Apply on Kit Job: kitjob.ca/job/2fsrpx

We are hiring a COO for a successful company in women’s apparel, designing, manufacturing and exporting primarily to European markets. Operating continuously for more than 30 years, the company currently employs 35 people in its facilities in Montreal, Quebec. Led by the founder, the company is seeking a Chief Operating Officer in preparation for significant growth.

This is a rare opportunity to take a leadership role with a founder-led, established brand entering its next phase of operational sophistication.

Primary Responsibilities

- Reporting directly to the President and Founder, the candidate will understand and support the mission of the company and its current product/market positioning.
- Understand the dynamics of the market, the industry and the competition to be able to contribute substantially to the strategic direction of the company.
- Lead the optimization, scaling and modernization of all operational systems, processes and resources, to improve customer satisfaction.
- Assume full executive responsibility for the selection, implementation, optimization and long-term governance of the company’s ERP platform. This will include vendor selection, ownership of the implementation plan and migration from the current system.
- Share in the responsibility for the team, hiring as needed, and ensuring the company has the internal skills and retention to maintain operations and grow as needed.
- Set, monitor, report and react to measurable performance goals for each department.
- Monitor the state of the art in the industry through conferences, professional organizations, and peer networking groups.
- Oversee the critical service providers key to the company’s operations, ensuring they are in full legal and operational compliance with our service contracts.
- Understand the core infrastructure used in apparel production, labelling and exporting, exercising sound judgment on its capacity, lifecycle and expertise required.
- Take responsibility for employee safety facilities, training programs, compliance and related duties.
- Manage 4 direct reports, a shared administrative assistant,



and add to the team as needed.
- Ownership of budgets and documentation for all of the above. With control over supply chain, the candidate will share P&L; responsibility with the sales group.
- Ultimately, the candidate will take full operational authority across production, logistics, inventory, HR operations, and systems, leaving the President to focus on design and development activities.

Profile of the successful applicant

The successful candidate will have;

- At least 8 years of leadership experience and at least 15 years of industry experience in the apparel sector.
- A bachelor’s degree in business or management is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated history of independent leadership, using a consultative process that is open to opposing views but without requiring all decisions to be committee-based.
- Due to the company’s substantial operations in European markets and regular communication with international customers and suppliers, fluency in English is required. Proficiency in French is required for internal operations.
- An appreciation for the design and manufacture of consumer apparel, and familiarity with brands and trends in the women’s apparel industry.
- Alignment with the Company’s cultural values, including a strong appreciation for loyalty, sustainable work/life balance, harmony in a highly diverse workforce, and the desire for continuous improvement.
- Technical competency with information technology, including a rudimentary understanding of software platforms and services.
- A history of introducing changes to an organization that uses influence instead of authority, that values people above analytics, and relies on consensus instead of the chain of command.

Work Environment and Conditions





- This is an onsite role where you are expected to be present 5 days per week, especially in the initial phases. This is a senior leadership role requiring flexibility in working hours during periods of operational transformation.
- The environment includes an office, a showroom, a factory floor and other commercial and industrial spaces. The candidate must be able to travel around those areas extensively during the day.
- Occasional travel (once per quarter) may be required at the discretion of the President, for which accommodations will be made to the candidate’s ordinary schedule.
- The candidate may be expected to handle some merchandise from time to time. Final candidates will be required to successfully complete a background verification process appropriate to the responsibilities of the role and conducted in accordance with applicable privacy and employment legislation.
- The company is committed to compliance with all local, provincial and federal regulations regarding overtime, vacation time, safe working conditions, accommodation for people with disabilities, use of language in the workplace, harassment, and discrimination.

Compensation and Benefits

- The salary range for this role is between $175,000 to $225,000 per annum. Salaries are reviewed annually, and we expect to pay within the top ⅓ of the industry’s ranges.
- Some resources may be available to assist the right candidate with relocation, but the company will not take responsibility for any immigration visa sponsorship now or in the future.
- Performance bonuses, insurance coverage, perks and other advantages to be discussed.

Advanced candidates should expect to be interviewed several times as this is a key role with significant trust and responsibilities. Expect a complete background check for candidates entering the post-interview screening process. The recruiting and hiring process will begin on 10 April 2026 and continue until the position is filled, anticipating that candidates will be screened and interviewed within 3 weeks.

Apply on Kit Job: kitjob.ca/job/2fsrpx

📌 Chief Operating Officer (Montreal)
🏢 Accelerated Ventures
📍 Montreal