VP of Operations

Vice President of Operations

Our client, a well-established medium-sized Canadian manufacturing company in the GTA with a North American customer base is looking for a dynamic manufacturing professional. The ideal candidate will be a key member of the Company’s executive team, working closely with the Company’s senior management team (including Owner) and other personnel to add and create value throughout the Company’s operations.

About the Position – Vice President, Operations

The newly created role, Vice President of Operations, will play a critical leadership role within the company. The successful candidate will work closely with the Company’s management team and other personnel to develop, analyze, and implement value-add and value creation initiatives in four key areas:

• Operational Management;
• Communication / Leadership;
• Strategic Planning; and,

For example, the successful candidate’s duties and responsibilities will include – but not limited to – the following:

• Managing the facility’s daily production operations;
• Analyzing and evaluating the company’s existing systems, processes, and metrics;
• Challenging the status quo and championing new value-add and value creation initiatives.

Success in this role will be measured by your ability to incorporate your strong technical, operational, leadership, planning, and financial skills to meet and exceed key short- and long-term performance objectives. The Vice President of Operations will report directly to the company’s President.

• Operational Management
• Play a hands-on role in managing all day-to-day operations, working closely with managers and team members
• Supervises preparation of project schedules and plan ordering cycles to ensure production volumes can be met
• Advocates cross-functional training and development
• Manages and improves operational practices
• Tracks and forecasts operational trends and analysis
• Assesses and evaluates all current operations-related processes, make recommendations, and execute ongoing changes that improve efficiencies and cost effectiveness
• Refines key performance indicators (KPIs) and other metrics by which to better monitor, manage and improve operations
• Evaluates staff related processes and procedures including work rules, position descriptions, responsibilities, and training with a focus on optimizing productivity
• Initiate capital investment plans for eventual replacements or upgrades of machinery to improve productivity and increase competitiveness of the business while collaborating with the finance team to ensure adequate return on investment for the long-term and the viability of sustaining the expenses in the short term.
• Experience with process automation (i.e. previous experience with automating operational processes, including but not limited to; CAPEX budgeting, RFQ process, cost-benefit analysis, ROI analysis and project implementation

• Communication / Leadership
• A dynamic and self-motivated person with structured working style, with strong people management skills
• Drives accountability and ownership through all areas of the business
• Ability to make tough decisions to enhance Quality organizational skills and processes optimization
• Strong ability to deal with ambiguity and manage through difficult situations
• ”Hands on” leader, who maintains accountability of team members to meet quality expectations, including performance reviews towards achieving targeted results
• Establishes, implements, and reinforces team goals and works with multiple teams to execute, measure progress, and share results
• Maintains a respectful values-driven workplace that adheres to all company policies and procedures

• Strategic Planning
• Critical thinker (who establishes and communicates clear priorities and sense of direction)
• Develops sound strategic plans to realize short- and long-term corporate objectives (i.e. KPIs)
• Challenges the status quo and champions new initiatives with the ability to promote changes in team members
• Develops effective action plans to implement change and monitors results
• Evaluates production variances and determine a course of action to resolve issues
• Develops, communicates, and implements short- and long-term contingency and risk mitigation strategies and plans
• Demonstrates flexibility and strong problem-solving skills to successfully navigate potential challenges

• Finance
• Ability to work closely with the Finance team in budget preparations and monitor variances
• Maintains accountability for financial aspects of the operations to ensure targets are met and variances are analyzed/ resolved
• Understands situations in terms of costs, profits, value creation, and return on investment
• Optimizes cost performance of facility through the development of a continuous improvement culture encompassing efficient principles and clear strategic development

Qualifications

• 10+ years in light manufacturing or industrial management
• 5-10 years experience in a Project Management/SVP role in a manufacturing facility
• A solid understanding of CNC and manual equipment and machinery
• Demonstrated experience leading a multi-unit manufacturing function with a proven track record in strategic manufacturing leadership delivering processes and systems
• Knowledge and technical understanding of manufacturing processes, components, and techniques
• Ability to understand financial reports
• Proven team leadership with exceptional organizational, analytical and communication skills
• Experience in implementing best practices in operations, project management, quality systems, and engineering
• Business transformation experience within mid-sized and private businesses
• Complementary business experience that can be leveraged in the current role and for future growth opportunities
• Strategic planning and goal setting abilities with track record of implementing change, turn-around initiatives, and process re-engineering solutions
• Experience in complex ERP/manufacturing/business systems and their utilization
• Bachelor’s degree in a technology or engineering discipline preferred
• Mechanical design background is an asset
• Possess an MBA Business experience (i.e. MBA degree preferred);
• Experience with process automation (i.e. previous experience with automating operational processes, including – but not limited to – the following: CAPEX budgeting; RFQ process; cost-benefit analysis; ROI analysis; Project implementation).