POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Vice-President, Manufacturing Operations, the Senior Manager, Canadian Operations is responsible for ensuring the development and competitiveness of Canadian manufacturing operations in terms of costs, production standards, safety, quality, and work environment. The incumbent actively participates in the company’s strategic planning and acts as a change agent, combining strategic vision with a strong presence in the field. The role is responsible for implementing and maintaining, with the highest levels of rigor, world-class processes, methods, and management practices, while working closely with other departments to ensure the optimal integration of their services into manufacturing operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Responsibilities

• Participate in the development of the organization’s overall strategies by integrating operational realities;
• Lead a culture of proactive problem solving by deploying Lean tools and methodologies to identify root causes, eliminate waste, and implement sustainable solutions across all plants;
• Identify, develop, and lead the implementation of improvement processes designed to increase the efficiency of manufacturing operations;
• Stay abreast of market best practices and measure operational performance against available benchmarks;
• Develop, plan, execute, and control the actions required to achieve the objectives under their responsibility.

Operational Responsibilities

• Structure operations within their area to ensure the efficiency and performance of invested resources;
• Ensure the implementation and monitoring of the health and safety plan, as well as compliance with applicable rules and regulations in Quebec and Ontario;
• Promote the adoption of Lean principles (Kaizen, 5S, value stream mapping) and ensure the transfer of continuous improvement knowledge across the organization;
• Plan, lead, and support operational activities at the highest management level with the assistance of plant managers;
• Lead, advise, and support teams assigned to major investment and improvement projects;
• Contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring, and compliance with standardized operating, sanitation, and key performance indicator (KPI) procedures;
• Optimize equipment efficiency, productivity, and performance to achieve established objectives;
• Monitor the work of their team to ensure strict compliance with expected operating, safety, and quality standards;
• Participate in quality and sanitation audits.

Human, Material, and Financial Resources Management Responsibilities

• Act as a leader by implementing a culture of continuous improvement and positively driving change management;
• Mentor the management team, particularly by integrating Lean problem-solving techniques into daily management routines and fostering a culture of innovation and experimentation;
• Develop a succession plan to guide and support employee development, and provide active leadership within their department;
• Make decisions regarding hiring, compensation, promotions, discipline, and termination of operational staff, in accordance with established policies and applicable Canadian legislation;
• Develop and recommend operational budgets to optimize short- and long-term production capacity while minimizing exposure to economic and environmental risks.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree in engineering (industrial, mechanical, or electrical), production operations management, or any other combination of education and relevant experience;
• Minimum of five (5) years in a senior director role within a manufacturing environment;
• Demonstrated experience in multi-site management, ideally across several Canadian provinces;
• Significant experience in the manufacturing industry, preferably in the agri-food sector or in a high-volume, high-speed production environment;
• Recognized certification (e.g., Black Belt or other) or equivalent experience in the knowledge, implementation, and management of Lean and continuous improvement principles;
• Mobilizing leadership: ability to engage teams, demonstrate courage in decision-making, and inspire trust;
• Superior analytical skills and well-developed ability to synthesize information;
• Excellent organizational, planning, and priority management skills;
• Strong interpersonal, communication, persuasion, and negotiation skills;
• Solid problem-solving skills and ability to make quick, informed decisions;
• Consistent results orientation; ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously and supervise work teams;
• Bilingualism (French and English) required, given the pan-Canadian operational context;
• Availability to travel to Canadian plants (Quebec - Ontario), representing approximately 20% to 30% of working time.