Chief Operating Officer

Our Client
Our client is a growing North American manufacturer of advanced road marking and protective coating materials serving municipalities, government agencies, infrastructure contractors, and commercial customers across Canada and the United States. The organization is a leading domestic provider of traffic paints, thermoplastics, and specialty coating solutions that support critical infrastructure projects.As part of a vertically integrated infrastructure platform, the company is entering an accelerated growth phase with significant investment in manufacturing capacity, U.S. market expansion, and product qualification initiatives. With a strong foundation in place, the organization is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) / President to lead the next stage of growth, operational transformation, and long-term value creation.Reporting to the ownership group, the COO / President will have full accountability for the business, including P&L ownership, operational performance, commercial growth, team development, and execution of strategic initiatives.Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Leadership & Business Growth
Lead all aspects of the business, including Operations, Sales, Quality, Finance, and supporting functions.Own the company’s growth strategy, driving revenue expansion, profitability improvement, and market development.Develop and execute annual operating plans, strategic priorities, and growth initiatives.Build and develop a high-performing leadership team while establishing a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.Serve as the primary operator of the business, reducing ownership involvement in day-to-day execution.Operational & Manufacturing Excellence
Own end-to-end manufacturing operations, including production, supply chain, inventory, quality, safety, and continuous improvement.Drive improvements in manufacturing efficiency, cost structure, throughput, and on-time delivery.Optimize working capital, inventory management, and production planning processes.Implement scalable systems, processes, and operating rhythms to support future growth.Establish disciplined KPI reporting and performance management across the organization.Commercial Leadership & Market Expansion
Partner with the commercial team to accelerate revenue growth across infrastructure, contractor, municipal, and government channels.Build and strengthen strategic customer relationships with contractors, distributors, and institutional buyers.Identify new market opportunities and support expansion into the United States.Drive product adoption, customer retention, and long-term account growth.Leverage strong business development skills to personally engage with key customers and strategic partners.Strategic Growth & Professionalization
Lead initiatives supporting U.S. market entry, including regulatory approvals, product qualifications, and procurement requirements.Establish an institutional operating standard through improved reporting, processes, systems, and organizational discipline.Support ownership-level reporting, financial planning, and long-term value creation initiatives.Build organizational depth and reduce key-person dependency through effective talent development.Qualifications
10+ years of progressive leadership experience within manufacturing, industrial products, coatings, chemicals, building materials, or related sectors.Proven experience owning a P&L for a business or business unit, ideally within the $15M-$50M revenue range.Demonstrated success scaling a manufacturing organization, improving profitability, and driving operational transformation.Strong commercial capabilities with a track record of growing revenue through B2B, institutional, government, or infrastructure-related channels.Hands-on operator with the ability to move between the plant floor, customer meetings, and executive-level discussions.Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, margins, EBITDA improvement, and working capital.Experience operating in a private equity-backed, board-governed, or professionally managed environment is an asset.Experience with coatings, DOT specifications, government procurement, or infrastructure markets is highly preferred.Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to thrive in a high-autonomy, growth-oriented environment.Strong leadership presence, accountability mindset, and ability to build trust across all levels of an organization.Why This Opportunity
This is a unique opportunity to lead an established manufacturing business through a significant growth and transformation phase. The successful candidate will have full ownership of the company’s performance and the autonomy to shape strategy, build a high-performing team, improve operations, and drive expansion into new markets.Working closely with ownership, this leader will play a critical role in creating a scalable, profitable organization with the potential to become a recognized North American leader in protective coatings and infrastructure materials.REF: LI1514
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