• NQF Level 9 Advanced Degree (Masters) – MBA or Leadership (recommended),
• Able to assume the status of Section 16.2 Legal Appointee.

Experience:

• 6 years' steel related industry (essential).
• 5 years' Management in Steel / process related industry (essential).
• 5 years' Senior Management in Steel / process related industry (essential).

Competencies:
Computer Literacy (MS Office, SAP and PowerPoint)

Behavioural Competencies:

• Excellence – Exceed stakeholder expectations.
• Teamwork – Work together towards achieving personal, team and company goals.
• Empowerment – Exchange knowledge, provide resources, share information and hold each other accountable.
• Authenticity – Act purely and sincerely.

Functional / Technical Competencies:

• Problem-solving skills.
• Planning and organisational skills.
• Change management skills.
• Decision-making skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Coaching and mentoring skills.
• Persuasiveness.
• Communication skills.
• Presentation skills.
• Facilitation skills.
• Coping under pressure.
• Conflict handling skills.