Sr. Manager Operations, Field Readiness & Standards

UFA Limited; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

UFA Limited in Calgary, AB seeks a Sr. Manager Operations, Field Readiness & Standards to lead across multiple field locations, driving safety, efficiency and customer service excellence.

The role entails overseeing audits, budgeting, asset protection, and team development while aligning with strategic plans and merchandising initiatives. This senior position requires 10+ years in operational leadership and deep hands-on experience in inventory and safety programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or commerce or equivalent
• 10+ years of leadership in customer-focused operations
• Strong knowledge of Sales, Gross Margin, and Inventory Management
• Experience leading high-performance teams with coaching
• Inventory management, loss prevention, and replenishment expertise
• Strong safety compliance experience and programs
• Change management and transition leadership
• Measurable objectives setting and coaching
• Excellent organization and multi-priority handling
• Proficiency with MS Office and SAP
• Safety-sensitive role requiring pre-employment drug/alcohol screening

Responsibilities

• Ensure operational standards across field locations
• Drive continuous improvement to simplify work and reduce waste
• Lead audits and action plans
• Budgeting collaboration and regional strategy input
• Support merchandising initiatives with central team
• Build high-performance teams to hit ROIC targets
• Coach teams and drive safety culture across sites
• Oversee inventory accuracy, loss prevention, and asset safeguarding
• Guide agents and site managers on operational plans
• Collaborate with sales and service to deliver products efficiently
• Ensure policy compliance and regulatory adherence
• Manage contracts with Agents and reimbursement processes
• Provide leadership to field operations and professional development
• Represent UFA at community events and industry forums

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Operations Mgmt

SAP

Safety compliance

Analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/commerce

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SAP

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Sr. Manager Operations, Field Readiness & Standards

Location:
Calgary, AB, CA, T3E 6L1

Position Summary:

The Sr. Manager Operations, Field Readiness & Standards is a key contributor to UFA’s operational success, working closely with Regional Managers, Agents, Site Managers, and Field Operations across a geographically dispersed region. This role is responsible for implementing and sustaining operational excellence through safe practices, optimizing efficiencies, protecting UFA assets, and ensuring the highest levels of customer service.

The Sr. Manager Operations, Field Readiness & Standards facilitates the execution of strategic business plans, supports financial and operational objectives, and fosters collaboration across teams. This role also holds accountability for managing network service expenses, ensuring appropriate cost allocation, and overseeing agent reimbursement for service-related expenses. Directly overseeing a team of business professions providing leadership, support, and performance management.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Excellence

• Ensure operational standards ("Golden Rules") are consistently applied across all field locations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that simplify work, reduce waste, and improve operational effectiveness.
• Lead operational audits and corrective action planning.
• Partner with Operations leadership on budgeting, including setting sales and profit targets. Provide insight to help shape regional strategy and deliver accurate financial forecasts.
• Support the development and execution of UFA’s strategic and operational business plans, including merchandising initiatives in collaboration with the centralized merchandising team.
• Build and maintain high-performance teams that deliver on ROIC targets by maximizing efficiency and returns from both operating assets and human resources.
• Champion a culture of safety by coaching teams, conducting audits, and leading continuous improvement initiatives across all sites.
• Oversee inventory management to ensure compliance with UFA’s standards for accuracy, loss prevention, and safeguarding of assets.
• Guide and support Agents and Site Managers in creating, updating, and executing operational strategies and local business plans.
• Collaborate with sales and service teams to ensure destination products and services are delivered with precision, speed, and consistency.
• Ensure adherence to all company policies, industry best practices, and federal/provincial regulations. Promote compliance and accountability at all levels.
• Manage and maintain contractual agreements with Agents and oversee the Agent relationship to ensure alignment with UFA’s operational and strategic objectives.
• Accountable for the management of network service expenses, including ensuring accurate tracking, allocation, and control of associated costs.
• Manage and approve reimbursement processes for Agents’ service-related expenses in accordance with UFA guidelines and contractual agreements.
• Provide direct leadership with the field operations team, including setting clear goals, monitoring performance, and supporting professional development.
• Represent UFA at community events, industry functions, and co-operative initiatives to promote brand presence and community engagement.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business or commerce. Majoring in business management, analytics, finance, operations management, or equivalent experience in progressively senior leadership roles.
• 10+ years of leadership experience in operational roles within customer-focused environments.
• Strong operational knowledge in Sales, Gross Margin, and Inventory Management processes; background in Agriculture or Downstream Fuel is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-performance teams using accountability, metrics, and coaching to drive business outcomes.
• Proven expertise in inventory management, loss prevention, and replenishment strategies.
• Strong safety compliance experience, including certification, monitoring, and improvement programs.
• Experience with change management and leading through transition effectively.
• Skilled in setting measurable objectives and using coaching to support team success.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and SAP.
• This is a safety-sensitive role. Candidates must pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening as a condition of employment, as work will involve UFA facilities and material handling equipment.

You and UFA. Let’s Grow Together.

UFA is one of Canada’s largest and most progressive agricultural co-operatives. We’re a multi-billion-dollar organization that offers the products, services, and support our 127,000+ members need to build, grow and succeed. While our roots will always be in agriculture, we’re proud to support the industries and communities that drive Western Canada’s economy. We need your skills, expertise and ideas to help us keep growing.

• A Business with a Purpose - Join a member-owned co-operative with a mission that matters: improving the well-being of our members, helping them feed the world, and enabling investment in local communities.
• Recognized and Rewarded for Your Performance - At UFA, success is shared. You’ll own your work and be recognized for both individual and organizational results.
• Work-Life Success - We prioritize safety, respect your time, and offer flexible options and comprehensive benefits to support your life inside and outside of work.
• We Help Each Other Grow - Our collaborative culture fosters growth through hands-on experience, mentorship, training, educational support, and diverse career paths.

Diversity Equity, and Belonging

At UFA, we care about our employees and what makes them unique. We strive to create an inclusive environment that welcomes employees from diverse backgrounds, where everyone can do their best work. If you require accommodation during the application or selection process, please contact [e-mail] .

Stay Connected

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.