General Manager

S.E. Shires Company
Holliston, MA | USA
Full-Time | On-Site

S.E. Shires is a manufacturer of professional brass instruments dedicated to exceptional craftsmanship, innovation, and serving musicians at the highest levels. As part of the Eastman Music Company family of brands, Shires serves as the U.S. distributor for Willson Music instruments manufactured in Switzerland.

S.E. Shires is seeking an experienced, hands-on General Manager to provide overall leadership for our business and operations in Holliston, Massachusetts.

The General Manager will bring together the different functions of the business to ensure strong execution, clear priorities, effective communication, and an exceptional customer experience across both manufacturing and distribution operations. This individual will work closely with leaders in manufacturing, sales, customer service, product development, finance, supply chain, and other shared functions to ensure the business operates effectively as a whole.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative business operator who enjoys developing people, improving processes, solving problems, and building practical systems that support growth. This person does not need to be the organization’s senior manufacturing expert, but must understand manufacturing well enough to lead a product-based business and partner effectively with manufacturing leadership.

• Provide day-to-day leadership of the Shires business, translating company strategy into clear priorities, accountability, and measurable operating results.
• Balance customer needs, financial performance, operational capabilities, product priorities, and long-term growth while resolving issues that cross functional boundaries.

• Lead the processes that move customer orders from entry through production or distribution, fulfillment, shipment, and invoicing.
• Improve visibility and communication around order status, production ETAs, product availability, customer commitments, and Willson distribution activities.

• Evaluate business processes holistically and simplify work through better workflows, tools, reporting, technology, documentation, and internal controls.
• Create a culture in which employees challenge existing practices, solve problems thoughtfully, and continually improve how work gets done.

• Partner with manufacturing leadership to align production priorities, capacity, inventory, product availability, and customer requirements.
• Provide accountability for finished goods inventory, warehousing, shipping, cross-training, backup coverage, and reliable order fulfillment.

• Develop employees and functional leaders by establishing clear expectations, ownership, accountability, and collaborative ways of working.
• Ensure employees have the leadership, tools, processes, and support needed to solve problems and perform at a high level.

• Bachelor's degree in business, operations, supply chain, engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent professional achievements will also be considered.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership in an operational, manufacturing, distribution, or product-based business.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional operations, developing people, and driving measurable business and process improvement.
• Strong understanding of how manufacturing, distribution, inventory, order fulfillment, customer service, and financial performance interact.
• Ability to evaluate processes holistically and develop practical solutions that improve employee effectiveness and business performance.
• Strong business and financial acumen, comfort with ERP and business systems, and excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

• Background in premium, custom, engineered, or craftsmanship-based products.
• Familiarity with dealer, distributor, or direct customer sales channels.
• Leadership of business process improvement or operational transformation initiatives.
• Knowledge of the musical instrument industry or a personal connection to music.

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and FSA plans
• Paid vacation, holidays and sick time
• Matching 401k