General Manager

Vacancy fulfilled

Permanent, full-time position in central Netherlands – international scope.

The client is an independent family-owned company with a long history in the food industry. The organization develops and produces innovative ingredients and functional concepts for a variety of applications in meat, meat alternatives, bakery, snacks and confectionery, among others. The culture is entrepreneurial, people-oriented and future-proof: technology, cooperation and sustainable growth are key. From several production locations in the Netherlands customers are served worldwide, often in close cooperation with R&D.

Due to a strategic redesign of the organization, the position of General Manager becomes vacant. The General Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the company and further shaping a future-oriented strategy, aimed at both consolidating existing markets and developing new product-market combinations. The General Manager reports to the management of the holding company and maintains contact with the shareholders in consultation.

JOB PROFILE

Job Responsibilities:

  • Strategic vision – you are responsible for setting the company’s strategy;
  • Financial steering – you manage the financial performance of the organization and make adjustments as needed to ensure sustainable growth;
  • Culture development – you create and monitor a corporate culture that reflects the organization’s norms and values.
  • Managing the entire organization: Sales, Purchasing, R&D, Operations, Finance, QA/QC and HR;

Main Activities:

  • External representation – as General Manager, you represent the organization to partners;
  • Develop growth strategies based on market insights and customer needs;
  • Lead change processes aimed at further professionalization and international expansion;
  • Risk management – you proactively manage risks that may affect the organization;
  • Continuity assurance – you ensure proper business continuity of the organization.

Skills and Competencies:

  • Strategic and hands-on leader with entrepreneurial spirit and keen market sensibilities;
  • People-oriented and connecting, knows how to inspire employees and stakeholders naturally;
  • Commercially sharp, customer-oriented and communicatively proficient in both Dutch and English;
  • Decisive, resilient and able to oversee and structure complex environments.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience:

  • HBO or WO working and thinking level, preferably with a background in food technology or process engineering;
  • Minimum 10 years of experience in senior management roles within the food industry or food ingredient market;
  • Demonstrated success in developing and marketing innovative food concepts, operating internationally.

Contact

Contact

For questions and additional information, please do not hesitate to contact:
Halbe Vogel
Phone: 06 21700102
E-mail: halbe@vogelvlucht.eu

Contact

About the client

The client is a leading, internationally operating producer of innovative food ingredients and functional applications. Since the last century, this family-owned company has been building sustainable relationships within the food industry, where creativity, technology, and customer focus go hand in hand. Operating from multiple locations in the Netherlands—including its headquarters and various production and technology centers—the company develops and delivers high-quality solutions for a wide range of applications, including meat (alternatives), bakery, snacks, and confectionery. What sets the organization apart is the close collaboration between R&D, production, and application technology. Customers are actively involved in the development process and benefit from on-site technical support worldwide—from Europe to Canada, Australia, and Japan. In the company’s state-of-the-art technology centers, clients can also carry out tests and refine concepts together with the company’s specialists. The culture is close-knit, entrepreneurial, and future-oriented, with a strong focus on innovation, customer value, and people development. The company has a clear growth vision and is constantly seeking ways to make the food supply chain smarter, more sustainable, and more flavorful.