Senior vice president - operations

Senior Vice President, Operations Reports To: President or Chief Executive Officer Location: Hybrid/Remote (occasional on-site visits as required) Employment Type: Full-time

Position Summary The Senior Vice President, Operations will lead an integrated operations portfolio including Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, Warehousing, Manufacturing, and Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance. This high-impact leadership role is responsible for building operational excellence, scalability, and efficiency as the organization expands to new production facilities and markets. Reporting directly to the President/CEO, the SVP provides leadership and oversight to operations executives and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment, cost optimization, and continuity of supply. This position collaborates closely with Finance, Sales, R&D, and Marketing to support strategic growth and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership and Strategy

Provide enterprise-wide leadership across core operational domains: supply chain, procurement, logistics, warehousing, quality assurance/regulatory, and manufacturing.

Lead long-range planning, operational scale-up, and capital investment prioritization.

Drive cross-functional collaboration to deliver productivity, cost, safety, and quality targets.

Oversee manufacturing leadership to ensure achievement of margin, efficiency, and output goals.

Facility Expansion and Scale-Up

Develop and execute the expansion roadmap for new manufacturing or production facilities.

Lead location planning, capacity modeling, CAPEX budgeting, and vendor selection.

Oversee commissioning, equipment validation, facility build-out, and workforce planning.

Ensure operational ramp-up aligns with safety, quality, and commercial objectives.

Supply Chain and Procurement

Direct demand and supply planning to maintain optimal inventory and service levels.

Oversee procurement of raw materials and packaging, including supplier negotiation and cost control.

Build a resilient, sustainable supply chain with strong risk mitigation and traceability frameworks.

Logistics, Warehousing, and Fulfillment

Lead design and execution of warehousing and order fulfillment strategies across sales channels.

Manage third-party logistics (3PL) providers, freight cost optimization, and service level agreements.

Implement scalable logistics systems to improve efficiency and real-time visibility.

Quality Assurance, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance

Ensure adherence to regulatory standards such as CFIA, HACCP, and GFSI (or equivalent frameworks).

Maintain and continuously improve a comprehensive Quality Management System.

Promote a proactive safety culture and ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.

Partner with the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) or equivalent body to enhance safety practices.

Leadership and Team Development

Build and develop a high-performing operations leadership team with a focus on accountability and engagement.

Collaborate with executive peers on organizational strategy, resource allocation, and growth planning.

Establish, track, and report on operational KPIs to drive business performance and decision-making.

Required Skills and Abilities

Strategic leadership and organizational management

Supply chain optimization and operational scale-up

Manufacturing and production management

Large-scale capital project planning and execution

Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management

Quality and regulatory compliance (HACCP, GFSI, CFIA or equivalent)

Logistics and fulfillment operations

Risk management and workplace safety leadership

Financial and analytical acumenl

Data-driven decision making

Change and transformation leadership

Executive-level communication and presentation

Core Competencies

Strategic and critical thinking

Operational excellence and continuous improvement

Leadership and people development

Financial and business acumen

Regulatory and compliance expertise

Project management and delivery

Risk mitigation and safety management

Customer and quality focus

Education and Experience

10-15 years of progressive senior operations leadership experience in manufacturing, supply chain, or related fields.

Experience in food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or pet product/food industries preferred.

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or related discipline (MBA preferred).

Proven track record of leading multi-site operations and facility expansion projects.

Strong expertise in procurement, ERP systems, and logistics technology platforms.

Demonstrated success in building and mentoring high-performing teams.

Bonus: Experience in natural, sustainable, or premium product categories.

#J-18808-Ljbffr