Senior vice president - operations

HeadSource International; Barrie; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading operations consulting firm is seeking a Senior Vice President, Operations to lead an extensive operations portfolio. This position involves overseeing supply chain, procurement, logistics, and quality assurance while driving operational excellence and strategic growth. The ideal candidate presents 10-15 years of senior leadership experience, preferably in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods. Strong expertise in procurement and facility expansion is essential, along with a focus on leading high-performance teams. This role offers a hybrid work model and significant leadership opportunities.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years of progressive senior operations leadership experience in manufacturing, supply chain, or related fields.
• Experience in food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or pet product/food industries preferred.
• Proven track record of leading multi-site operations and facility expansion projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational excellence initiatives across supply chain, procurement, logistics, and quality management.
• Oversee development and execution of facility expansion and scale-up plans.
• Manage supply chain and procurement processes to optimize costs and maintain inventory.
• Implement scalable logistics strategies and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Skills

Strategic leadership and organizational management

Supply chain optimization and operational scale-up

Manufacturing and production management

Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management

Quality and regulatory compliance (HACCP, GFSI, CFIA or equivalent)

Financial and analytical acumen

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or related discipline

MBA preferred

Job description

Senior Vice President, Operations

Reports To: President or Chief Executive Officer
Location: Hybrid/Remote (occasional on-site visits as required)
Employment Type: Full-time

Position Summary

The Senior Vice President, Operations will lead an integrated operations portfolio including Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, Warehousing, Manufacturing, and Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance. This high-impact leadership role is responsible for building operational excellence, scalability, and efficiency as the organization expands to new production facilities and markets. Reporting directly to the President/CEO, the SVP provides leadership and oversight to operations executives and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment, cost optimization, and continuity of supply. This position collaborates closely with Finance, Sales, R&D, and Marketing to support strategic growth and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership and Strategy

• Provide enterprise-wide leadership across core operational domains: supply chain, procurement, logistics, warehousing, quality assurance/regulatory, and manufacturing.
• Lead long-range planning, operational scale-up, and capital investment prioritization.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration to deliver productivity, cost, safety, and quality targets.
• Oversee manufacturing leadership to ensure achievement of margin, efficiency, and output goals.

Facility Expansion and Scale-Up

• Develop and execute the expansion roadmap for new manufacturing or production facilities.
• Lead location planning, capacity modeling, CAPEX budgeting, and vendor selection.
• Oversee commissioning, equipment validation, facility build-out, and workforce planning.
• Ensure operational ramp-up aligns with safety, quality, and commercial objectives.

Supply Chain and Procurement

• Direct demand and supply planning to maintain optimal inventory and service levels.
• Oversee procurement of raw materials and packaging, including supplier negotiation and cost control.
• Build a resilient, sustainable supply chain with strong risk mitigation and traceability frameworks.

Logistics, Warehousing, and Fulfillment

• Lead design and execution of warehousing and order fulfillment strategies across sales channels.
• Manage third-party logistics (3PL) providers, freight cost optimization, and service level agreements.
• Implement scalable logistics systems to improve efficiency and real-time visibility.

Quality Assurance, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure adherence to regulatory standards such as CFIA, HACCP, and GFSI (or equivalent frameworks).
• Maintain and continuously improve a comprehensive Quality Management System.
• Promote a proactive safety culture and ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.
• Partner with the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) or equivalent body to enhance safety practices.

Leadership and Team Development

• Build and develop a high-performing operations leadership team with a focus on accountability and engagement.
• Collaborate with executive peers on organizational strategy, resource allocation, and growth planning.
• Establish, track, and report on operational KPIs to drive business performance and decision-making.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Strategic leadership and organizational management
• Supply chain optimization and operational scale-up
• Manufacturing and production management
• Large-scale capital project planning and execution
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management
• Quality and regulatory compliance (HACCP, GFSI, CFIA or equivalent)
• Logistics and fulfillment operations
• Risk management and workplace safety leadership
• Financial and analytical acumenl
• Data-driven decision making
• Change and transformation leadership
• Executive-level communication and presentation

Core Competencies

• Strategic and critical thinking
• Operational excellence and continuous improvement
• Leadership and people development
• Financial and business acumen
• Regulatory and compliance expertise
• Project management and delivery
• Risk mitigation and safety management
• Customer and quality focus

Education and Experience

• 10-15 years of progressive senior operations leadership experience in manufacturing, supply chain, or related fields.
• Experience in food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or pet product/food industries preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or related discipline (MBA preferred).
• Proven track record of leading multi-site operations and facility expansion projects.
• Strong expertise in procurement, ERP systems, and logistics technology platforms.
• Demonstrated success in building and mentoring high-performing teams.
• Bonus: Experience in natural, sustainable, or premium product categories.