Monkeybiz is dedicated to reviving the tradition of African Beadwork, taking the love and knowledge that is passed down, over the centuries, from mother to child and becoming a bridge from traditional bead works into contemporary artworks.

Monkeybiz is looking for a new General Manager to manage both the creative and commercial aspects of their organisation.

Main duties and responsibilities

Operations management:

• Manage a team of five permanent staff, including daily operations management and ongoing performance management.
• Managing attendance (hours, overtime, holiday and sick leave)
• Solid understanding of the international market for retail stores, wholesale stores and direct to client.
• Making sure deadlines and timelines are strictly adhered to
• In conjunction with Sales Manager, managing sales, ad-hoc client liaison, taking orders details and placing orders.
• Organise and attend local and International trade shows (full involvement from identifying opportunities/shows, stand design, curate the collection, attend events, manage orders and delivery).
• Sign-off on commissions
• Manage picking and packing of items sold online

Financial management:

• Budgets, negotiations, shipping and costing
• Working closely with the Bookkeeper, you are accountable for the financial management of the Organisation
• Oversight of ALL day-to-day financial activity, reporting to Carrol Boyes Head Office Finance department
• Wages, banking (withdrawals & deposits) and forex

Creative management:

• Designing new products and new methods/patterns/stiches
• Working with Wire sculpture-maker ensuring shapes are exact, following samples exactly
• Mentoring and briefing beaders and artists on new designs
• Designing from start to finish all bespoke and special items, liaising closely with client and beader
• Source and select glue and bead artwork

Marketing and website management

• Marketing international wholesale website to retail stores through Newsletters and embedded emails
• Together with the Web Designer, regularly update the websites (content and e-commerce)
• E-Commerce shop management, including editing images and loading onto websites with correct pricing for local and international sites.
• All photography will be your responsibility to clean and make enticing for clients/website/print and in studio needs
• Design Newsletters, postcards, labels, shopping-bags, logo.

Requirements

• Acting as the face and voice of the organisation, the ideal applicant will have the following competencies:

Work experience and industry exposure

• 3-5 years’ experience in senior management position, essential
• Experience in NGO/NPO sector, advantageous
• Experience in Crafting, Curatorship, Fine-Art or Design, essential
• Experience in a Wholesale or Retail buying, advantageous
• Photoshop experience, desirable

Strong communication skills

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in a role managing people
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to liaise with team and clients effectively
• A confident and outgoing individual who is friendly and accessible
• Able to manage difficult situations and personalities in a calm and rational manner
• Strong networking and inter-personal skills

Excellent administration Skills

• Highly organised with strong planning skills
• A meticulous individual, with strong attention to detail
• Comfortable working in an unstructured environment
• An accountable, responsible and reliable individual who takes ownership of their work
• Good computer literacy (Microsoft Office Word, Excel and Outlook) is essential

General

• Dynamic, energetic and self-driven individual with a can-do attitude and a flare for productivity and performance management
• Strong financial acumen and able to read Financials
• Marketing knowledge and commercial awareness, essential
• Flexible with the ability to work in a creative environment

General Manager (JHB)

General Manager Brand at MTN