We are seeking an experienced and hands‑on Operations/General Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of a custom fabrication and repair facility specializing in machining, welding, hydraulics, and heavy equipment service. This role is responsible for overseeing a small multi-disciplinary team across shop and field operations, while ensuring effective workflows, strong safety and quality standards, and consistent delivery of high-quality work to a global customer base.
This is a critical leadership position with succession planning in mind. The successful candidate will work closely with a long-tenured technical expert and gradually absorb key institutional knowledge, with the opportunity to take on expanded responsibilities over time, including quoting, estimating, and technical oversight.
The Operations Manager will directly oversee key functional areas including facilities, heavy equipment service, procurement, and shop floor teams (approximately 15 employees, with growth potential). The role requires balancing operational execution with business development, as generating and maintaining customer relationships is essential to sustaining and growing the business. You will need to draw on your previous experience within the mining/aggregate industry.
Key Responsibilities Oversee daily operations across machining, welding, hydraulics, and repair services, including both in-shop and field-based work
Lead, mentor, and manage supervisors, lead hands, and shop floor employees, fostering a transparent, accountable, and team-oriented environment
Coordinate production schedules, work orders, and resource allocation to ensure jobs are completed on time and within budget
Collaborate with procurement to manage inventory, materials, and vendor relationships effectively
Optimize shop scheduling and manpower allocation to meet changing customer demands and deadlines
Ensure adherence to safety standards, quality requirements, and workplace regulations, including inspections and corrective actions
Implement and enforce existing processes and SOPs,



while identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and operational efficiency
Monitor KPIs such as on-time delivery, rework, and shop efficiency, and drive accountability across teams
Support and progressively take on quoting and estimating responsibilities for custom machining and repair work
Build and maintain strong customer relationships, including participation in client meetings, site visits, and industry events/trade shows
Provide operational insights and recommendations to senior leadership to support strategic decision-making
Identify and recover lost revenue opportunities through improved job management, cost control, and process discipline
Support hiring, workforce planning, and training initiatives to ensure the team is equipped for current and future demands
Qualifications & Experience Proven experience in operations management within a custom machining, fabrication, heavy equipment repair, or similar industrial environment. Machining experience preferred
Strong technical understanding of machining processes; ability to interpret drawings, tolerances, and specifications is essential
Experience with custom, one-off or low-volume manufacturing environments
Exposure to welding, hydraulics, and heavy equipment service operations is highly preferred
Proficiency with AutoCAD or similar CAD software is important
Experience with quoting, estimating, and job costing in a custom manufacturing environment is an asset
Demonstrated ability to lead teams in both shop and field service environments
Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, and inventory management




Experience working in or alongside unionized environments is an asset
Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills
Ability to balance hands‑on involvement with leadership responsibilities
Salary range: $150,000 – $200,000, based on experience and qualifications
Company vehicle (including personal use), gas card, and insurance coverage
Competitive benefits package
Vacation: starting at 4 weeks (negotiable based on experience)
This is a hands‑on, fast‑paced environment where no two projects are the same. The team is experienced, collaborative, and takes pride in their work. Your leadership style is direct, transparent, and relationship‑driven—success in this role requires someone who can build trust with the team, enforce accountability, and lead from the front.
The operation supports a global customer base across industries such as mining and heavy equipment, with work that is highly custom and often time‑sensitive. The ideal candidate will be comfortable in a “roll‑up‑your‑sleeves” environment with minimal formal onboarding, and capable of quickly learning the business while making an immediate impact.
Standard hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Friday, 7:00 AM – 1:30 PM (flexibility required)
Occasional travel for customer visits, field support, and trade shows
This role is best suited for a well‑rounded operations leader who combines technical expertise, strong people management skills, and a business‑minded approach to driving performance and growth.
Disclosure:
This posting represents an active and genuine vacancy with one of Harbinger Network’s clients and is not for speculative or pipeline recruitment. Harbinger Network and/or our Clients may use AI‑assisted tools to support the screening and evaluation of applications; however, these tools are not intended to replace the Hiring Manager’s judgement or decision‑making in the hiring process.

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📌 General Manager Operations - Aggregate/Mining, Heavy Equipment Repair (Ontario)
🏢 Harbinger Network
📍 Ontario