Interim General Manager - Food Manufacturing

xNorth; Toronto; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

xNorth in the Greater Toronto Area is seeking an Interim General Manager to take full ownership of our food manufacturing site. This hands-on leadership role requires on-site presence to drive rapid improvements.

You will oversee Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, HR, and HSE, and report progress, risks, and results to corporate leadership. The assignment focuses on safety, quality, productivity, service, and cost, with a structured transformation program

Qualifications

• Seasoned manufacturing leader with P&L responsibility.
• Experience across safety, quality, productivity, and cost improvements.
• Hands-on, data-driven, execution-focused leadership.
• Prior interim or transformation leadership is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Assume full operational and P&L responsibility for the manufacturing site.
• Lead operations, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, maintenance, engineering, HR, and HSE on site.
• Drive performance improvements across safety, quality, productivity, service, and cost.
• Assess current operating model and identify gaps and improvement levers.
• Implement structured management routines, KPIs, and reviews.
• Improve production planning, reliability, and execution.
• Strengthen the site leadership team through coaching and clear priorities.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide reporting to corporate leadership on progress, risks, and results.

Job description

Interim General Manager - Food Manufacturing

Interim General Manager – Food Manufacturing

Duration: 12 months

Context

We are supporting a mid-size manufacturing operation based in the Greater Toronto Area employing approximately 500 employees. The site is operating but facing performance, efficiency, and execution challenges and is entering a phase where stronger operational leadership is required to elevate results.

The company is seeking an Interim General Manager to take full ownership of site operations and lead a structured performance-improvement mandate. The objective is to strengthen execution discipline, improve operational metrics, and support the leadership team in delivering sustainable results across safety, quality, productivity, service, and cost.

This is a hands‑on operational leadership mandate, requiring a strong on‑site presence and rapid impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Assume full operational and P&L responsibility for the manufacturing site
• Lead all on‑site functions including Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, HR, and HSE
• Drive performance improvement initiatives across safety, quality, productivity, service levels, and cost
• Assess current operating model, processes, and performance drivers; identify gaps and improvement levers
• Implement structured management routines, KPIs, and performance review mechanisms
• Improve production planning, operational reliability, and execution consistency
• Strengthen the site leadership team through coaching, accountability, and clear priorities
• Ensure compliance with health & safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
• Act as the primary interface with corporate leadership, providing clear reporting on progress, risks, and results

Profile

• Senior manufacturing leader with experience as a General Manager, Plant Manager, or Operations Director / VP
• Strong background in manufacturing environments (industrial, consumer goods, food, or process manufacturing)
• Proven experience leading mid‑to‑large manufacturing sites (500–1000 employees)
• Track record in performance improvement, operational excellence, or transformation mandates
• Hands‑on, pragmatic leader with strong shop‑floor credibility
• Structured, data‑driven, and execution‑focused leadership style
• Comfortable taking ownership quickly and driving measurable improvement
• Previous interim or transformation leadership experience is a strong asset