Operations Manager

OPERATIONS MANAGER           

Fabrication - Welding - Industrial Painting

Guelph, Ontario | Full-Time

$120,000–$140,000 Base Salary + Performance Bonus + Benefits

We are a family owned and operated steel fabrication, ASME welding and process piping company in Guelph, Ontario, growing to approximately 65 employees.

We are looking for an experienced Operations Manager to take a leadership role in our day-to-day operations and help take the company to its next level of growth.

This is a key management position with significant responsibility for production, people, scheduling, productivity, quality, safety and on-time delivery.

The successful candidate will be a strong manufacturing leader who knows how to organize a busy fabrication operation, develop supervisors and hold teams accountable for results.

THE ROLE

Reporting directly to the President, the Operations Manager will oversee the company's manufacturing operations, including:

• Material flow
• Production scheduling
• Health and safety
• Steel fabrication
• Fitting and assembly
• Welding
• Production quality
• Industrial painting
• Shipping and receiving
• Shop staffing and shifts

You will work closely with Production & Project Management, Early-stage prep departments, QC and Purchasing to ensure that projects are completed efficiently, profitably and on schedule.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Production & Operations

• Take overall responsibility for day-to-day shop operations.
• Establish and manage production schedules and priorities for both morning and afternoon shifts.
• Ensure projects are completed according to customer delivery commitments.
• Identify bottlenecks and take corrective action before they affect delivery.
• Balance manpower, equipment and workload across departments.
• Develop and implement improved production processes and workflows.
• Monitor labour hours, productivity and production costs.
• Establish meaningful production KPIs and report results to senior management.

Leadership & People

• Lead and develop Production Supervisors, Lead Hands and shop personnel.
• Establish clear expectations for performance, productivity, quality and attendance.
• Assist with recruiting and building a strong workforce.
• Address performance issues promptly and professionally.
• Build a culture of respect, teamwork and accountability.
• Help develop and manage additional personnel as the business grows.

Project Delivery

• Work closely with Project Managers to establish realistic production schedules.
• Review upcoming workload and ensure adequate manpower and resources.
• Communicate potential delays early and develop recovery plans.
• Ensure smooth handoff between fabrication, QC, welding, painting and shipping.

Quality & Safety

• Maintain high standards of workmanship and quality.
• Work with Quality Control to resolve production issues.
• Ensure customer specifications and quality requirements are met.
• Promote a strong safety culture throughout the organization.
• Ensure compliance with applicable Ontario health and safety requirements.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve productivity and profitability.
• Reduce downtime, rework, material waste and unnecessary labour.
• Improve shop layout, workflow and material handling.
• Introduce systems and procedures that allow the company to grow without sacrificing quality or delivery performance.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing or fabrication experience, with significant supervisory or management responsibility.
• Strong knowledge of steel fabrication, welding and shop operations.
• Experience managing a workforce of 40+ employees is highly desirable.
• Proven experience managing production schedules and multiple projects.
• Strong understanding of labour productivity and manufacturing costs.
• Experience developing and managing supervisors.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities.
• A practical, hands-on management style.
• The ability to make decisions and establish priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong computer skills and experience with ERP/MRP or production-management systems is an asset.
• Industrial painting/coating experience is an asset.

THE PERSON WE ARE LOOKING FOR

This position is for someone who can lead the operation—not simply supervise it.

You should be comfortable walking into the shop each morning and determining:

What has to get done?
Who is going to do it?
What is holding us up?
What resources do we need?
And are we going to meet our commitments?

The successful candidate will have the credibility and experience to earn the respect of skilled tradespeople while also having the management ability to work with senior leadership.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Base Salary: $120,000–$140,000 per year , based on experience and qualifications.
• Annual performance bonus of up to 15% of base salary
• Comprehensive benefits package family dental, drugs and health spending account
• Paid vacation with flexible timing starting a 4 weeks per year
• Company-supported professional development
• Long-term opportunity for advancement

WHY JOIN US?

This is an opportunity to join a global Canadian manufacturing company where the Operations Manager will have a real impact on the future of the business and building the products which benefit our everyday lives in energy, tech, mining and infrastructure.

The successful candidate will have the authority and support to improve systems, develop people, improve production and help lead the company through its next stage of growth.

If you are an experienced fabrication/manufacturing leader who enjoys solving problems, building teams and getting results, we want to hear from you.

Position: Operations Manager
Location: Guelph, Ontario
Employment: Full-Time, Permanent
Reports to: President / Vice President
Employees: Approximately 65