General Manager – Nairobi, Kenya

How to Apply: Interested and qualified candidates should apply via the Summit Recruitment and Search website at summitrecruitment-search.com.

Winning in Signage & Branding: From Pitch to Installation

This General Manager role sits at the intersection of sales, operations, and client delivery in a fast-paced visual communications environment. Hiring managers will look for evidence you can close deals and then manage the messy middle—production, timelines, and quality control.

1. Show P&L ownership on your CV: Don't just say you managed a budget—quantify it. Include revenue targets, cost savings, or margin improvements from your previous role. For example: 'Grew division revenue by 30% year-on-year while reducing production costs by 15%.'

2. Prove you understand the signage production cycle: Mention specific experience with design, fabrication, printing, and installation. Use industry terms like large-format printing, UV printing, vinyl application, or structural fabrication to signal hands-on knowledge.

3. Highlight client acquisition in relevant sectors: Tailor your CV to show wins with corporate clients, retail chains, banks, telcos, or FMCG companies. List the value of contracts secured and how you built those relationships.

4. Prepare a project management example: Be ready to walk through a complex project from brief to delivery. Include how you managed timelines, budgets, subcontractors, and client expectations. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

5. Demonstrate operational improvement: Share a specific example where you streamlined a production process or workflow. Mention tools or methodologies used (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, ERP systems) and the impact on efficiency or quality.

6. Show leadership beyond titles: Describe how you've built and motivated teams, especially in a production or project-based environment. Talk about cross-functional coordination with design, sales, and installation crews.

7. Research the company's portfolio: Before the interview, study Summit Recruitment's client work in signage, branding, and exhibitions. Be ready to discuss how you would expand their service offerings or enter new market segments.

8. Prepare for a case study or presentation: Many senior roles include a business case. Practice a 10-minute pitch on a growth strategy for a signage/branding company—covering market analysis, revenue drivers, and operational levers.