Director of Operations

Porter Engineered Systems - A Division of Pangeo Group; Windsor; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Porter Engineered Systems - A Division of Pangeo Group is seeking a Director of North American Operations to lead manufacturing facilities across North America. This hands-on leadership role requires deep operational experience and the ability to engage with plant leadership, production teams, and support functions to drive safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people performance.

The Director translates corporate strategy into executable operating plans, ensures consistent execution across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, or business required; MBA considered an asset.
• Proven hands-on operational leadership in multi-site, high-volume manufacturing.
• Strong Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement background.
• Experience with regulated or safety-critical environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain regular on-site presence at manufacturing facilities to assess operations, performance, and risks.
• Lead plant leadership teams in daily/weekly reviews, problem-solving, and corrective actions.
• Provide direct operational support during disruptions, quality escapes, safety incidents, or customer escalations.
• Drive standardized operating practices across all North American sites.
• Own budgets, cost control, and labor efficiency; review capital expenditures and staffing plans.
• Partner with finance on forecasting, margin improvement, and cost modeling.
• Lead succession planning, leadership development, and workforce stability initiatives.
• Collaborate with supply chain to ensure material availability and supplier performance.
• Act as executive escalation point for key customers regarding delivery and performance.

Skills

Operational leadership

Lean manufacturing

Cross-functional influence

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, or business

MBA is an asset

Job description

Summary

The Director of North American Operations is responsible for the operational performance of all manufacturing facilities across North America. This role requires a hands-on manufacturing leader with deep operational experience who actively engages with plant leadership, production teams, and support functions to drive safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people performance. The Director translates corporate strategy into executable operating plans and ensures consistent execution across all sites.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership (Hands-On)

• Maintain regular on-site presence at manufacturing facilities to directly assess operations, performance, and risks.
• Lead plant leadership teams in daily and weekly operational reviews, problem-solving, and corrective actions.
• Provide direct operational support during production disruptions, quality escapes, safety incidents, or customer escalations.
• Drive standardized operating practices across all North American sites.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Hold full accountability for safety performance and regulatory compliance across all facilities.
• Ensure adherence to OHSA, OSHA, CSA, EPA, and customer-specific requirements.
• Lead root-cause investigations and corrective actions for safety and quality incidents.

Manufacturing Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
• Standardize KPIs, visual management, and operating rhythms across plants.
• Lead productivity, efficiency, and cost-reduction initiatives without compromising quality or safety.

Financial & Commercial Accountability

• Own operational budgets, cost control, and labor efficiency across North America.
• Review and approve capital expenditures, staffing plans, and major operational investments.
• Partner with finance on forecasting, margin improvement, and operational cost modeling.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop Plant Managers and senior operations leaders.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability for leadership behaviors and results.
• Drive succession planning, leadership development, and workforce stability initiatives.

Supply Chain & Customer Interface

• Collaborate with supply chain teams to ensure material availability, inventory optimization, and supplier performance.
• Act as an executive escalation point for key customers regarding delivery, quality, and operational performance.
• Support customer audits, visits, and performance reviews.

Illustrative KPIs

Safety

• Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)
• Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)
• Completion and effectiveness of corrective actions

Quality

• Customer PPM / Defect Rates
• Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)
• Customer complaints and warranty claims

Delivery & Productivity

• On-Time Delivery (OTD)
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Schedule attainment and throughput

Financial

• Manufacturing cost per unit
• Labor efficiency and overtime rates
• EBITDA contribution and margin improvement

People

• Leadership turnover and succession readiness
• Employee engagement scores
• Absenteeism and retention rates

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, or Business; MBA is an asset
• 15+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, including multi-site leadership roles
• Proven hands-on operational leadership in high-volume or complex manufacturing environments
• Strong background in Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement
• Experience operating in regulated or safety-critical manufacturing environments preferred

Leadership & Technical Competencies

• Visible, decisive, and action-oriented leader
• Strong business and financial acumen
• Ability to lead through complexity and change
• High accountability, integrity, and operational discipline
• Strong communication and cross-functional influence

Working Conditions

• Extensive travel across North American facilities
• On-site presence required, not a remote role
• Availability to support operations outside standard business hours as needed

Salary Range: $150,000-$190,000