Director of Operations - West
Agri Foods · Burnaby
ROLE: Director of Operations - West
REPORTS TO: Vice President of Operations
LOCATION: Delta & Port Coquitlam, BC
The Director of Operations – West is responsible for overseeing operational performance across all British Columbia manufacturing facilities, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence in Safety, Environment, and Quality. This role works collaboratively with the Corporate Operations Team (EHS, Engineering, Quality Assurance) and Plant Managers to drive consistency, performance, and continuous improvement across all sites. This role does not assume day-to-day plant operational control. Plant Managers remain accountable for site execution.
The Director ensures:
Alignment to corporate standards
Consistent KPI delivery
Leadership capability development
Effective implementation of programs and initiatives
Opportunities
This is a critical leadership role supporting the organization’s continued growth and operational maturity.
The primary opportunity is to:
Standardize site performance while maintaining site accountability
Coach and develop site leadership to strengthen leadership capability
Execute corporate programs through site leadership
Create, monitor, and own regional KPIs
Align with the East Director on national practices, KPI definitions, and reporting cadence
Reduce site-to-site variability through consistent operating standards
Connect corporate strategy to clear site-level execution
The key challenge will be to:
Drive consistency without removing plant ownership
Ensure execution of corporate programs without creating duplication or confusion
Maintain strong performance across union and non-union environments
This role enables you to:
Influence multi-site operations at a strategic level
Develop high-performing leadership teams
Drive improvements in safety, quality, and operational efficiency
Here is who you are…
Drive & motivation
You thrive in a dynamic, multi-site manufacturing environment
You are motivated by driving performance through others
You are passionate about developing leaders and building strong teams
You are driven to standardize processes and improve systems
Character & ABILITIES
You maintain strong organizational discipline across multiple sites
You communicate effectively across all levels of the organization
You demonstrate sound judgment in escalation and decision-making
You balance accountability with coaching and mentorship
You navigate cultural and regional differences effectively
You are skilled at identifying variability and driving consistency
You build strong cross-functional relationships with corporate and plant teams
Knowledge & skills
Strong expertise in multi-site manufacturing operations
Advanced knowledge of Lean, TPM, and continuous improvement
Strong understanding of production systems, planning, and KPIs
Strong financial acumen (cost control, budgeting, efficiency improvement)
Knowledge of regulatory requirements in:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (SFCR / Preventive Control Plans)
WorkSafeBC (OHS Regulation)
Experience managing both union and non-union environments
Strong capability in labour relations, workforce engagement and performance management
Ability to analyze data and drive performance improvements
Experience
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, management, or a related field preferred, with 15+ years of experience in manufacturing operations; an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will also be considered.
10+ years in leadership roles
Multi-site manufacturing experience required
Experience in unionized food or beverage manufacturing strongly preferred
Lean / Six Sigma experience
Nice-to-Have
MBA or advanced leadership training
Six Sigma Black Belt
Experience in dairy or liquid beverage manufacturing
Experience implementing enterprise systems or digital tools
things you will do…
Analyze operational performance across all BC sites to identify trends, gaps, and improvement opportunities
Drive alignment to corporate KPIs and ensure consistency across facilities
Coach and develop Plant Managers to strengthen leadership capability and accountability
Ensure effective implementation of corporate programs (EHS, QA, Engineering)
Support regulatory compliance
Monitor performance and intervene only when escalation thresholds are met
Support cost control, budgeting, and operational efficiency improvements
Drive standardization of processes, KPIs, and reporting across sites
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align operational strategies with business objectives
OTHER …
Regular travel within the lower mainland as required
Occasional off-hours support during critical operational events
May be required to support major incidents, audits, or escalations