The general managers worth hiring are usually running their own operation, and few of them read job boards. They'll see your job description when a friend or a recruiter sends it to them. Write it for that reader.
The template below is built for an owner-led company of 40 to 400 people hiring a GM to run a location or the whole business day to day. Copy it, or download the Word version at the top of this page.
How to use this template
Fill in the brackets. Replace each [bracket] with your details, and cut any line that isn't true of your job.
Write down the first year. The "What success looks like" section is where a strong candidate decides whether you know what you want. Use real numbers if you can share them.
Show the pay range. Several states require it, and serious candidates ask for it before anything else. Our general manager compensation guide has public pay data by industry and metro.
The template
General manager, [location or division]
[Company name] · [City, State] · Full time, on site
About us
[Company name] is a [industry] company with [number] employees and [number] locations, led by [owner name] since [year]. We [1 sentence on what you do and who you serve].
The role
The general manager runs [location or division], with full responsibility for its P&L and its people. You'll report to [owner, president or COO] and lead a team of [number], including [your direct reports, such as an operations manager, service manager and office manager].
This is the seat [owner name] used to fill personally. [1 or 2 sentences on why the role is open: growth, a new market, or the owner stepping back.]
What you'll own
- The P&L for [location or division]: revenue, gross margin, labor and overhead. You'll build the annual budget with [owner or COO] and report against it every month.
- Hiring, developing and keeping the team, starting with your direct reports.
- Daily operations, including scheduling, [dispatch, production or project delivery], equipment and fleet.
- Customer relationships, from the largest accounts to the hardest complaints.
- Safety and quality, in the field and in the office.
- [1 or 2 responsibilities specific to your business.]
What success looks like in the first year
- [A location profit or gross margin target]
- [A revenue or growth target]
- [A people goal, such as retention, a key hire or a bench behind your direct reports]
- [The 1 thing that has to get fixed, such as callbacks, safety incidents or cash collection]
What you'll bring
- [5 or more] years running an operation with P&L responsibility, ideally in [your industry or a nearby one].
- A record of building teams that people stay on.
- You read a P&L like an owner and know the numbers that drive yours.
- You hold the standard when you're not in the room, and your people bring you bad news early.
- [Licenses or certifications your work requires.]
Pay and benefits
- Base salary of $[low] to $[high], depending on experience
- Annual bonus with a target of [X]% of base, tied to [location profit or gross margin]
- [Profit share or phantom equity, if you offer it]
- [Vehicle or allowance, health coverage, retirement match and time off]
How to apply
Send your resume and a short note about the operation you run today to [name and email]. We'll reply to every applicant within [number] business days.
What to leave out
A wish list. Every extra requirement shrinks the pool, and the best GMs rarely check every box. List what the job needs on day 1.
Culture words with nothing behind them. "Fast-paced" and "self-starter" tell a candidate nothing. Describe a real week in the job.
Duties without a size. Put a number on the job where you can. "Run a $12 million P&L with a 22% gross margin target" tells a candidate exactly how big the seat is.
Where the job description goes
Post it on your careers page and ask your best people for referrals. Send it to anyone you approach directly too.
Reaching GMs who aren't looking takes a different kind of effort, and that's the work of a retained search. For the interviews, our leadership interview questions give you 20 questions and what a strong answer sounds like.