Director of Operations

Reliance Foundry Co. Ltd.; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative company is seeking a strategic Director of Operations to lead their warehouse and supply chain teams. This role is crucial for ensuring timely and efficient product delivery while driving continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a passion for process optimization, and a proven track record in operations management. Join a dynamic team committed to excellence and sustainability, where your contributions will significantly impact the company's growth and success over the next five years.

Benefits

3 weeks vacation

Extended health benefits

RRSP after probation

Qualifications

• 10+ years in operations leadership within manufacturing or distribution.
• Experience in scaling systems and processes in high growth organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach operational teams to enhance performance and efficiency.
• Develop and implement operational plans aligned with company strategy.

Skills

Leadership

People Management

Problem Solving

Strategic Planning

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

NetSuite

Lean

Six Sigma

Job description

Location: Surrey, BC | On-site with hybrid flexibility

About Reliance Foundry

Company Overview:

Since 1925, Reliance Foundry has been proudly serving the local community and delivering high quality site furnishings to municipalities and companies across various industries. Our quality products transform spaces into inviting and safe areas. Whether it’s our stylish benches adding comfort and charm to a park, our durable bollards keeping pedestrians safe, or, our large variety of bike racks facilitating accessible cyclist access, we are proud to enhance surroundings and ‘make places people want to be’.

We are a B.C. Company with a warehouse and offices in Surrey, who does the bulk of our casting and manufacturing abroad. Sustainability is central to what we do. We are passionate about developing long lasting and eco-friendly products that look great and contribute to a cleaner and greener planet. We love to create exceptional public spaces that leave a lasting impact on our communities.

We serve our global customer base with a product line of contemporary site furnishings, castings products and increasingly offer a range of inventive Tech solutions coupled with our core product lines. We are a small yet ambitious e-commerce company where our mission is to revolutionize the way installers and consumers access and utilize our products, ensuring quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction at every turn.

Reliance Foundry is a dynamic growing company with a bright future that focuses on providing our customers and staff with the best possible experience we can offer.

As a company we invest in our employees, are proud of our diversity, believing it makes us stronger. Our current team come from over a dozen different countries: we are all different ages, faiths and beliefs. It is our belief our people are our greatest assets.

We are now looking to enhance our team by adding a talented individual to lead the Operations team someone who shares our passion in working towards a common mission.

This is initially a predominantly on-site position with some flexibility to transition to limited office-based hybrid after probation.

Job Brief:

Reliance Foundry is an innovation-driven manufacturer with a legacy of operational excellence and a bold outlook for the future. For 100 years we have designed, produced, and supported a wide range of products which we distribute and are seen around the world.

With such a long history we carry with us a legacy of being able to adapt and continually reinvent ourselves as we evolve into the future, expanding into new markets and embracing new methods of production.

Due to retirement, we are seeking an inspiring Director of Operations to lead our warehouse and supply chain teams into our next future. It is an exciting time in our long history as the company evolves again and enacts its plans to grow significantly over the next 5 years.

Our new Director of Operations will ideally suit someone who has experience, in developing scalable systems, is an excellent problem solver and has managed rapid growth in their past.

Our supply chain and warehouse teams are currently staffed by experienced high performing people who require a leader who can mentor and shape them, providing a guiding hand. Your can-do coach approach will help them craft solutions to complex supply chain and shipping problems as the company navigates current market conditions and its rapid expansion.

About the Role

We’re looking for a strategic yet grounded Director of Operations to drive excellence across our warehouse, fulfillment, and supply chain operations. This role is vital to ensuring our products are delivered on-time, on-spec, and with maximum efficiency. If you’re driven by continuous improvement and leading empowered teams, this role offers you scope and impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and coach a team of operational managers and employees, providing guidance and support
• Effective people management. Leadership style of ‘leader as supporter’.

Communication and Collaboration

• Effectively communicate operational plans, updates, and issues to relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate across teams and with the organization to ensure operational excellence and efficiency.

Strategic Planning and Implementation

• Working collaboratively with the senior leadership team, develop and implement operational plans that align with the company’s overall strategy and goals.

Process Improvement

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall performance.

Department Management

• Oversee and manage the warehouse, logistics and supply chain teams.
• Oversee warehousing, inventory control, and order fulfillment activities.

Resource allocation and Budget Management

• Manage and allocate resources effectively, including budget, personnel, and equipment
• Manage global supply chain relationships, including inventory planning and vendor performance
• Contribute to budgeting, cost management, and departmental performance

Performance monitoring and analysis

• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and analyze operational data to identify areas for improvement
• Lead the operations team in achieving on-time delivery (OTD), cost control, and service metrics
• Own and improve Operations ERP workflows (NetSuite) to enhance efficiency and visibility
• Develop operational KPIs, dashboards, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Conduct supplier audits and support quality assurance for sourced goods
• Implement and sustain operational excellence tools (e.g., Lean, 5S, value stream mapping)

Problem Solving

• Address and resolve operational issues and challenges in a timely and effective manner
• Identify and mitigate potential operational risks

What You Bring

• Strong Leadership and People Management Skills:
  • 10+ years in operations leadership within manufacturing and/or distribution
  • ‘Coach approach’ with high emotional intelligence and ‘leader as supporter’ management philosophy
  • Calm, people-centered leadership style with a passion for process and results
  • Proven skills with the ability to inspire and motivate teams, communicate effectively, and build relationships with stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated success leading multi-talented teams.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Strong grasp of global logistics, supply chain strategy, and vendor management.
  • Experience in scaling systems and processes within high growth organizations
  • Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement frameworks
  • Experience with ERP systems (NetSuite a strong asset) and process automation
• Project Management Skills:
  • The ability to plan, execute, and manage projects effectively, including budgeting, scheduling, and risk management.
• Strategic Thinking:
  • The ability to think strategically and make informed decisions that align with the company’s long-term goals.
• Analytical Skills:
  • The ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Problem-Solving Skills:
  • The ability to identify and solve complex problems

Vacation: 3 weeks

Benefits: Extended health and RRSP after probation