VP Operations

Fish Recruit; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consumer brand in Toronto seeks a Vice President, Operations to lead and expand its multi-market platform. This role requires an experienced leader with a proven track record in multi-unit operations, financial discipline, and a strong guest-centered culture. Responsibilities include overseeing daily operations, ensuring exceptional hospitality standards, driving financial performance, and leading the opening of new locations. The ideal candidate is strategic, possesses strong leadership qualities, and thrives in high-intensity environments.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in multi-unit operations within hospitality or related industries.
• Experience scaling brands across multiple markets.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire and drive accountability.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations ensuring exceptional hospitality.
• Own enterprise-wide financial performance including revenue growth.
• Lead operational launch of new locations ensuring readiness.

Skills

Multi-unit operations experience

Financial and operational discipline

Leadership and coaching skills

Strong communication skills

Strategic thinking

High ownership mentality

Job description

We are partnering with a fast-growing, purpose-driven consumer brand seeking a strategic and execution-oriented Vice President, Operations to help lead the organization through its next decade of expansion. This individual will serve as the CEO’s key partner and operational right hand—responsible for translating vision into scalable systems, world-class hospitality, disciplined financial performance, and a strong, values‑driven culture. This role is ideal for an operator who is energized by growth, comfortable in high‑intensity environments, and ready to build a multi‑market platform designed for long‑term scale.

About the Role

The VP Operations holds full accountability for operational excellence, financial performance, organizational design, and the development of people and processes that enable steady expansion across North American markets. This executive will oversee all existing locations, ensuring consistent guest experience, strong unit‑level P&Ls, and high‑performing teams. They will drive the rollout of new sites, refine the operational architecture of the business, and ensure the organization remains disciplined, aligned, and capable of delivering on its long‑term growth strategy.

This role has a clear succession pathway and the potential to step into an even more senior leadership position as the brand continues to accelerate.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Guest Experience

• Oversee day‑to‑day operations for all current locations, ensuring exceptional hospitality and consistency across markets.
• Optimize SOPs, playbooks, training programs, labour models, and operational systems to support scale.
• Strengthen guest feedback loops (surveys, NPS, interviews) and lead customer‑experience improvements.

Ensure each location meets performance expectations while maintaining a culture of service excellence.

Financial Leadership

• Own enterprise‑wide financial performance, including revenue growth, margin expansion, and cost discipline.
• Build and maintain dashboards, KPIs, and systems that link operational decisions to financial outcomes.
• Oversee enterprise cash flow, working capital, and capital allocation decisions related to expansion, hiring, and technology.

Drive consistent unit‑level profitability to fuel growth through internal reinvestment.

Business Architecture & Organizational Design

• Evolve the organizational structure to match growth stages and strategic needs.
• Identify talent gaps, develop hiring plans, and lead recruitment for key leadership and operational roles.

Partner with HR and leadership on performance management cycles to ensure clarity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Culture & Leadership

• Champion a culture rooted in growth mindset, connection, and creating extraordinary experiences.
• Establish a high‑accountability environment where feedback is frequent, honest, and actionable.
• Build a leadership pipeline and development programs that prepare employees for long‑term career growth.

Act as a coach, culture‑builder, and operator, balancing empathy with high expectations.

Expansion & New Market Rollouts

• Lead the operational launch of new locations, including staffing, training, systems readiness, and opening execution.
• Partner with project teams to ensure a seamless transition from construction to operations.

Develop a repeatable, efficient opening model that maintains brand quality as expansion accelerates.

Construction, Legal & Administrative Oversight

• Oversee construction timelines, budgets, and accountability for all new and renovated locations.
• Manage operational legal processes such as leases, compliance, and risk management.

Ensure safety, insurance, and crisis‑response frameworks are well defined and consistently applied.

Governance & Operating Rhythm

• Establish communication cadences, meeting structures, and cross‑functional alignment mechanisms.
• Remove operational roadblocks and ensure leadership teams remain focused on key priorities.

Continuously refine company systems, processes, and workflows to support current and future growth.

Early Focus Areas (First 12–18 Months)

• Develop a deep understanding of operations across all locations.
• Lead the successful opening of new locations in major markets, ensuring readiness and strong early performance.
• Refine the organizational structure to support the next phase of growth.
• Translate high‑level strategic and financial goals into clear KPIs adopted across the workforce.

Gradually transition the CEO out of day‑to‑day operations to focus on long‑term vision and brand experience.

Key Qualifications

• Proven track record in multi‑unit operations within hospitality, fitness, retail, consumer services, or similar experience‑driven industries.
• Experience scaling brands across multiple markets with strong financial and operational discipline.
• Demonstrated success overseeing P&Ls, cash flow, and investment decisions.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire, coach, and drive accountability.
• Deep experience opening and scaling new units while maintaining consistent customer experience.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to move fluidly between high‑level vision and detailed execution.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to align teams and mobilize a diverse workforce.
• High ownership mentality with comfort operating in fast‑paced, high‑growth environments.
• Willingness to spend meaningful time on the front lines to deeply understand the business.

Ability to travel as needed to support new market launches and operational excellence.

Working Style

• High‑intensity, high‑ownership leadership style.
• Combination of remote strategic work and in‑person leadership at locations.
• Significant early immersion into the operational floors of current units.

Flexibility and resilience as the organization grows into new markets.