Vice President Operations

About the Role

Our client, a well-established North American manufacturer of high-performance HVAC systems, is seeking a Vice President of Operations to lead the launch and long-term performance of a new manufacturing facility in the Burnaby, BC area.

This executive leadership role represents a unique opportunity to build and scale a greenfield manufacturing operation while shaping the company’s operational footprint in Western Canada. The VP Operations will be responsible for establishing a high-performing plant environment focused on safety, operational excellence, and cost efficiency, while ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and manufacturing standards.

Reporting directly to the President, the successful candidate will initially collaborate with the company’s established operations leadership team in Eastern Canada for onboarding and knowledge transfer. Following this transition period, the VP Operations will take full responsibility for leading the BC facility, building the local leadership team, and driving operational performance across production, quality, and service functions.

This role requires a hands-on, entrepreneurial operations leader who thrives in building teams, implementing scalable processes, and driving continuous improvement in a manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will operate with a high degree of autonomy while maintaining strong collaboration with corporate leadership and cross-functional teams across North America.

This is an opportunity to join a growing organization with an established reputation in the HVAC sector while playing a pivotal role in expanding its manufacturing capabilities and market presence in Western Canada.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead the successful launch, ramp-up, and ongoing performance of a new manufacturing facility in the Burnaby area.

• Establish production processes, operational systems, and plant workflows aligned with corporate manufacturing standards.

Team Building & Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and lead a team of operational managers, supervisors, and production staff.

• Foster a culture focused on safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Manufacturing Performance

• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations, ensuring production targets, quality standards, and delivery commitments are consistently achieved.

• Monitor key performance indicators and production metrics to drive data-driven operational decisions.

Operational Excellence

• Implement best-in-class manufacturing practices, including Lean and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and reduce costs.

• Evaluate and modernize equipment, systems, and processes to improve operational efficiency and reliability.

Financial Oversight

• Manage the operational budget for the BC facility, including forecasting, cost control, and capital planning.

• Drive disciplined expense management and working capital efficiency.

Customer & Market Support

• Work closely with sales and service teams to support customers throughout Western Canada and the Western United States.

• Ensure operational capabilities align with customer expectations and service commitments.

Strategic Contribution

• Provide operational insights and recommendations to senior leadership, supporting long-term growth, capital investments, and strategic planning initiatives.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be an experienced manufacturing executive with a track record of building and leading high-performing operations teams in complex production environments.

Key qualifications include:

• 10+ years of leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.

• Proven ability to build and scale operational teams in a plant setting.

• Experience managing operations involving fabrication, sub-assembly, and final product assembly.

• Strong financial and operational acumen, including experience managing plant budgets and performance metrics.

• Demonstrated expertise in process improvement, Lean manufacturing, or operational efficiency initiatives.

• Ability to operate independently with P&L accountability in a distributed organizational structure.

• Engineering, manufacturing technology, or related technical knowledge is considered an asset.

• Industry experience within HVAC, mechanical systems, construction-related manufacturing, or industrial equipment would be highly advantageous.

• Strong leadership, communication, and change management capabilities with a focus on building trust and developing teams.

Why Consider this Opportunity?

• Build something from the ground up. Lead the launch and growth of a new manufacturing facility in Western Canada.

• Executive-level impact. Directly influence operational strategy and performance while working closely with senior leadership.

• Autonomy with support. Operate independently while being backed by an established North American manufacturing organization.

• Growth potential. Play a key role in expanding the company’s presence in Western Canada and the broader North American market.

• Competitive compensation. The organization offers a strong compensation package including base salary, performance incentives, comprehensive benefits, and retirement savings programs.

Vacancy

This is a newly created executive leadership role driven by the company’s continued growth and expansion into Western Canada.

Compensation Package

The expected base salary for this role is $175,000 – $225,000, commensurate with experience and leadership background. In addition to base compensation, the role includes a performance-based bonus opportunity tied to operational and organizational objectives.

The overall compensation package is designed to attract experienced executive-level manufacturing leaders and includes:

• Competitive base salary

• Incentive-based bonus program

• Comprehensive health and benefits package

• RRSP matching program

Additional Information

In accordance with the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (Ontario) and applicable regulations, applicants are advised that artificial intelligence (AI) may be used in the recruitment process. This may include the use of AI-enabled tools to support candidate sourcing, screening, or other administrative aspects of the hiring process.

All employment decisions are made by qualified human decision-makers, and the use of AI does not replace human judgment in the evaluation or selection of candidates.