Vice President Operations Jobs in Kitchener, ON (NOW HIRING)

As a key member of the Leadership Team, the Vice President, Operations partners closely with the President and other senior leaders to establish and execute the Company’s strategic vision, drive operational excellence, support profitable growth, and ensure organizational scalability. The incumbent serves as a strategic business partner, providing leadership and input into all significant business decisions and fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, innovation, and employee development.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises:

• Plant Manager

• Purchasing Manager
• Quality Manager
• Logistics Manager
• Scheduling Manager
• EHS Manager
• Manufacturing Engineers
• UK Operations Leader
• General Manager, Asia

Provides leadership, coaching, development, and strategic direction to all areas of responsibility. Establishes organizational objectives, assigns accountabilities, develops talent, creates succession plans, and evaluates performance to ensure achievement of business objectives.

Responsibilities:

 Strategic Leadership

• Collaborate with the President and Leadership Team in setting and driving the Company’s vision, operational strategy, growth initiatives, and organizational priorities.
• Develop and execute a multi-year global operations strategy aligned with corporate objectives, and customer requirements.
• Translate business strategy into actionable operational goals, performance metrics, and execution plans.
• Lead strategic initiatives that improve operational performance, organizational capabilities, profitability, and sustainable growth.
• Participate in and provide leadership on all significant business decisions and strategic planning activities.
• Assist in the evaluation of potential acquisition targets and lead operational integration activities for successful acquisitions.

 Operational Excellence

• Lead all global manufacturing and operational functions to ensure efficiency, quality, safety, customer satisfaction, and profitability objectives are achieved.
• Develop, implement, and sustain a culture of operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Measure operational effectiveness and efficiency through key performance indicators and drive improvements in productivity, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Regularly evaluate and implement opportunities for operational improvements across all locations and business units.
• Analyse operational challenges and implement proactive solutions that eliminate root causes and improve long-term business performance.
• Develop, monitor, and report enterprise-wide operational KPIs and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.

 Financial Management

• Accountable for achieving operational financial objectives, including EBITDA contribution, gross margin improvement, productivity gains, working capital targets, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Develop and manage annual operating and capital expenditure budgets for all areas of responsibility.
• Partner with Finance to improve cash flow, inventory turns, operational efficiencies, and return on invested capital.
• Establish and maintain effective cost control measures, product costing processes, and inventory management practices.
• Evaluate operational investments and capital projects to ensure strategic alignment and expected business returns.
• Take an active leadership role in company decisions with financial implications.

 Supply Chain and Logistics

• Develop and execute global supply chain strategies that improve supplier performance, cost competitiveness, reliability, and operational resiliency.
• Establish and maintain optimal inventory levels while balancing customer service requirements and working capital objectives.
• Lead purchasing, logistics, scheduling, and supplier management functions to ensure uninterrupted business operations.
• Develop business continuity and risk mitigation plans that address supplier, operational, geopolitical, and market-related risks.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives throughout the global supply chain network.

 Quality, Safety and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure all global operations maintain the highest standards of quality, safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead the Company's commitment to environmental health and safety, promoting a culture where safety is a core value.
• Champion sustainability initiatives and support corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, legal, environmental, trade, and workplace safety requirements across all operating jurisdictions.

 Talent Management and Organizational Development

• Build and maintain a high-performance, inclusive culture that encourages accountability, engagement, collaboration, and innovation.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain top talent across all operational functions.
• Identify, train, and develop future leaders and establish robust succession plans for critical positions.
• Foster employee engagement through effective communication, coaching, recognition, and leadership development.
• Partner with Human Resources to develop workforce planning and talent management strategies that support business growth.

 Customer and Business Partnership

• Partner with Sales, Engineering, Customer Service, and other departments to ensure operational strategies support customer requirements and business objectives.
• Ensure operational teams consistently meet customer expectations related to quality, delivery, responsiveness, and service.
• Develop strong relationships with key customers, suppliers, and strategic partners when required.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration to deliver exceptional customer experiences and business results.

Behavioural Requirements

Demonstrates exceptional leadership capabilities and the ability to elevate organizational performance through the Company’s established competencies:

• Leadership, Integrity and Trust
• Judgment, Decision Quality and Problem Solving
• Quality of Work and Continuous Improvement
• Drive for Results and Initiative
• Communication and Building Effective Teams
• Business Planning and Execution
• Customer Focus

Additional attributes include:

• Proven ability to inspire, develop, and engage teams to achieve superior results.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• High level of analytical, mathematical, and decision-making capability.
• Ability to effectively prioritize in a fast-paced and continuously changing environment.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely to executive leadership and stakeholders.
• Commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and organizational excellence.

Physical Demands

• Extensive computer use, including prolonged sitting, typing, and screen viewing.
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.
• Domestic and international travel required.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Demonstrated success leading strategic initiatives and driving business transformation in a manufacturing environment.
• Extensive experience developing and executing profitable growth strategies.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, supply chain management, inventory control, logistics, quality systems, and EHS programs.
• Proven experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, operational excellence, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Epicor experience is considered an asset.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, and capital planning.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong negotiation, project management, and change management skills.
• Experience working within global manufacturing organizations is preferred.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• MBA preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-site and international operations.
• Proven track record of delivering operational excellence, profitable growth, organizational development, and transformational change.
• Experience with mergers, acquisitions, and operational integrations considered an asset.

Shred-Tech is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and accommodation throughout the recruitment process in accordance with the Human Rights Code. 

AI is not used in the recruiting process.

Existing vacancy.