Operations Program Manager

Industrial Electric Manufacturing; Surrey; Remote; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

IEM is seeking an experienced Operations Program Manager to lead end-to-end lifecycle of highly configured commercial and industrial product lines. You will own the backlog, drive cross-functional alignment from conception through sales, build, test, and quality assurance.

The role reports to the Director of Planning and is based in Surrey, BC or Jacksonville, FL, with up to 25% international travel. Strong program management discipline and process leadership are essential to success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Operations, Business Management, or a related field.
• 5-10 years of program management operations in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of product lifecycle processes and complex hardware manufacturing workflows.
• Strong understanding of cross-functional business operations (engineering, supply chain, production, quality).
• Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with highly customized or made-to-order products is highly desirable.
• Basic experience with ERP/MRP systems and backlog management tools.
• PMP certification preferred, but not required.
• Familiarity with low and medium voltage, industrial-sized equipment technologies is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Own the backlog and drive execution across engineering, supply chain, production, and customer interface.
• Coordinate across sales, engineering, supply chain, production, and finance for smooth handoffs and execution.
• Track engineering deliverables, drawings, and change management to meet project milestones.
• Monitor procurement of critical components and mitigate supply chain delays.
• Coordinate production planning to align project demand with capacity and resources.
• Establish schedules, status reports, and dashboards for stakeholders and customers.
• Serve as point of contact for project updates, change requests, and issue resolution.
• Identify risks and lead mitigation for technical, supply, capacity, and commercial aspects.
• Contribute to standardized project management practices and templates.
• Act as single point of contact for low voltage and medium voltage inquiries.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional coordination

Communication

Problem-solving

ERP/MRP

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Operations, Business Management, or related field

PMP certification preferred

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

At IEM, we’re not just building innovative electrical distribution systems, we’re shaping the future. IEM is dedicated to delivering world-class solutions for complex power needs. After 75 years, we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting out, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, grow, and make a lasting impact on industries that power the world’s most dynamic markets.

Position Summary:

IEM is seeking an experienced and proactive Operations Program Manager to lead and manage the end-to-end lifecycle of our highly configured, commercial and industrial product lines. This role will own the backlog and execution of complex, custom manufacturing requests, driving cross-functional alignment from conception through sales, build, test, and quality assurance.
The ideal candidate will bring strong program management discipline, operational rigor, and process leadership to help define, implement, and continuously improve a structured approach for handling specialized manufacturing projects.

The Operations Program Manager role will be based out of our Surrey, B.C. or Jacksonville, FL locations and will report to our Director of Planning. This position will require up to 25% international travel - a current passport is required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Project Leadership: Serve as the primary owner of assigned strategic accounts or projects, driving execution across engineering, supply chain, production, and customer interface.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Facilitate alignment between sales, engineering, supply chain, production, and finance to ensure smooth hand and execution.
• Engineering Oversight: Track engineering deliverables, drawing releases, and change management to meet project milestones.
• Supply Chain & Long-Lead Materials: Monitor procurement of critical components, anticipate risks, and mitigate supply chain delays.
• Capacity & Production Planning: Coordinate with operations teams to align project demand with production capacity and resources.
• Project Tracking & Reporting: Establish and maintain detailed schedules, status reports, and dashboards for internal stakeholders and customers.
• Customer Interface: Act as point of contact for project updates, change requests, and issue resolution, ensuring a positive customer experience.
• Risk Management: Identify risks (technical, supply, capacity, commercial) and lead mitigation planning to protect project commitments.
• Process Improvement: Contribute to standardizing project management practices, tools, and templates across strategic/custom projects.
• Quality: Single point of contact for low voltage and medium voltage

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Operations, Business Management, or a related field
• 5-10 years of experience in program management operations in a manufacturing environment
• Strong knowledge of product lifecycle processes and complex hardware manufacturing workflows
• Strong understanding of cross-functional business operations (engineering, supply chain, production, quality).
• Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Experience working with highly customized or made-to-order products is highly desirable
• Demonstrated career ambition with a track record of growth and increasing responsibility; highly promotable with the potential to take on broader leadership roles within a fast-paced, high-growth organization
• Basic experience with ERP/MRP systems and backlog management tools
• PMP certification preferred, but not required
• Familiarity with low and medium voltage, industrial-sized equipment technologies is a strong plus

Workplace Conditions:

Physical Demands

• Lifting: Up to 50 lbs
• Vision: Being coachable, curious and have a strong bias for action

Mental Demands – Can manage stress and tight deadlines

Compensation actually offered for this role will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

Why Join IEM

At IEM, you’ll join a team that powers some of the world’s most ambitious projects. We’re engineers, makers, and problem-solvers who thrive on tackling complex challenges and delivering solutions that keep industries moving forward. If you’re driven, collaborative, and ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you. Your creativity and passion can help us achieve great things—come be part of the journey.

We offer comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees' well-being, growth, and long-term success. View a snapshot of our benefits at https://www.iemfg.com/careers

Non-Discrimination Statement

IEM does not discriminate against any applicant based on any characteristic protected by law.

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Use of AI

At IEM, we are committed to a fair and transparent hiring process. Use the link below to view how we use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to assist in reviewing job applications and your rights as an applicant.