Vice President, Business Services & Sustainability

ProFound Talent Inc.; St. Albert; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

ProFound Talent Inc. is seeking a Vice President, Business Services & Sustainability for Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries. This leadership role reports to the President and involves overseeing strategic initiatives, managing diverse teams, and ensuring operational excellence in alignment with Al-Pac’s mission and values. The ideal candidate will possess significant leadership experience, a robust understanding of the manufacturing sector, and a commitment to sustainability and community relations.

Benefits

Excellent compensation package

Flexibility in work schedule

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years’ progressive leadership experience in manufacturing or similar industries.
• Ability to lead complex divisions and manage diverse stakeholder contexts.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for effective collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives for the Business Services & Sustainability division.
• Manage cross-functional teams focusing on operational excellence and innovation.
• Oversee Indigenous and Government Relations strategy development and execution.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Stakeholder Management

Innovation

Risk Management

Education

Post-secondary degree in business or a related field

MBA or equivalent advanced degree

Job description

ALBERTA-PACIFIC FOREST INDUSTRIES

THE ORGANIZATION

Our client, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. (Al-Pac), is a leading manufacturer of quality kraft pulp, with an annual production of about 640,000 tonnes. Since beginning operations in 1993, Al-Pac has taken pride in achieving excellence in manufacturing a high-quality product for customers and environmental performance. Al-Pac continuously invests in new technology and science to remain among the most environmentally responsible and competitive forest companies in the world.

Quality goes beyond their products at Al-Pac. It’s about their people, values, and business ethics. They strive to be an industry leader in everything they do, from operations and how they work with their communities to the way they develop their team members and manage the forest. Al-Pac is always investing in new and innovative ideas while also delivering premium products in an environmentally sustainable way.

For further information on Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries, please visit their website at www.alpac.ca.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the President, the Vice President, Business Services & Sustainability (VP, BSS) leads a division with focus on cross-functional alignment, operational excellence, and the successful execution of enterprise-level strategies. The VP, in collaboration with Al-Pac’s executive team (SLT), provides strategic leadership and oversight, driving the achievement of the Al-Pac’s long-term vision and strategic objectives, while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, ensuring that Al-Pac remains competitive and sustainable in an evolving market.

The Vice President, Business Services & Sustainability will join an established, engaged, and well-aligned team and will be an instrumental sponsor to the strategic direction and support to the Business Services & Sustainability division. With a team of four direct reports (i.e. Director Human Resources, Director Indigenous Relations, Director Stakeholder Relations & Sustainability, and Director Health, Safety & Security) and approximately 70 indirect reports of both permanent and non-permanent team members, the Vice President, Business Services & Sustainability will focus on optimizing enterprise-wide functions to ensure efficient, scalable and customer service focused delivery of support services.

OPERATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Strategic Leadership
• Enterprise Oversight & Resource Management
• Innovation & Risk Management
• Operational Excellence
• People Leadership
• Human Resources
• Indigenous Relations
• Stakeholder Relations & Sustainability
• Health, Safety & Security

For a complete position description please visit: Vice President, Business Services & Sustainability - ProFound Talent

FIRST YEAR – MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• Develop and execute a robust Indigenous and Government Relations strategy, delivering clear, measurable progress on engagement initiatives, partnerships, and advocacy priorities.
• Strengthen and advance the performance and cohesion of key functional teams — including Human Resources and Health, Safety & Security — by maintaining operational momentum and supporting continuous improvement.
• Establish a trusted leadership presence across the organization, building strong, respectful relationships at all levels while aligning with Al-Pac’s culture, values, and vision.

THE INDIVIDUAL

Given the pivotal role this individual will be expected to play in achieving the strategic objectives of the company and in supporting the success of the organization, it is essential that the successful candidate possess the following core competencies, experience, and attributes:

Education

• Post-secondary degree in business or a related field. MBA or equivalent advanced degree considered an asset.

Experience

• Minimum 15 years’ progressive leadership experience, demonstrating the ability to lead complex divisions or business functions, preferably within the manufacturing, forestry industry, mining or oil & gas.
• Experience interpreting strategy and policy to set and deliver objectives over long time frames (up to 10 years)
• Demonstrated outcomes in cost improvement, management through continuous improvement, process improvement, lean methodologies, and innovation.
• Experience in a unionized environment would be an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a company through a diversified change and transformation while overcoming adversity and working with different cultures and personalities from stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to make tough decisions in the best interest of the company.
• Demonstrated ability with structured problem-solving methods preferable. A positive track-record of values-based leadership and relationship building.
• An inclusive leader who is supportive firm and fair.
• A mature, deliberate, transparent leadership style.
• Familiarity and comfort managing diverse stakeholder relationships with a high level of energy and perseverance.
• Well regarded for maintaining positive relationships with key strategic external customers.
• Flexible and agile leader; readily adaptable to macro and micro business environment changes; and comfortable working with a high level of autonomy.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of risk management practices, enterprise governance, and compliance requirements.
• In-depth knowledge of industry trends, market conditions, and competitive landscapes relevant to Al-Pac’s core business areas.
• Strong expertise in strategic planning, including analyzing complex environments, setting long-term objectives, and developing actionable plans to achieve organizational goals while adapting to evolving market and societal conditions.
• Understanding of budgeting and financial processes, including forecasting, resource allocation, and performance metrics.
• Familiarity with change management methodologies, innovation processes, and continuous improvement frameworks.
• Knowledge of relevant safety regulations, compliance requirements, and best practices in workplace safety.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a track record of effective stakeholder management and collaboration.
• Ability to foster innovation and drive continuous improvement in dynamic, high-performance environments.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate potential resolutions or strategies in a clear and compelling manner to address specific challenges or meet organizational needs.

COMPENSATION

An excellent compensation package awaits the successful candidate.

LOCATION

St. Albert or Athabasca, AB area (Al-Pac mill site)

TRAVEL

This role will require regular weekly travel between the corporate office and Al-Pac’s mill site in Athabasca, as well as throughout Northern Alberta to build and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, particularly the Indigenous communities within the company’s operating areas. Travel will be more frequent initially as foundational relationships are established and nurtured.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Al-Pac’s professional staff typically work a Monday to Thursday schedule from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will have the flexibility of this schedule while also being expected to meet the demands of the role as needed.

HOW TO APPLY

For the opportunity to join Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. in the role of Vice President, Business Services & Sustainability please email your resume to [e-mail] referencing Position ID # ASBC-303546.

Should you have an inquiry regarding this position, please contact Terri Davis at 587-200-0114 x.101 or Tammy Berge at 587-200-0114 ext. 103. For further information on ProFound Talent Inc. please visit: www.profoundtalent.com.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

ProFound Talent is a woman owned and operated business, recognized and certified by Women Business Enterprise (WBE). We pride ourselves in supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in our recruitment processes and in our work environment, where every individual feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals to which you may confidentially share your accommodation needs at time of application. We will adjust our processes to ensure you have an inclusive, fair, and respectful experience that allows you to represent yourself in your unique and most authentic way.

* We thank all applicants for your submissions, however only candidates being considered for this role will be contacted. *