General Manager - Gator

ABOUT REALTRUCK

RealTruck is America’s leading truck accessory brand, built on a foundation of American Innovation. We design, build, and deliver products for the builders, makers, and drivers who rely on their trucks every day—combining real-world functionality with thoughtful engineering.  
 
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, RealTruck’s 6,000+ associates operate across 80+ facilities on four continents, supporting a portfolio of trusted brands including Husky Liners® and LEER. With more than 1,100+ patents and pending applications, our products are developed with a focus on durability, performance, and ease of use.  
 
Through an omnichannel approach, RealTruck delivers a seamless consumer experience online at realtruck.com, through a network of more than 13,000+ dealers, and in partnership with leading OEMs.  
 
We Are American Innovation.  For more information, visit www.realtruck.com

POSITION SUMMARY

RealTruck has a brand and product portfolio that offers high-performing automotive accessories for the aftermarket and directly to the vehicle manufacturers. Gator is RealTruck’s brand used in the online channel across all aftermarket vehicle accessory categories. It caters to price/value conscious consumers that are looking for an entry-level product that meet their needs. In recent years, due to increasing vehicle prices, gas prices, and interest rates, more consumers have gravitated to lower-priced accessories. Hence, RealTruck sees an opportunity to profitably grow its business with this consumer segment. To ensure a strong focus on this consumer’s particular needs, RealTruck has established a separate business unit (BU) focused on serving the entry-level segment under the Gator brand and is now looking for a General Manager (GM) of this BU.

 The General Manager Business Unit Gator will be the business leader responsible for the overall performance, growth, and P&L of the Gator business. The GM will be a hands-on leader who is comfortable operating at both a strategic and tactical level to build the business, expand the product offering, strengthen the brand, manage customers and pricing, and develop a high-performing team. The BU will have direct responsibility for all commercial areas for the Gator brand (e.g., pricing, channel management, product portfolio, brand strategy, and marketing spend) and has Sales and Brand/Product reporting directly to the GM. The GM will work with other functions to deliver the business objectives, including direct-to-consumer eCommerce, Marketing, Manufacturing, Procurement, Freight & Warehousing, R&D, and Customer Service. The BU has dedicated support from Finance, HR, IT and Legal. The Gator business requires a growth-oriented, entrepreneurial commercial leader with a bias for action who is energized by creative solutions and acting with speed. The GM reports to the Chief Executive Officer and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

 The opportunity is concentrated in the Amazon and RealTruck’s own direct-to-consumer e-Commerce channel (realtruck.com), but the expectation is that the GM will build out presence across several online platforms that sell automotive accessories, including generalists (e.g., eBay, Walmart.com, costco.com, homedepot.com), automotive e-Commerce specialists (e.g., Turn 5, Quadratech), and the online platforms of automotive parts retailers (e.g., O’Reilly, Napa, AutoZone). 

The current product portfolio covers a range of accessory categories, and the GM is expected to rapidly expand the offering through sourced or internally manufactured products.

RealTruck has more than 25 factories that stand ready to produce products specified by the BU. However, most of the growth will likely come from products sourced from overseas suppliers and a core part of the GM role is to help develop existing and new supplier relationships.

CORE FUNCTIONS

• Own the overall business unit performance, including revenue, margin, operating expenses, capital expenditures, and inventory management.
• Define the strategic direction for the business and translate it into clear priorities and initiatives across all key functions (shared and direct) critical to success, including:
  • Channel/customer focus
  • Pricing & promotions
  • Product offering
  • Marketing approach & content
  • Fulfillment (e.g., direct import, fulfilled by Amazon, internally shipped)
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing, consumer-focused team with a nimble operating culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Lead the business unit’s annual budget/business planning process. Provide monthly financial and operating reports to the Board and ELT. Provide monthly demand plans to the executive Sales & Operations Planning team.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Prior experience from leading a consumer products business in North America with revenue exceeding $250m+
• 15+ years of general management experience with demonstrated ability to manage a full P&L, with 10+ years of management experience required.
• Deep expertise in selling consumer products through online channels, including how to succeed on various platforms and how to optimize economics by customer (Amazon, eBay, Walmart.com, etc).
• Experience with entry-level/value-oriented products and brands
• Multiple experiences in developing and working with overseas finished goods suppliers
• Broad commercial skillset including product development, digital marketing, and pricing/promotions
• Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field required. MBA preferred.

Travel

• A minimum of monthly travel to the headquarters in Ann Arbor and other key locations (e.g., R&D centers, marketing studios, distribution centers) to meet with the ELT and critical stakeholders
• Multiple trips per year to Asia to meet and develop suppliers

Required Licenses

• Valid state-issued driver’s license.

COMPETENCIES

• Entrepreneurial mindset with off-the charts action orientation/drive
• Communication skills and ability to corral peers and the broader organization around a joint vision
• Player-coach leader who is both comfortable leading the team and rolling up the sleeves to make things happen
• Collaborative approach; ability to make things happen without damaging relationships
• Flexible and iterative approach; fail fast and adjust

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manager+: Plans, organizes, evaluates, and directs the employees within the department function. Initially has two direct reports and several indirect reports.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• This position is subject to Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Walking and standing are required only occasionally.

Physical Activities

This position is subject to the following physical activities: talking, hearing, and the use of hands, wrists, or fingers in repetitive motions.

Visual Acuity

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; expansive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly of fabrication of parts at distances close to the eyes.

Working Conditions

• This position operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment.

Perks That Go the Extra Mile:

At RealTruck, we take care of our people—because they drive our success. Enjoy great benefits like medical, dental, and vision coverage, company-paid life insurance and disability, and a 401(k) with company match (eligible the first of the month after you start). Need balance? We’ve got wellbeing days and parental leave. Want to grow? Take advantage of educational reimbursement. Plus, earn referral bonuses and score exclusive employee discounts on RealTruck products. Great benefits. Great people. Even better careers.

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