Vice President, Operations - GTA

Sofina Foods Inc.; Ontario; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sofina Foods Inc. is seeking a Vice President of Operations to oversee manufacturing operations. This role involves leading a high-performing team, ensuring operational excellence, and fostering a safe work environment while managing relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in plant operations and a strong leadership background in the food manufacturing sector.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of diverse plant operations knowledge and previous plant leadership.
• Food manufacturing industry experience desired.
• Experience in a unionized environment and managing grievances.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing to achieve best-in-class operational excellence.
• Build a high performing manufacturing organization.
• Foster a safe working environment and ensure compliance with OHS standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Critical Thinking

Collaboration

Business Acumen

Education

Degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

Posted Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 4:00 AM

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Vice President, Operations will have full responsibility for the manufacturing operations of Sofina Foods. Together, working closely with supply chain, engineering, human resources, quality and food safety. The VP, Operations will contribute to Sofina realizing its’ operational goals.

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead manufacturing to achieve best-in-class operational excellence;
• Communicate the plant and operations vision, translate it into practicable, tactical actions, and effectively deploy the operations team against those activities;
• Build a high performing manufacturing organization; attract, develop, and retain the best talent possible within the function and throughout the organization;
• Introduce greater visibility to results inclusive of KPIs and broader manufacturing analytics to measure performance against commitments and actively use results to redirect resources as required;
• Actively partner with strategic suppliers to ensure two-way, collaborative relationships that deliver greater levels of innovation and operational competitive advantage than could be achieved independently;
• Partner in the innovation process, injecting analytics to improve product life cycle management and new product introduction;
• Foster a safe working environment through the development of strategies focused on accident reduction as well as energy and waste minimization. Ensures compliance to all OHS and environmental regulatory and corporate standards. Oversee in depth root cause analysis of any non-compliance, and effective and timely implementation of corrective and preventative measures;
• Promote a culture of best-in-class preventative Maintenance programs, focusing on reliability improvement and capital reinvestment as required;
• Build strong partnerships and establish credibility with the internal team, building respect based upon demonstrated leadership skills and functional excellence. Seek expertise of Internal stakeholders as appropriate;
• Foster an environment that supports the key company values and beliefs;
• Ability to manage effectively in a complex Union-Management environment. Promote a collaborative employee and labour relations environment, building positive relationships with Union representatives.

Requirements:

• Degree in Engineering or related field;
• Minimum 7 years of Diverse Plant operations knowledge acquired through comprehensive related experience, with previous Plant leadership;
• Food Manufacturing industry experience is desired;
• Demonstrated people management and development capability and proven success in leading and inspiring teams to excel;
• TPM experience (AM/PM/FI) is desired;
• Prior experience in a unionized environment. Demonstrated experience in managing grievances and contract negotiations is a must.
• Prior Operations Management experience as a Plant Manager is critical. An active “floor presence” mentality is necessary.
• Experience with development and deployment of Continuous Improvement principles and programs;
• Exceptional communication skills including experience engaging with DEI initiatives, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of a matrix organization;
• Critical thinker with the ability to apply strategic practices, ensuring execution and delivering results while respecting corporate values;
• Strong business acumen coupled with an ability to translate business strategy into practical application;
• Collaborative/entrepreneurial leadership mindset with demonstrated ability to lead change and drive sustained business results.

#SMARK

Sofina Foods Inc. is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (‘AODA’). Applicants are asked to make their needs/requirements , for the purpose of accommodation under AODA, known to Human Resources when they are contacted for an interview.