VP Operations (Confidential)

THE ORGANIZATION

Our client is a well-established, privately held North American company operating in the heavy industrial supply and manufacturing sector. With decades of experience supporting large-scale industrial operations, the organization has built a strong reputation as a trusted partner to major equipment manufacturers, engineering firms, and end-user organizations across multiple industries.

The company specializes in the sourcing, engineering, and supply of highly specialized metal components used in demanding industrial environments. Through a broad global manufacturing network and fabrication capabilities in North America, the organization provides critical components that support essential operations in industries such as resource extraction, materials processing, and large-scale industrial production.

Known for its reliability and technical expertise, the company works closely with customers to ensure components meet exact specifications and are delivered on time to support continuous operations. Their business model combines global sourcing with strong quality oversight and customer-focused service, enabling them to deliver complex engineered products that perform in high-wear, high-demand applications.

The organization’s culture is grounded in long-standing relationships, operational integrity, and a commitment to being a dependable partner to clients, manufacturing partners, and employees alike. As the company continues to grow and expand its presence in North America and internationally, it remains focused on delivering high-quality solutions that help customers maintain operational continuity where downtime is not an option.

This is a confidential search. Further details about the organization will be shared with candidates who are shortlisted for the opportunity.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The VP Operations is a highly engaged and hands-on operational leader who thrives in complex, detail-oriented industrial environments. This individual brings a “roll up your sleeves” leadership style—someone who is deeply involved in the day-to-day flow of projects and operations, with a strong command of the details behind each order, quotation, and customer commitment. They are naturally curious and analytical, asking thoughtful, intelligent questions of the engineering, quality, procurement, and supply chain teams to anticipate risks and identify potential issues before they impact delivery.

As a collaborative leader, the Vice President, Operations serves as the bridge across functional teams, ensuring alignment between internal systems, technical requirements, supplier capabilities, and customer expectations. They are equally comfortable influencing and guiding technical teams as they are resolving complex questions around specifications, quality standards, or project execution. With strong operational discipline, global supply chain awareness, and a commitment to professionalism and reliability, this leader fosters a cohesive team environment while ensuring projects are delivered on time, on specification, and in a manner that strengthens long-term customer and supplier relationships.

RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

Operational Execution & Project Oversight

• Maintain full visibility across all active projects, quotations, and orders to ensure successful delivery from initial request through to final completion.
• Stay closely connected to project details, timelines, technical requirements, and supplier commitments to proactively identify and mitigate risks.
• Provide hands-on leadership and problem solving for complex operational or project challenges that may impact delivery, quality, or customer satisfaction.
• Oversee operational systems, order tracking, and internal processes to support accurate, on-time, and on-spec delivery, while providing direct oversight and guidance to engineering projects to ensure alignment with customer requirements and coordination with procurement, quality, and other operational functions.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team across engineering, procurement, quality, domestic manufacturing and customer service functions.
• Foster collaboration and alignment across functions that may traditionally operate in silos, ensuring smooth coordination between teams.
• Create an environment of professionalism, trust, accountability, and teamwork that supports high performance and employee development.
• Mentor and develop managers and team members while reinforcing clear communication and strong follow-through.

Global Supply Chain & Supplier Partnerships

• Oversee the organization’s international sourcing network to ensure reliable supply, strong supplier performance, and competitive pricing.
• Support the Procurement Manager in strengthening relationships with key suppliers located around the world, working closely with logistics coordinators and offshore supply managers to ensure effective collaboration.
• Maintain awareness of global industry trends and supply chain dynamics to support effective sourcing strategies.
• Contribute to negotiations, supplier development, and long-term partnership management with key international vendors.

Engineering, Product & Quality Collaboration

• Work closely with the Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgical Engineering teams to support project execution and enhance the organization’s product offering.
• Collaborate with technical teams to ensure customer specifications are translated effectively into engineering and manufacturing requirements.
• Support the Quality Manager in maintaining and strengthening the organization’s ISO-certified Quality Management System (QMS).
• Ensure quality, technical integrity, and operational excellence remain central to project delivery.

Customer & Project Support

• Work collaboratively with sales and customer service teams to ensure customer expectations are clearly understood and consistently delivered.
• Participate in customer discussions when required to clarify project specifications, resolve issues, or support complex technical conversations.
• Provide operational leadership in balancing customer requirements with engineering, quality, and supply chain considerations, including supporting the RFQ process to ensure timely, high-quality submissions that meet project award requirements, while addressing complex logistics and international movement of goods. Reinforce the organization’s reputation as a reliable and trusted partner to its clients.

Performance & Project Profitability

• Maintain accountability for the financial performance and profitability of projects by ensuring effective sourcing, cost control, and operational execution.
• Monitor project costs, supplier pricing, and operational efficiencies to protect margins and support competitive market positioning.
• Work closely with procurement, engineering, and sales teams to ensure quotations, supplier selections, and project execution align with financial objectives.
• Contribute to strategic decision-making by analyzing operational and financial data related to projects and supplier performance.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• Operational Mastery: Quickly gain visibility into all open orders, RFQs, and active projects while building a strong understanding of the organization’s product lines and how each is sourced, engineered, and delivered.
• Systems & Process Ownership: Establish effective oversight of operational systems including ERP, RFQ tracking, purchase order management, job status documentation, and engineering drawing management to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
• Team Leadership & Culture: Build a cohesive operations team culture grounded in professionalism, trust, accountability, and strong cross-functional collaboration.
• Organizational Confidence: Position operations as a trusted partner to the business—ultimately enabling the CEO and sales leadership to step back from day-to-day operational oversight.

THE INDIVIDUAL

The successful candidate is a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves leader who thrives in technically complex operational environments. With strong technical grounding in Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy, or a related discipline, they bring a high level of detail orientation and operational curiosity – someone who understands the nuances of projects and is comfortable engaging deeply with technical, engineering, and supply chain considerations.

You build trust naturally with executive leadership, their teams, suppliers, and customers through consistent communication, reliability, and a strong sense of accountability. You are resourceful and demonstrate grit—finding ways to solve problems and move projects forward even when challenges arise. At your core, you care deeply about the work, the people around you, and the success of the business. You lead with integrity, take ownership of outcomes, avoid a blame mentality, and influence others through credibility, follow-through, and a genuine commitment to delivering results.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related technical engineering discipline is required.
• Additional education or training in operations management, supply chain management, or business is considered an asset.

Experience

• 10+ years of leadership experience managing teams of 15+ employees, including engineering management experience leading teams of design or technical engineers.
• Demonstrated ability to develop leaders and foster a strong, collaborative team culture.
• Experience working with offshore manufacturing partners supplying industrial clients with a strong understanding of international sourcing, logistics, and global supply chain management with a demonstrated ability to build strong, long-term supplier partnerships, is an asset.
• Demonstrated financial oversight of projects, with a strong track record of delivering complex initiatives on time and on budget while maintaining operational quality and customer commitments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce detailed reports, presentations, and technical documentation.
• Strong systems and technology proficiency, including experience with ERP systems, operational reporting, and data analysis.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and operational discipline in managing complex projects and supplier relationships.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken, with a second language in Mandarin being an asset.

Competencies and Knowledge

• Operational Leadership & Execution – Demonstrates a hands-on leadership style with the ability to oversee complex projects from quotation through delivery, ensuring work is completed on time, on specification, and aligned with customer expectations.
• Technical & Analytical Acumen – Strong ability to understand and interpret engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain details, asking insightful questions and using data and technical knowledge to identify risks and drive informed decisions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence – Effectively brings together engineering, procurement, quality, and operations teams to work cohesively, breaking down silos and aligning efforts to achieve shared project and organizational goals.
• Global Supply Chain & Partner Management – Demonstrates strong capability in working with international suppliers and manufacturing partners, building trusted, long-term relationships that support reliable delivery and operational success.
• Accountability & Results Orientation – Highly reliable and accountable leader who takes ownership of outcomes, communicates proactively, and consistently drives projects and teams toward successful results.

Personal Profile

• Hands-On & Action Oriented – Naturally rolls up their sleeves and engages directly in the details of projects and operations to ensure successful execution.
• Highly Accountable – Takes ownership of outcomes, follows through on commitments, and consistently delivers on promises without deflecting responsibility.
• Detail-Oriented – Maintains strong attention to technical, operational, and project details, ensuring accuracy and minimizing risk in complex environments.
• Trustworthy & Reliable – Builds credibility with leadership, teams, suppliers, and customers through integrity, consistency, and dependable decision-making.
• Resourceful & Persistent (Grit) – Finds solutions and pushes through obstacles, demonstrating determination when navigating complex operational challenges.
• Collaborative & Respectful – Values teamwork and creates an environment of mutual respect, bringing people together to solve problems and achieve shared goals.
• Curious & Inquisitive – Naturally asks thoughtful questions and seeks to understand the deeper technical, operational, and customer aspects of the business to anticipate issues and improve outcomes.

COMPENSATION

A competitive compensation package awaits the successful candidate.

LOCATION

Edmonton, Alberta

TRAVEL

Minimal travel required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

As a senior leader responsible for guiding the operations team and fostering a strong organizational culture, this role requires a consistent on-site presence to support collaboration, leadership visibility, and effective team engagement.

HOW TO APPLY

For the opportunity to join our client in the role of VP Operations, please email your resume to DreamBig@profoundtalent.com referencing Position ID # ATDK-661328.

Should you have any inquiry regarding this position, please contact Max Frank at 587-200-0114 ext. 102 or Terri Davis at ext. 101.

For further information on ProFound Talent Inc. please visit: www.profoundtalent.com

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 

ProFound Talent is a woman owned and operated business, recognized and certified by Women Business Enterprise (WBE). We pride ourselves in supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in our recruitment processes and in our work environment, where every individual feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals to which you may confidentially share your accommodation needs at time of application. We will adjust our processes to ensure you have an inclusive, fair, and respectful experience that allows you to represent yourself in your unique and most authentic way.

* We thank all applicants for your submissions, however only candidates being considered for this role will be contacted. *