About the Company
Walker Industries ("Walker" or the "Company") is a fifth-generation family-owned business, founded in 1887, with approximately 1,200 employees working across North America. Throughout its history, the company has remained committed to doing the right thing for employees, customers, the environment, and the communities it is proud to call home.
Walker’s vision is to build a sustainable future, together. That means working with neighbours, customers, regulatory authorities and employees to safely build and service communities across Canada and the U.S.
The Walker group of companies has evolved over the years through a commitment to innovation. Transforming problems into opportunities has enabled Walker to move beyond its humble beginnings as a single cut stone quarry in 1887 into the complex, multi-divisional, solutions-based company it is today.
Walker’s three operating divisions, Environmental, Aggregates & Construction, and Emulsions contain a range of socially and environmentally responsible operations that individually and collectively work to achieve sustainable growth. Supporting the infrastructure of communities means always considering the future. For Walker, sustainability goes beyond social responsibility or ethics. It is what drives Walker to innovate and become pioneers.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Walker’s Environmental Division, comprised of multiple business units, provides critical services and infrastructure for communities to recover resources, manage waste, and generate renewable energy, all contributing to a circular economy.
Organic Resource Recovery:
Walker is a Canadian leader in recovering organic waste. The Company turns leaf, yard and food waste into sustainable soils and mulches, biosolids into fertilizers, wood waste into a wide array of products, and turns grease trap waste into renewable energy and soil amendments.
As the largest composter in Ontario, Walker sells approximately 350,000 tonnes of engineered soils and mulch to landscapers, nurseries and retailers. Its 12-acre composting facility in Thorold, Ontario and its 100- acre site in Arthur, Ontario Walker utilize the patented GORE® technology to recover approximately 250,000 tonnes of organic materials annually. The Company’s Thorold and Arthur composting facilities utilize a combination of open-windrow composting and the GORE® Composting System to process and manage materials in accordance with composting regulations and guidelines. The Environmental Division has an additional sites located across Ontario and to process wood wastes to be blended with compost to produce high-quality sustainable soil and mulch products thus returning carbon back into the soil.
Walker also operates biosolids treatment facilities from Halifax to Sudbury that turn sewage sludge into fertilizers. These sites employ the N-Viro® process, which utilizes a waste product out of the cement industry to convert biosolids into fertilizers.
Walker is the largest national grease trap company in Canada, working to convert raw material into renewable energy. Grease interceptor waste collected by Walker Grease Trap Services is transported to anaerobic digesters to transform fats, oil and grease into a valuable resource. Some anaerobic digesters produce electricity to supply the grid while others produce biogas to supply pipelines with residuals used for soil amendments.
Waste Services:
Walker’s Waste Services offers a wide range of solutions for private businesses, institutions, residents and municipal partners. It provides a full range of trucking, transfer and disposal services for solid non- hazardous waste, as well as residential drop-off locations for waste and recyclables for residents of Niagara and Halton regions. Walker recycles and reintegrates materials like wood waste, railway ties, asphalt shingles and clean soils, converting them into new products and renewable energy. Its clean, organized sites are carefully managed and engineered for today’s stringent standards to protect the surrounding environment while producing premium quality products.
Renewable Energy:
Walker recognizes the opportunity for modern landfills to recover a significant energy resource. The Company’s Environmental division, in partnership with Comcor Environmental Limited, develops landfill gas utilization and control projects across Canada, transforming landfill gas methane into heat and electricity used by local industries and the municipal power grid. Walker has developed a number of landfill gas to electricity projects and has commenced three significant renewable energy initiatives that will generate over 1,500,000 GJ of clean energy per year. In March 2026, Walker acquired Escarpment Renewables and Maryland Farms Biogas facilities, which added additional organics processing and biogas generation strategic capability to the group. Walker plans to build out this strategic capability with substantial investment in the coming years to significantly expand the Escarpment Renewables Anaerobic Digestion site.
AGGREGATES & CONSTRUCTION
Walker supports the infrastructure of Ontario through the supply of aggregates, construction materials and services. It is the largest independent aggregate producer in Ontario, offering a full range of crushed limestone, sand and gravel products with locations in the Niagara, Essex, Simcoe, Grey and Bruce counties. The company also provides construction materials and services across Ontario through its Walker Construction subsidiary with locations in Niagara Falls, Hanover and Owen Sound. Walker offers a full range of road and parking lot construction, road rehabilitation and reconstruction, commercial and industrial site development, hot mix asphalt paving, and road and sewer work for the provincial, municipal and ICI sectors.
EMULSIONS
Walker develops custom emulsions solutions for its customers’ unique needs. Using advanced chemistries and technologies, Walker Emulsions creates innovative and sustainable wax and asphalt emulsions used across a wide array of manufacturing and construction applications, including road building and resurfacing, wood and forest products, insulation, food packaging and more. With manufacturing facilities in Burlington, Ontario; Orangeburg, South Carolina; and Portland, Oregon, Walker is strategically positioned to serve the pulp and paper, engineered wood products, gypsum board, fiberglass, janitorial, automotive, and road construction industries in North America with worldwide distribution capabilities.
Walker is committed to contributing to the social, economic and environmental well-being of each of its communities. Embracing its role of being a good neighbour, Walker actively builds and nourishes strong partnerships to support environmental, health, cultural and educational initiatives that are important to its communities and their employees who live there.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Executive Vice President reports directly to the President & CEO and is a member of the Executive Committee. The incumbent provides leadership, directs the strategic planning for growth of business units within the Environmental Division and is accountable for the profit and loss for the Division.
The Executive Vice President has ultimate responsibility for commercial and operational aspects of the Division. They will maintain a sharp focus on delivering operational results that grow revenue and margins, instilling a continuous improvement mindset. The successful candidate will identify and guide the organization toward the deployment of tools, systems, and processes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of sales and operations, to support customer acquisition and retention, revenue and profit growth.
The incumbent will also ensure that the Environmental Division achieves the highest health and safety, environmental, and quality standards to support the company’s vision of sustainable growth.
This leader is a strategic thinker who has built and led teams, improved their effectiveness and grown margins organically and through acquisitions. The individual has acted as a player/coach with their teams and been a trusted partner with stakeholders that include management teams, shareholders, community groups and leaders, customers, suppliers and potential acquisition targets.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to President & Chief Executive Officer
Direct reports VP Waste Services and Business Development
VP Soil and Mulch
General Manager – Energy and Tech Services
General Manager – Biosolids
General Manager - Liquid Resource Recovery
Sr. Director - Operations
Business Process Manager
Business& Pricing Analyst
Executive Assistant
Other Key Relationships Board of Directors
Community Stakeholders
Executive Committee Members
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The EVP of the Environmental Division will be leading multiple businesses, which are to some extent standalone but are linked within Walker’s commitment and vision to responsibly manage and recover waste resources to support a circular economy. In that context, the EVP will need to have: i) a bias to execution; and ii) a coaching, mentoring and advising style.
Given the number and diversity of businesses within the Division and the supporting structure, the key role for the EVP will be to develop and guide strategic priorities and growth of each operating unit.
The incumbent will be a trusted advisor and mentor, an asker of questions and a unifying force that understands linkages between Divisional business units and across Walker more broadly. They will drive development of a proactive, trust-based culture across the Division that is consistent with the broader Walker culture.
The successful candidate will sit on the Walker Executive Team and will be expected to be collaborative, a partner to other Executive team members, and always focused on the broader Walker mission and vision.
Strategy:
- Work with the Division’s senior leadership team to refine and communicate goals and a clear strategy to achieve them.
- Identify and exploit market opportunities that draw upon Walker’s competitive advantages and capabilities in a growing market in order to achieve strategic, financial and operational goals.
- Works with the executive team to drive Walker’s multi-decade vision of "Building a Sustainable Future, Together" while aligning the Divisional strategy with this vision.
- Develops and fosters strategic alliances with existing and potential customers, government agents, neighbours and industry associates to manage and resolve issues, promotes a positive corporate image and identify potential business opportunities.
- Sources, investigates and promotes product development and potential business opportunities to expand market share, increase business growth and revenue.
Operations Excellence:
- Drive organizational capability. Work with Environmental Division leaders to ensure optimal management of the processes, systems and technology platforms, in respect to sales, customer management, routing, servicing, invoicing, procurement, financial planning and analytics, and workforce management.
- Reduce complexity where appropriate and drive agility in decision-making. Ensure that the required processes, systems and controls are in place to guarantee profitable success.
- Provide hands on leadership on major projects such as license expansions, capital projects and acquisitions to impart expertise and ensure a smooth transition.
- Evaluate, analyze and interpret monthly and year-to-date financial statements to develop strategic plans for the Division.
- Prepare, review and approve budgets and capital requests to ensure business units are operating at optimal efficiency.
- Prepare capital budgets, financial performance reports, and new business opportunities, including joint ventures to present to President, and Board of Directors.
- Visit job sites to ensure adherence to specifications, budgetary constraints and timelines.
- Provides oversight to ensure overall divisional operations comply with all health and safety, labour and environmental regulatory requirements.
Growth:
- Links the Division’s strategy to a clear execution plan that builds upon its strengths to accelerate profitable growth. Key elements of the plan may include product and service innovation, go-to-market model and capability development, geographic expansion/footprint optimization, talent and performance metrics development.
- Integrates acquisitions to ensure synergies are achieved and targeted value is delivered.
Talent and Culture:
- Takes an active talent management approach to ensure an engaged, stable and productive management team. Onboard, mentor, and inspire Division leaders to achieve high levels of performance. Maintain and enhance competency levels and identify future training requirements.
- Structure the team and delegate delivery to the Division’s management while retaining overall accountability for performance.
- Foster a strong and cohesive team environment. Provide employees with the authority, accountability, training, information, and resources to achieve their full potential and successfully drive performance.
- Set a leadership tone that embodies the company’s culture in alignment with broader Walker values and priorities. Reinforce the company’s culture, preserving its essence while evolving to position the Division for the future.
Competitive Landscape:
- Understand industry direction, relevant regulatory environment, competitors, channel developments, value drivers, and evolving customer needs to ensure that the Environmental Division can properly capitalize on landscape changes.
- Attend and actively participate in industry associations, conventions, and seminars to maintain current market knowledge, promote business opportunities and foster strategic alliance partner relations.
- Develop positive trust-based relationships with community members, municipalities, Indigenous community partners, and politicians at all levels to reflect Walker’s partnership approach.
DESIRED OUTCOMES
- A Board-sponsored Environmental Division strategy, including financial and operational goals and implementation plan, that is clear and will deliver accelerated growth and value creation.
- Early and sustained respectful and trust-based relationships with the Company’s current leaders in a manner that motivates them and ensures continuity of leadership.
- Continued refinement of an already effective and efficient operational model ensure that as the Company scales up, it does so in a manner that achieves operating leverage and EBITDA margin expansion.
- Lead the Walker Energy team (Escarpment Renewables) capital expansion and commercial plan.
- Assess operations and create an organic growth plan (as part of the 5-year strategic plan) that continues improvement in operational efficiencies, procurement, quality control and sales excellence.
Candidate Profile
This role requires a values-driven leader, aligned with Walker’s core value principles of resilience, environmental stewardship, accountability, community, and humility - someone who leads with care and integrity while delivering results. Safety is Walker’s top priority, and the EVP must lead a culture of care and accountability to ensure the highest levels of health and safety are achieved across the division.
The mandate is to drive sustainable growth, strengthen market leadership, and deliver operational excellence across a portfolio of businesses. The successful candidate will bring deep experience managing P&Ls across diverse operations, with the ability to integrate both commercial and operational best practices to improve performance and scale the business.
A key focus of the role is the ability to translate strategy into execution, developing clear business strategies and enabling teams to deliver against them. This includes leading through complexity and change, ensuring that major initiatives and capital projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest quality and safety standards, in evolving business conditions.
Operating within a matrixed environment, the leader must prioritize enterprise-wide success over individual business unit performance, fostering alignment and collaboration across the organization.
Equally important is the ability to build and lead high-performing, strengths-based teams, creating an environment that both supports and constructively challenges leaders to perform at their best. The role requires a balance of long-term strategic thinking and short-term execution, ensuring sustainable growth without compromising relationships, culture, or future opportunities.
Ultimately, this is an opportunity to lead a critical business platform where success is defined not only by financial performance but also by the ability to deliver meaningful customer value and strengthen communities.
IDEAL EXPERIENCE
P&L Leader across Multiple Business Units
A proven P&L leader who has demonstrably grown a business and has a clear record of value creation across businesses with complexity and relevant scale. Complexity is inclusive of multi-market and multi-channel operations, along with regulatory sensitivity and high CAPEX expansions.
B-to-B Industrial/Field Services
Successful past executive leadership experience within a B-to-B industrial services environment, ideally with field service characteristics and serving a similar customer groups. Field operations include regional-based hubs along with large site operations.
People Leadership
A people-oriented leader, with a demonstratable track record for growing organizational capacity by driving a collaborative and engaging culture, ultimately elevating individual performance and effectiveness of the team.
Able to relate across all levels of the organization and experience building, engaging, optimizing, elevating, and leading a high-performing, distributed workforce. Possess robust people-leadership skills and a high level of emotional intelligence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Operational Excellence
Strong track record partnering with commercial, supply chain, and operations teams to improve production throughput, product quality, health and safety, and community engagement. Experienced driving service and production process improvement, standardization, productivity, and asset optimization, while maintaining a high-level of responsiveness to customer requirements.
CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES
Driving Results
- Enables higher performance by incrementally improving approaches based on calculated risks and benefits.
- Benchmarks own performance against industry best practices.
- Proactively seeks to improve processes and implement best in class solutions, raising quality and productivity in a calculated way.
- Willingly takes responsibility for Division performance.
Leading People
- Has a “coaching” management and leadership style that helps ensure development of the team, while allowing management to continue to work with reasonable independence. Shows respect for what has been accomplished by the current team. Communicates long-term direction and collaborates with team on how to achieve it.
- Delegates strategic objectives to the whole team with clear and explicit intent; knows the precise level of challenge and how individual team members will handle it.
- Sets up forums or practices to reinforce independent and open communication among team members. Holds people accountable for their commitments and leads by example.
- Hands-on, high energy and entrepreneurial; the successful candidate will show initiative, ambition, drive and be service oriented.
Strategic Thinking
- Intellectually acute and strategic in orientation using data and analytics to drive decision-making.
- Looks beyond basic metrics to think strategically when making commercial decisions. Evaluates the wider commercial impact of decisions beyond the short-term.
- Revises strategy, proposes new directions for the business linked to the evolving marketplace.
- Challenges assumptions and conventional wisdom with specific, supported, and reasoned proposals.
- Contributes to the development of an organizational strategy and justifies it with market insight.
- Thinks 3-5 years ahead into the next business cycle, the evolving future of market/market segments, and long-term, sustainable value creation.
Collaborating and Influencing
- Facilitates discussions to enable people to collaborate with each other independently; promotes collaboration across multiple parties.
- Identifies and meets with key players and stakeholders to help them shape a consensus collectively, compromising as necessary for results.
- Develops explicit understanding of which relationships are most important to the organization and its stakeholders; builds a network prioritizing relationships.
- Able to influence and persuade people; has self-confidence and perseverance and can earn the respect of others.
Fostering Customer Relationships
- Seeks regular customer feedback, distinguishing patterns specific to customer segments.
- Identifies opportunities to improve customer service or offerings; solicits and implements the best ideas from customer-facing employees.
- Identifies changing customer needs or trends and works to address them.
- Engages customers in joint problem solving to build support for solution.
OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
This executive search is being managed exclusively by our recruitment partner. To be considered, please submit your resume and cover letter directly to Nirvan Nuckchedee at NNuckchedee@SpencerStuart.com
