General Manager

Smart Air Bangladesh runs on the dedication, expertise, and individual ownership of its people. Today, critical knowledge and responsibilities are often concentrated within specific individuals—key B2B relationships, warehouse operations, and cross-functional decision-making frequently depend on a small number of people. This approach has helped the business reach its current stage, but achieving 3× revenue growth by 2027 will require stronger systems, clearer processes, and operational leadership that enables the organisation to scale beyond individual dependencies.

That is where this role comes in.

The General Manager will serve as the Founder’s key operational partner and play a central role in ensuring the organisation runs effectively and independently. While the Founder focuses on senior institutional relationships, strategic direction, and the launch of a new environmental monitoring programme beginning in September 2026, you will lead the internal management rhythm, drive execution against business plans, establish sustainable systems and processes, and serve as the first point of resolution for operational matters that do not require the Founder’s direct involvement.

You will be joining a business with real momentum, strong ambition, and clear opportunities for improvement. The Admin & Finance function is currently vacant following a recent departure, the Black Friday marketing campaign is already underway, and the filter replacement programme—one of the highest-leverage revenue drivers in the 2026 business plan—requires the operational infrastructure needed to perform effectively at scale.

From day one, you will take ownership of running and strengthening the organisation's operations.

This is not a traditional corporate General Manager role, nor is it a role focused solely on designing systems from a distance. Smart Air Bangladesh is a ten-person social enterprise with significant ambition, a clear growth strategy, and limited room for unnecessary hierarchy or extended observation periods. You will need to be equally comfortable building processes from scratch, solving operational challenges, making decisions, and leading meetings.

The right person will find this combination of ownership, pace, and impact energising rather than intimidating.

What You Are Walking Into

A business that is already working and growing but does not yet have the systems and operational structure required to scale effectively.

What You Are Building

The operational foundation that makes 3× revenue growth achievable and executable—not merely aspirational.

Operational Management

• Own the organisation's internal management rhythm, including weekly check-ins with department leads across Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Admin & Finance; coordinate monthly business reviews; and ensure all key decisions are properly documented so institutional knowledge does not remain confined to individual inboxes or memories.
• Track execution against the annual business plan using the master KPI tracker, maintain RAG status across all key metrics, and provide the Founder with a concise weekly one-page performance summary. The Founder should be able to access one clear document rather than chase updates across multiple departments.
• Establish and maintain clear, written decision-rights frameworks across every department, defining who owns each decision, the relevant approval thresholds, and the appropriate escalation pathways. This is not a one-time exercise but an ongoing management discipline that must evolve as the organisation grows.
• Own the operational conditions required for the filter replacement programme to function effectively, including CRM completeness, a functioning outreach system, and a well-supported Filter Lifecycle Coordinator operating against a clear accountability cadence. You are not responsible for operating the programme directly; you are responsible for ensuring the infrastructure supporting it exists and is consistently maintained.
• Build and continuously improve the operational systems, policies, and workflows that enable Smart Air Bangladesh to scale without all decisions and activities flowing through the Founder or any other single individual.
• Develop comprehensive operational documentation so that any process, decision, or customer relationship can be understood and managed by the wider team without dependence on a single person, including the Founder. A well-managed organisation should be fully understandable and accessible to any suitably qualified person joining the business.
• Act as the first point of resolution for cross-functional challenges before they escalate, coordinating effectively between Sales and Operations on fulfilment, Marketing and Finance on budgets, and all departments on shared priorities and deadlines.

Strategic Planning & Analysis

• Develop and stress-test quarterly business plans, translating organisational ambitions into clear, practical, and evidence-based roadmaps that the entire team can execute effectively.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and relevant sector data to generate timely insights that strengthen Founder decision-making and identify potential opportunities for growth.
• Design and maintain a comprehensive dashboard of key performance indicators, providing leadership with a reliable and up-to-date view of organisational performance across revenue streams, customer retention, and operational efficiency.

Financial Stewardship

• Partner with the Admin & Finance Manager on annual budgeting and monthly forecasting, optimising costs and ensuring that every material financial decision is supported by rigorous analysis.
• Oversee accounts receivable discipline, ensuring B2B invoices are issued within 24 hours of receiving a purchase order, overdue accounts are followed up systematically, and potential cash-flow risks are identified and escalated early.
• Ensure financial records are maintained to a standard suitable for external audit or institutional review. Work closely with the Admin & Finance Manager to produce annual accounts with accurate revenue recognition, inventory valuation, and high-quality management accounts capable of withstanding scrutiny from any qualified external party.
• Identify and implement operational and financial efficiency improvements that strengthen margins without compromising the organisation's mission, product quality, or impact.
• , while recognising that certain strategic decisions remain with the Founder. Candidates who require complete autonomy or, conversely, constant direction may struggle in this role. The ideal candidate is decisive within their area of responsibility and appropriately consultative outside it.
• Genuine commitment to social impact and environmental sustainability. Smart Air Bangladesh's mission is central to the organisation, not simply a statement of purpose, and candidates must demonstrate genuine alignment with it.

An MBA or advanced degree in business, management, or a related field is preferred but not required. A demonstrated track record of execution in a relevant operating environment is more important than formal credentials.

Organisational Values

At Smart Air Bangladesh, we are guided by four core values:

• Integrity First: We believe in honest, transparent, and respectful communication with customers and colleagues. We uphold ethical practices at every level and never compromise our principles or take shortcuts.
• Teamwork and Togetherness: We foster a collaborative and inclusive culture where every team member is empowered to contribute and thrive. We value mutual respect, support one another, and celebrate success as a team.
• Innovation and Leadership: We lead by example and pursue meaningful change with purpose, ownership, and passion. We encourage bold, practical solutions that help set new standards for clean air in Bangladesh and beyond.
• Inclusive Opportunity: We value diversity and encourage qualified professionals from all backgrounds to contribute to our mission.