VP of Operations

If you are a talented and experienced Operations Executive, Aplin has the right opportunity for you! Our client, a leader in their field, has partnered with Aplin to grow their team!

About the Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced VP of Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership across a growing manufacturing organization with operations in both Canada and the United States.

This is a senior executive leadership position with responsibility across manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, quality, safety, and continuous improvement. The VP of Operations will work closely with the General Manager and senior leadership team to translate business objectives into operational strategy, drive performance, and build the systems and leadership capabilities required to support continued growth.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on operations leader with strong business and financial acumen, a background in manufacturing, and a track record of building high-performing teams and scalable operations.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the operational strategy in support of the organization's growth, profitability, and long-term business objectives.
• Translate corporate objectives into measurable priorities across manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Build scalable processes, systems, and organizational structures that support growth without unnecessary increases in cost or complexity.
• Provide operational analysis, capacity modelling, and risk assessment to support strategic planning and capital investment decisions.
• Partner with the General Manager and executive leadership team on major business initiatives and ensure operational priorities are aligned with broader company objectives.

Operational Excellence

• Establish a culture of accountability through clear KPIs, performance management, visual management, and regular operating reviews.
• Drive performance across safety, quality, delivery, productivity, inventory, and profitability.
• Use data, root-cause analysis, and structured problem-solving to improve operational performance.
• Establish operating rhythms that provide visibility into performance, risks, constraints, and opportunities.

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Champion Lean Manufacturing principles across the organization to eliminate waste, improve flow, and increase capacity.
• Develop organizational capability in continuous improvement methodologies and ensure they become embedded in daily operations.
• Lead value-stream improvement initiatives from quote through shipment to reduce lead times, improve quality, and enhance customer responsiveness.
• Establish a culture of continuous improvement across all functions.

Manufacturing & Supply Chain

• Provide executive oversight of manufacturing operations to ensure safe, efficient, and predictable execution.
• Optimize labour, equipment, materials, and facility utilization to maximize throughput and profitability.
• Lead supply chain and inventory strategies that balance customer service, working capital, and operational flexibility.
• Ensure production planning and scheduling processes effectively support customer commitments and business growth.

Engineering & Product Development

• Provide leadership and direction to the Engineering function, ensuring design, industrialization, and engineering change activities align with commercial and operational priorities.
• Prioritize engineering resources across new product introduction, cost reduction, sustaining engineering, and capital initiatives.
• Partner with Product Management to evaluate product feasibility, requirements, and launch timelines.
• Ensure new and modified products transition into production with appropriate documentation, capability, and manufacturing readiness.
• Maintain strong engineering standards, drawing and bill-of-material accuracy, and engineering change control.
• Build engineering capability, technical depth, and succession within the organization.

Technology & Digital Transformation

• Drive the adoption and optimization of ERP, automation, AI, and workflow technologies to improve efficiency, data integrity, and decision-making.
• Ensure operational processes are standardized, documented, measurable, and effectively integrated into business systems.
• Identify and lead technology-enabled initiatives that improve scalability and create competitive advantage.
• Partner with functional leaders to develop scalable digital workflows, reporting, and analytics.

Quality & Customer Experience

• Provide leadership and accountability for quality performance across the organization.
• Ensure robust quality systems are in place to consistently meet customer requirements and industry expectations.
• Promote a culture of prevention, problem-solving, and continuous quality improvement.
• Partner with commercial and engineering leadership to improve customer experience through operational reliability and execution.
• Maintain accountability for product quality, warranty performance, and corrective action effectiveness.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Build and develop a high-performing operations leadership team capable of supporting the organization's current and future needs.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and succession plans for key leadership positions.
• Attract, develop, and retain strong operational talent.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous development, and employee engagement.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to operational and technical leaders throughout the organization.

Safety & Compliance

• Provide executive accountability for health and safety across Canadian and U.S. operations.
• Ensure effective hazard identification, risk management, incident investigation, corrective action, workplace inspections, and emergency response processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable Canadian and U.S. occupational health and safety requirements.
• Partner with People and HR leadership on health and safety programs, training, competency management, and incident reporting.
• Maintain independent stop-work authority where safety risks require immediate action.

What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of progressive operations leadership experience, ideally in a senior or executive capacity.
• Experience leading complex manufacturing and operations teams, including other leaders.
• Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, quality systems, and operational performance.
• Experience with ERP systems and operational reporting.
• Demonstrated success leading Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience managing an operating budget and contributing to capital investment decisions.
• Experience leading an engineering or technical function, or leading technical leaders, alongside production operations.
• Authorized to work in the United States and able to travel regularly to the Canadian operation.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Preferred Experience

• Manufacturing or industrial environment experience.
• Experience leading operations across multiple sites, particularly across Canada and the United States.
• Experience scaling an operation through a period of significant growth.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience leading ERP implementation, optimization, or migration.
• Previous experience as a member of an executive leadership team.

Leadership Profile
The successful candidate will be:

• Strategic and execution-focused, with the ability to translate business objectives into clear operational priorities.
• Results-oriented, with a strong focus on measurable business outcomes.
• Accountable, establishing clear expectations and creating a culture of ownership and follow-through.
• People-focused, with a passion for developing leaders and building organizational capability.
• Change-oriented, able to bring people, processes, and technology together to drive sustainable improvements.
• Business-minded, with the ability to balance customer needs, operational performance, profitability, and long-term growth.
• Safety-focused, with a strong commitment to building and maintaining a safe working environment.
• Collaborative and influential, with the executive presence and communication skills required to work effectively across all levels of the organization.

At Aplin — together with our brands CompuStaff, Impact Recruitment, and Vantix Systems — we connect great people with great organizations across North America. We believe diverse teams build stronger companies, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We use AI tools to assist in a fair and efficient matching process, helping our recruiters connect the right people with the right opportunities. To be considered, applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada, including holding any required permits. Our recruitment services are always free for job seekers. Accommodation is available upon request throughout all stages of the recruitment process.