Operations Assistant Jobs in Kitchener, ON (NOW HIRING)

Responsible for overseeing all asphalt cement supply operations at the Hamilton Terminal, including leadership of personnel, health and safety, environmental compliance, inventory management, production, supply, quality control, maintenance, repairs, capital improvement projects, and contractor scheduling and oversight.

Reporting to the General Manager, this role has leadership responsibility for a team of approximately 10-20 direct reports and up to 5 indirect reports. The Operations Manager maintains overall accountability for terminal operations while providing direction and support to a workforce that includes labourers, operators, Lead Hands, and a Foreman. Key supervisory support is provided by the Foreman and Senior Lead Hand.

• Manage overall terminal operations, including receipt of asphalt cement via truck, rail, and marine vessels.

• Oversee loading of tanker trucks for customer deliveries.

• Operate and manage hot oil heating systems, steam boiler systems, tank heating, and railcar unloading processes.

• Schedule manufacturing of polymer-modified asphalt products to maintain inventory levels.

• Coordinate tank transfers to support operational requirements.

• Ensure efficient material handling, storage, and product availability.

HEALTH, SAFETY & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

• Lead and administer the terminal Health and Safety Program in accordance with company policies.

• Promote a strong safety culture through incident reporting, investigations, corrective actions, and near-miss reporting.

• Ensure compliance with WHMIS, Working at Heights, Confined Space Entry, Lock-Out-Try-Out-Tag-Out, and other regulatory requirements.

• Conduct inspections, daily safety meetings, and Joint Health & Safety Committee meetings.

• Maintain employee training records, enforce safety standards, and implement disciplinary action when required.

• Manage safety documentation and reporting through the Flex safety management system.

• Develop, review, and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

SUPPLY CHAIN, INVENTORY & LOGISTICS PLANNING

• Develop supply forecasts and production plans to meet customer demand.

• Coordinate inbound and outbound logistics, including truck, rail, marine, and packaged materials.

• Manage railcar scheduling, releases, transportation arrangements, and supplier relationships.

• Oversee inventory management, material tracking, product movement, and monthly inventory reconciliation.

• Ensure accurate weighing, gauging, ticketing, recording, and monitoring of all inventory transactions.

QUALITY ASSURANCE & ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

• Ensure compliance with product quality specifications, customer requirements, and ISO standards.

• Manage environmental compliance programs, approvals, permits, and required records.

• Operate in accordance with spill prevention, spill response, pollution prevention, and dock security plans.

• Conduct emergency response, spill, and security exercises.

• Drive continuous improvement in quality and environmental performance.

LEADERSHIP, WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT & LABOUR RELATIONS

• Lead, develop, and maintain a highly engaged, productive, and disciplined workforce.

• Manage unionized and non-unionized employees in compliance with employment standards and collective agreements.

• Oversee staffing, recruitment, seasonal hiring, layoffs, and workforce planning.

• Ensure employee cross-training and skills development.

• Manage labour relations, grievance escalation, and participation in collective bargaining activities.

• Administer weekly and bi-weekly payroll through the Synerion system.

ASSET RELIABILITY, MAINTENANCE & CAPITAL PROJECTS

• Plan and oversee preventive maintenance programs for terminal assets and equipment.

• Coordinate inspections, repairs, equipment replacement, and contractor activities.

• Manage maintenance scheduling and execution to maximize operational reliability.

• Support and oversee capital improvement projects, ensuring completion on time and within budget.

BUSINESS CONTINUITY, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT & COST CONTROL

• Monitor operational risks and implement proactive business continuity plans.

• Ensure continuity of production, supply, inventory, quality, equipment reliability, and workforce capability.

• Manage operational expenditures and identify cost-saving opportunities.

• Establish, monitor, analyze, and communicate key performance indicators (KPIs).

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION, REPORTING & STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS

• Oversee terminal accounting and administrative functions, including ticketing, purchase orders, invoices, packing slips, and vouchering.

• Prepare and analyze month-end operational and financial reports covering inventory, production, throughput, material usage, energy consumption, KPIs, and costs.

• Provide input into operating and capital expenditure budgets.

• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, government agencies, industry associations, community partners, and other key stakeholders.