Manufacturing Operations Manager

Build Your Career with an Established Canadian Organization!

Manufacturing and Distribution Manager

Location: Burford, Ontario

An established Canadian organization with a strong reputation for operational excellence, customer service, and long-term employee development is seeking an experienced Manufacturing and Distribution Manager to lead its manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, and distribution operations. Reporting directly to the General Manager, this highly visible leadership role is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, developing operational leaders, and driving improvements in productivity, efficiency, quality, and service delivery.

This opportunity is ideal for a collaborative and results-oriented manufacturing leader who thrives in a fast-paced production environment, values continuous improvement, and can balance operational accountability with effective people leadership.

The Opportunity:

The Manufacturing and Distribution Manager will oversee approximately 40–50 employees through a team of supervisors and operational leaders across manufacturing and distribution functions. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining safe, efficient, and reliable operations while leading longer-term initiatives focused on continuous improvement, automation, KPI development, production planning, process optimization, and operational scalability. This role requires a hands-on leader who can build trust with established teams, develop supervisory talent, strengthen operational processes, and guide the organization through modernization and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, and distribution functions.
• Ensure compliance with workplace health and safety legislation, environmental regulations, and company policies and procedures.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and operational teams, fostering accountability and employee engagement.
• Establish, monitor, and improve operational KPIs, including production output, throughput, efficiency, scheduling, and service levels.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives, Lean Manufacturing practices, and process optimization strategies.
• Support automation initiatives, equipment implementation, and capital improvement projects.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align manufacturing capacity, production schedules, inventory, and distribution requirements.
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, and shipping priorities to meet customer and distribution requirements.
• Manage operational budgets, capital expenditures, and departmental spending.
• Develop succession plans, cross-training programs, and standard operating procedures to strengthen workforce flexibility and preserve operational knowledge.
• Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with vendors, contractors, and external business partners.

Qualifications:

• 8–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, production, industrial operations, or a related environment.
• Experience with custom batch manufacturing or comparable production processes.
• Experience leading manufacturing and/or distribution operations within industries such as chemicals, paints and coatings, industrial products, automotive, consumer goods, packaging, or related sectors is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop supervisors and operational teams.
• Proven experience with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, KPI development, and operational performance management.
• Exposure to industrial automation, process improvement, equipment implementation, and capital projects.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, inventory management, warehousing, shipping, and distribution operations.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strategic and analytical mindset, with the ability to balance immediate operational requirements with long-term planning.
• Experience with ERP systems such as Oracle or Microsoft Dynamics is an asset.
• College diploma or university degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or a related discipline is preferred.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Competitive base salary of $120,000–$130,000.
• Performance-based bonus opportunity.
• Pension program.
• Comprehensive health and benefits package.