About the Company

Our client is a successful Canadian manufacturer of standard and custom utility-grade electrical apparatus.  The firm is a leader in its field with customers across Canada as well as an increasing presence in the US. The firm is growing quickly, profitable and well regarded in its industry.

Our client’s success has been built on uncompromising quality, service excellence, flexibility, value, and passion for its customers’ success. A loyal, committed and entrepreneurial team makes this all possible.

After being founder-led our client successfully transitioned several years ago to new leadership. The results have been runaway growth and success on every front. As the firm seeks to meet and manage unprecedented market demand for its offerings, it is adding a new manufacturing facility and creating the position of Vice-President Operations. The role will have responsibility for ensuring that the organization continues to effectively scale its manufacturing organization to meet that growth.

Scope of Position

Reporting to, and working with, the company’s ownership group, the Vice President (VP) of Operations will manage the operational strategy and execution across the firm’s multi-location manufacturing facilities. The individual will be responsible for driving operational excellence while maintaining high-quality standards and achieving financial goals.

In achieving its goals, the role will also include responsibility for the company’s manufacturing processes from the ordering of goods and raw materials through to the efficient assembly and quality of products sufficient to keep pace with market demand. The VP Operations will evaluate all existing systems, processes and metrics with a view to recommending and then implementing continuous improvement mechanisms and disciplines which will minimize production costs and waste while maximizing production and quality outputs.

No less important, the VP Operations will achieve these results by continuing to cultivate positive relationships across the organization while nurturing a culture of excellence.

This is an outstanding opportunity that features:

• Strong industry and market leadership
• Committed ownership
• Unprecedented market growth
• A chance to make a real difference

Functional Tasks

• Develop and implement operational strategies to enhance productivity, efficiency, and quality across all manufacturing facilities.
• Lead the operations team in achieving production goals, reducing costs, and improving delivery times.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations, safety standards, and company policies.
• Collaborate with the executive team to define the company’s strategic direction and operational objectives.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements, technology upgrades, and capacity expansion.
• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and operational plans to support business growth and profitability.
• Establish and maintain high-quality standards for all products and processes.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives and best practices to enhance product reliability and customer satisfaction.
• Recruit, train, and develop a high-performing operations team.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability within the operations department.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to managers and staff, ensuring professional growth and development.
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess operational efficiency and financial performance.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives and operational efficiencies to improve profit margins.
• Prepare regular reports for the executive team, highlighting operational achievements and areas for improvement.
• Infuse energy and ‘can do’ attitude throughout the organization
• Oversee manufacturing and materials departments to review production and operating reports and resolve operational, manufacturing, and facility problems to ensure minimum costs and prevent operational delays and to meet future growth.
• Cultivate a continuous improvement or related lean manufacturing (eg. Kaizen) culture across the organization.
• Play a hands-on role in managing all day-to-day operations working closely with key managers and team members.
• Oversee key projects, processes, and performance reports, data and analysis.
• Ensure that all operational activities are performed in compliance with all safety and environmental regulations. Measure and report metrics based upon safety and/or injury. Create and sustain a viable organizational structure to make optimum use of human resources, technology and systems.
• Build and facilitate the development of strong relationships and synergies with all other areas of the company in order to achieve the corporate goals, objectives and revenue targets.
• Travel as required to confer with customers, suppliers, industry associations and corporate personnel in the support of short- and long-term objectives.

Key Performance Deliverables

In light of the identified responsibilities, the following are specific deliverables that the position is designed to achieve.

• To be discussed and agreed upon with the successful candidate.

Competency Profile

The following competencies listed below define the role of Vice-President Operations at our client:

Results Orientation

Focuses strongly on achieving agreed upon outcomes and ensures that key objectives are met. Conveys a sense of urgency and drives issues to closure. Aims to improve upon past performance. Establishes aggressive personal targets and strives to achieve them. Stays ahead of the noise and sets the tone and agenda daily to drive the management team and employees towards the company’s goals.

Planning & Objective Setting

Systematic in approach to work. Produces action plans in which objectives are defined and steps for achieving them are clearly specified. Plans by breaking down large task into subtasks. Develops plans that anticipate obstacles. Is realistic about time-scales and builds in appropriate checkpoints, milestones and controls in order to ensure that desired results are realized.

People Management

Establishes and communicates clear priorities and sense of direction. Clarifies roles and responsibilities. Adapts management style to achieve optimum results.

Strategic Approach

Develops a strategic plan to realize the vision. Revises strategy in light of changing circumstances. Takes a long-term view of organizational success. Works to clarify long term organizational goals. Able to stand back from immediate problems in order to focus on more far-reaching ideas.

Commercial Acumen

Applies appropriate commercial and financial principles; Understands situations in terms of costs, profits, added-value and return on investment; Imagines future possibilities. Thinks broadly and investigates a wide-range of alternatives in developing a vision for the future. Selects the most promising vision from a range of alternatives and communicates this vision to others.

Preferred Experience / Education

The following indicates specific industry, academic and functional experience/qualifications that are important to the successful achievement of the identified responsibilities and performance deliverables:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or a related field. An MBA or advanced degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 10 years in a senior leadership role within the electrical industry or similar.
• Proven track record of successfully managing large-scale manufacturing operations and driving operational improvements.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma methodologies, and continuous improvement practices.
• Exceptional strategic planning and organizational skills.
• Excellent leadership and team management abilities.
• Strong financial acumen and experience with budgeting and cost control.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in ERP systems – Oracle NetSuite, manufacturing software, and data analysis tools.
• Results-oriented with a focus on achieving operational excellence.
• Innovative thinker with the ability to drive change and implement new technologies.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and ethical standards.
• Proven ability to work in an extremely fast-paced environment.
• Expertise in commissioning new facilities to enhance the company’s growth plans.

Remuneration & Benefits

• Competitive base pay and variable incentive plan

If interested, please contact:

Robert Hebert                                     Leigh Walsh
StoneWood Group, Toronto            StoneWood Group, Toronto
Bus: 416-365-9494 Ext. 777            Bus: 416-365-9494 Ext. 555
Mob: 416-889-9494                             Mob: 416-937-7559
[email protected]     [email protected]