Director of Operations (Business & Operational Excellence)

PORTA; Scarborough; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

PORTA is seeking a results-oriented Director of Operations to optimize manufacturing processes and drive operational excellence. This role involves strategic planning, compliance with food safety standards, and leading a team towards continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will have extensive leadership experience in food manufacturing, embodying a visionary approach to both operations and team development.

Benefits

Competitive Pay

Benefits Program

Free Italian Food!

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years of experience in operations leadership in food manufacturing or CPG.
• 5+ years at a senior leadership level.
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic planning and business optimization.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, GMP, and CFIA standards.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing principles for process efficiency.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Operational Excellence

Cross-functional collaboration

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management

MBA or equivalent graduate degree

Job description

PORTA is seeking a results-oriented Director of Operations to lead and optimize our end-to-end manufacturing. Reporting directly to the General Manager, this role is responsible for driving both business and operational excellence across PORTA. The Director of Operations will develop and execute long-term strategies to improve efficiency, scale operations and optimize cost while ensuring full compliance with HACCP, GMP, and CFIA standards. This role is key to building a culture of continuous improvement, driving process innovation in alignment with PORTA’s growth and quality goals.

Strategic Planning & Process Optimization

• Collaborate closely with leaders across Production, Maintenance, Warehouse, Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA), Procurement, and Supply Chain to ensure day-to-day operations are aligned with long-term strategic goals. Facilitate regular cross-functional reviews, drive accountability on shared KPIs
• Implement Lean Manufacturing principles and process standardization to eliminate inefficiencies and enhance workflow.
• Define and execute long-term operational strategies that align with PORTA’s business vision, growth targets, and market positioning.
• Lead strategic initiatives to expand capacity, improve profitability, and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Partner with the executive team to establish priorities, drive transformation initiatives, and shape the future state of operations.
• Translate corporate strategy into actionable operational plans, ensuring cross-functional alignment and accountability.

Operational Excellence & Performance Management

• Champion a culture of operational excellence by implementing continuous improvement frameworks such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.
• Oversee the performance of all operational departments (Production, Supply Chain, Warehouse, Maintenance, and FSQA), ensuring optimal coordination and efficiency across the value chain.
• Utilize data and KPIs to proactively identify bottlenecks, improve process flow, and eliminate waste across departments.
• Establish and maintain enterprise-wide metrics and dashboards to monitor performance, quality, and service levels.
• Drive innovation in manufacturing systems, automation, and digital tools to enhance productivity and scalability.

Quality, Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with CFIA, HACCP, GMP, and all regulatory frameworks across operations, upholding the highest food safety and quality standards.
• Foster a zero-defect mindset through robust quality systems and employee accountability.
• Oversee the implementation of preventative safety programs and champion a strong health and safety culture.
• Ensure all production activities comply with food safety regulations, HACCP, GMP, and CFIA protocols.
• Develop and oversee corrective action plans to address deviations from food safety and quality standards.
• Ensure proper procedures are followed for process changes, aligning with food safety standards and regulatory compliance.

People Leadership & Organizational Development

• Inspire, lead, and mentor a team of department heads, ensuring leadership alignment, talent development, and organizational succession planning.
• Build a high-performing, accountable culture rooted in collaboration, innovation, and shared success.
• Establish talent strategies to attract, retain, and grow top-tier operations leaders.
• Lead communication efforts that cascade key messages and ensure visibility of goals and progress across the organization.
• Oversee and optimize daily production operations, ensuring adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and industry best practices.
• Develop, track, and analyze Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to production efficiency, labor utilization, yield, and downtime reduction.
• Implement and sustain a structured problem-solving approach (such as root cause analysis and corrective action planning) to resolve production challenges.
• Collaborate with the quality team and develop standardized production reporting procedures.
• Partner with Maintenance to develop and execute preventive and predictive maintenance schedules, reducing unplanned downtime and improving equipment reliability.
• Recommend equipment replacement and process improvements to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Financial Stewardship & Resource Optimization

• Lead the development and execution of operational budgets, forecasting, and capital planning in alignment with strategic business goals.
• Identify and drive cost savings through productivity enhancements, and supplier performance initiatives.
• Partner with Finance to ensure transparency of operational costs and drive margin improvement through disciplined execution.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, or related field required. MBA or equivalent graduate degree preferred.
• Experience: 8-10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations within a food manufacturing or CPG environment, including 5+ years at a senior leadership level.
• Advanced knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, ERP/MRP systems, and operational excellence best practices.
• Visionary leadership with a strong track record of building teams, leading change, and delivering strategic results. Exceptional cross-functional collaboration and executive presence.
• Proven ability to translate complex data and trends into clear strategies and operational action plans.
• Deep understanding of food safety standards, compliance requirements, and risk management in a manufacturing environment

• Competitive Pay
• Benefits Program
• Free Italian Food!

PORTA is committed to providing a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. Our people are our business and we celebrate our differences, encourage a breadth of perspectives, and offer equal opportunity for all employees to join and excel at our company. PORTA gladly provides accommodations to candidates if necessary, so please send us an email if you would like us to do that for you: [e-mail]