Vice President of Operations – Western Canada

Greater Vancouver, BC

Our client is a leader in recycling sector, operating at the intersection of inbound logistics, environmental stewardship, recycling, and industrial manufacturing. The organization manages large-scale collection networks, processes end-of-life product handling and produces high-value recycled products that are distributed to customers across North America. As a heavily regulated business operating within stewardship programs and provincial environmental frameworks, our client plays a critical role in advancing sustainable resource recovery while delivering operational excellence to its customers and stakeholders.

Position Summary

Our client is seeking a hands-on, strategic, data-driven Vice President of Operations to lead all aspects of operations across Western Canada. This role is to be based out of their Lower Mainland regional head office in British Columbia.

Reporting to Divisional President, the VP of Operations will assume responsibilities currently overseen by the Regional Vice President and will provide leadership for their operations, including manufacturing, logistics, safety, customer relationships, regulatory compliance, financial performance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

This leader will be accountable for delivering operational excellence across a 24/7 environment while managing complex recycling, logistics, and manufacturing processes. The successful candidate will combine strong financial acumen, technical operational expertise, and people leadership to drive performance, profitability, safety, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

- Lead all aspects of operations across multiple sites in Western Canada.
- Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership for manufacturing, processing, inbound logistics, outbound logistics, and customer service functions.
- Maintain a highly visible presence within operating facilities and production environments.
- Review daily operational dashboards and performance data related to:
- Safety performance
- Collection volumes
- Processing metrics
- Production KPIs
- Customer service levels
- Identify operational challenges proactively and implement corrective actions.
- Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, operational discipline, and execution excellence.

Financial & Business Performance

- Own regional operational performance against revenue, profitability, and operating targets.
- Partner closely with the Area Finance Director to manage full P&L; accountability and annual budgeting processes.
- Analyze financial results, identify performance gaps,



and implement improvement initiatives.
- Develop and execute plans to achieve operational and financial objectives.
- Utilize data-driven decision-making to optimize business performance and resource allocation.
- Evaluate capital investment opportunities and support business case development for growth initiatives.

Safety, Regulatory & Environmental Compliance

- Champion a safety-first culture throughout the organization.
- Ensure compliance with all provincial and federal environmental, health, safety, and transportation regulations.
- Maintain strong working relationships with government ministries, stewardship organizations, regulatory bodies, and industry stakeholders.
- Lead operational readiness and compliance initiatives across highly regulated operating environments.
- Ensure facilities operate in accordance with all environmental stewardship requirements and reporting obligations.

Customer & Stakeholder Management

- Maintain executive-level relationships with key customers, including strategic accounts that represent the majority of regional volume.
- Conduct structured business reviews and operational meetings with major customers.
- Serve as a senior representative of the organization with government officials, regulatory agencies, stewardship boards, and industry associations.
- Ensure customer commitments, service standards, and commercial objectives are consistently achieved.

Team Leadership

- Lead and develop a diverse regional leadership team including:
- Plant Managers
- Inbound Logistics Managers
- Safety Manager
- Outbound Logistics & Customer Service Leaders
- Cross-functional support teams (Finance and HR)
- Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, communication, and employee engagement.
- Coach leaders at all levels and build organizational capability for future growth.
- Lead workforce planning and succession initiatives within the region.

Strategic Growth & Continuous Improvement

- Evaluate operational efficiencies and identify opportunities for process optimization.
- Conduct gap analysis and provide recommendations for operational improvements.
- Support integration of acquisitions, expansions, and future facility developments.
- Lead implementation of strategic initiatives and major capital projects.




- Develop scalable operating practices that support long-term regional growth.

Qualifications & Experience

- 10+ years of progressive senior operational leadership experience.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related discipline.
- Experience leading multi-site operations is essential from industrial, manufacturing, processing, recycling, logistics, or plant operations.
- Proven success managing complex operational teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Robust financial leadership experience including:
- Full P&L; ownership
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Financial analysis and performance management
- Demonstrated ability to use operational data and KPIs to drive decision-making.
- Experience working within regulated operating environments.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
- Engineering background with direct multisite manufacturing or plant operations experience.
- Experience within a private equity-backed organization.
- Exposure to mergers, acquisitions, facility startups, or major capital expansion projects.
- Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, or similar operational excellence experience.
- A strong operator who enjoys being on the plant floor.
- Comfortable making decisions in a fast-paced, 24/7 environment.
- Equally effective as a strategic business leader and hands-on operational executive.
- Financially astute with a deep understanding of operational drivers and profitability.
- A collaborative people leader who builds trust and accountability across teams.
- Skilled at balancing customer expectations, regulatory requirements, operational demands, and financial performance.

Compensation & Benefits: The anticipated base salary range for this position is $200-240K annually. The actual base salary for this position may depend on various factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience and work location. Your base pay is only one part of your total compensation package with this organization. This position will also be supported with an equity plan, annual bonus incentive plan, RRSP matching program and extended benefits.

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity as showcased above, please apply in confidence today.

Thank you in advance for your interest. Only those individuals deemed to have the skill set, track record and professional experience, as well reside in the British Columbia market, will be contacted for this leadership position.

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