General Manager - Construction/ Steel Industry & Fabrication

Summit Search Group; Burlington; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Search Group is seeking a General Manager for the Ontario Region to lead growth, modernization, and market leadership across the province. You will own the P&L, guide strategic direction, and drive operational performance from multiple facilities to deliver exceptional customer outcomes.

You will build a high‑performing leadership team, champion safety, and steer capital investments and process improvements to sustain profitability and scalability in a dynamic market.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related discipline.
• 10–15+ years in steel, fabrication, rebar operations, or construction, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven P&L management, strategic planning, and operational transformation experience.
• Knowledge of rebar design, fabrication, and installation processes is a plus.
• Experience in unionised manufacturing/construction environments is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Own full P&L accountability for the Ontario region.
• Drive performance on safety, productivity, on-time delivery, labour efficiency, quality, profitability, and working capital management.
• Develop and execute a strategic growth plan aligned with corporate objectives.
• Establish commercial strategy for the division and set objectives for personnel.
• Lead modernization and technology initiatives to improve safety, quality, productivity, and scalability.
• Oversee risk assessment and bid/tender reviews for major projects and pursuits.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Strategic planning

Change management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

People development

Education

Engineering degree

Construction Management degree

Business degree

Job description

The General Manager, Ontario Region, is the engine behind the company’s growth, modernization, and market dominance across Ontario. Reporting directly to the President, this executive leader owns the strategic direction, operational performance, and financial success of one of the company’s most critical regions - steering it toward long‑term profitability, scalability, and industry leadership.

This role commands the full Ontario operation, providing high‑level direction across sales, estimating, project delivery, detailing, fabrication, logistics, and installation. With multiple facilities across the province, the GM ensures these functions operate as a synchronized, high‑performance ecosystem capable of delivering exceptional customer outcomes and flawless project execution.

Through a team of senior functional leaders, the GM builds a culture where safety, operational excellence, accountability, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement are non‑negotiable. This leader sets the tone, raises the bar, and drives the discipline required to meet - and exceed -the company’s financial, strategic, and operational objectives.

More than a regional operator, the GM is a transformational force: modernizing processes, elevating capabilities, strengthening commercial performance, and championing cross‑functional alignment. This is the executive who turns strategy into action, action into results, and results into sustained market leadership.

Strategic & Financial Leadership

• Own full P&L accountability for the Ontario region, ensuring targets for revenue, margin, and cash flow are achieved.
• Drive performance against key operational and financial metrics including safety, productivity, on‑time delivery, labour efficiency, quality, profitability and working capital management.
• Develop and execute a strategic growth plan aligned with corporate objectives, including capital investments, market expansion, and operational scalability.
• Establish commercial strategy for the division, gain alignment with senior leadership, and set objectives and milestones for personnel.
• Support identification and development of major capital expenditures, process improvements, and technology initiatives to modernize operations and sustain competitive advantage.
• Direct the annual budgeting and planning process and partner with the executive team to establish long‑range forecasts.

Operational Excellence

• Champion a world‑class safety culture, setting expectations and accountability for zero‑injury performance across all facilities.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of operations and production leaders to deliver on key performance metrics for safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Provide strategic direction to the Director of Operations to oversee plant performance and production planning to ensure optimal utilisation of resources, materials, and equipment.
• Provide strategic direction to the Director of Project Delivery to drive continuous improvements across the project lifecycle, ensuring seamless coordination between detailing workflows, fabrication schedules, and site logistics to maximise on‑time delivery.
• Lead modernisation, automation, and technology integration initiatives across fabrication, detailing, and logistics functions to improve safety, quality, productivity, and scalability.
• Strictly manage cost control and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support the Vice President of Sales to build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, contractors, and design engineers to enhance the company’s reputation and drive repeat business.
• Actively engage in key strategic bid/tender reviews and contract negotiations as required.
• Anticipate customer needs and market trends to proactively adjust operational strategy and capacity planning.
• Ensure appropriate commercial, operational, and contractual risk assessment processes are implemented across major projects and strategic pursuits.

Leadership & People Development

• Foster a culture of accountability, empowerment, and teamwork across all operational sites.
• Define performance expectations and succession plans for direct reports and key operational leaders.
• Provide advice, guidance, mentoring and direction to the greater team toward their professional development.
• Drive talent acquisition, retention, and development strategies to support long‑term organisational capability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or a related discipline preferred.
• 10–15+ years of progressive experience in steel, fabrication, rebar operations, or the construction industry, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven record of P&L management, strategic planning, and operational transformation.
• Strong knowledge of rebar design, fabrication, and installation processes used in major infrastructure, bridge, and building projects preferred.
• Experience operating within unionised manufacturing and/or construction environments is considered an asset.

Core Competencies

• Strategic, results‑driven, and operationally disciplined.
• Strong leadership, exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of the organisation.
• Analytical and decisive; skilled in problem‑solving and continuous improvement.
• Ability to multitask and manage several competing priorities concurrently
• Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency, initiative, and execution discipline in driving operational and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborative, team‑oriented leader who builds trust and drives accountability.
• High integrity, sound judgement, and strong business acumen.