General Manager

Job reference

1281264

Location

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Sector

Energy - Oil & Gas

Function

Executive & C-Level

Employment type

Contract

Date published

October 2, 2026

1. ABOUT LABA

Laba Holdings Limited is the umbrella landowner company of Porebada, Boera, Papa and Rea Rea in Central Province, Papua New Guinea. Laba delivers services into the PNG LNG and Papua LNG projects and operates a group of businesses across construction, logistics, training, technology and community services.

2. PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Laba Holdings has grown from one plant site contract into a group of businesses across security, camps and catering, transport, construction and supply, connectivity and training. The Chief Executive Officer carries the client, partner, government and Board relationships. The General Manager takes the day-to-day running of the business so the CEO can hold those relationships.

The General Manager is the CEO's second in charge. The position runs delivery, people and cost across the group, mobilises the new businesses starting in October 2026, and acts for the CEO in the CEO's absence within Laba's delegations of authority.

3. THE BUSINESS THE POSITION RUNS

• Base services contract for ExxonMobil PNG at the PNG LNG plant site: ground transport, non-process maintenance, warehousing, vegetation control and community liaison, with a workforce of roughly 200 PNG national staff.
• Laba Training Academy: a workforce development team from October 2026, building into the training business for the Papua LNG workforce.
• Laba Logistics: a bus service for the Papua LNG workforce from October 2026, growing into an owned fleet with a depot on Laba land at Caution Bay.
• A camp construction and services package on a major resources construction project, with a management team of thirteen positions over a 24-month construction term from contract award.

4. LABA STANDARD RESPONSIBILITIES

• Uphold and live by the Laba Holdings vision, mission and values: more than just a landowner company.
• Comply with Laba's contractual obligations to its clients, and with Laba policies, procedures and delegations of authority.
• Work to the QHSE policy. Stop work authority applies to every person.
• Give first preference to the people of Porebada, Boera, Papa and Rea Rea in every hiring, training and procurement decision, as the Project Labour Agreement requires.

5.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Run the day-to-day operation of the group. Line-manage the direct reports, set their objectives and hold a weekly operating meeting and a monthly performance review.
• Mobilise the Laba Training Academy team and the Laba Logistics bus service on time and within their approved budgets, and stand up the camp package delivery organisation with the Project Director on contract award.
• Hold the base services contract to its KPIs, safety standard and monthly client reporting, and own the day-to-day interface with the client's site leadership.
• Protect cash. With the Financial Controller, hold every cost centre to budget, invoice on time and collect on time.
• Own the group workforce plan and recruitment with the HR Manager and Laba's recruitment partner. Give first preference to the people of Porebada, Boera, Papa and Rea Rea, as the Project Labour Agreement requires.
• Deliver the monthly operating report and the flash profit and loss for each business to the CEO by day ten, and prepare the operations section of each Board paper.
• Work with the Joint Venture Manager so that each venture's operating interface with Laba, its people and its reporting run to Laba's governance standards.
• Develop a named PNG national successor for each direct report and for this position.

6.KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, FIRST TWELVE MONTHS

• Laba Training Academy and Laba Logistics mobilised and billing within their approved budgets.
• Base services contract KPIs and HSE performance at or above the contract standard every month.
• Monthly operating report to the CEO by day ten, twelve of twelve.
• Every direct report with agreed objectives within 30 days of start and a named national successor within six months.
• Group recruitment plan filled against its target dates.

7.MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Essential

• Fifteen years or more in operations management, with at least five as general manager or chief operating officer of a multi-business services company in resources, LNG or construction.
• Has run a contract for a Tier 1 international operator to its standards for safety, compliance and contractor performance.
• Has started new businesses or business units: people, systems, budgets and first client contracts.
• Financial command of budgets, profit and loss, cash and contract KPIs.
• Leadership of large national workforces, including industrial relations.
• Tertiary qualification in business, engineering or a related discipline.
• Eligible to work in Papua New Guinea, with work permit and visa support available where required.

Desirable

• Residential experience in Papua New Guinea or Melanesia.
• Experience with a landowner company, national content programme or community-owned group.
• Familiarity with PNG LNG or Papua LNG and their contractors.
• An MBA or equivalent.

8.HOW TO APPLY

Applications and enquiries are handled by Airswift (Air Energi Pacifica Limited) on Laba's behalf. Please attach your curriculum vitae setting out your relevant experience. Preference is given to candidates from Porebada, Boera, Papa and Rea Rea, then to Papua New Guinean citizens. International candidates will only be considered if no suitable national citizen is found. All appointments are merit-based.

Not the job you are looking for? Search hundreds more

Search Now.