Managing Director

Confidential Search | Full-Time, Permanent | Ontario — Hybrid
Annual on-target earnings: $135,000–$250,000 CAD
Reports to: Ownership

Our client is a growing manufacturing company seeking an experienced operating executive to lead the business day to day and build the team, systems, and operational capacity needed for its next stage of growth.

You must have personally led a founder-led manufacturing or physical-product business through significant growth, with direct accountability for overall business performance. This includes scaling its people, processes, production capacity, and profitability.

This search is confidential. The company’s identity and specific location will be shared with qualified candidates as the process advances.

About the Role

The Managing Director will translate ownership’s vision into clear priorities, coordinated execution, and measurable results.

You will lead department heads across production, operations, finance, sales, and marketing. Working closely with ownership, you will strengthen accountability, resolve cross-functional challenges, and ensure the organization can deliver on its growth plans.

This role requires someone equally comfortable reviewing financial performance, coaching a department head, and working alongside frontline teams to understand an operational issue.

Key Responsibilities

Business Leadership & Growth

- Translate strategic goals into annual operating plans, quarterly priorities, and clear performance targets.
- Lead and coach the leadership team, ensuring alignment and accountability across departments.
- Establish effective leadership meetings, scorecards, and issue-resolution practices.
- Partner with ownership to assess growth opportunities, investment decisions, and organizational capacity.
- Bring sound judgment and constructive challenge to business decisions.

Operational Excellence

- Oversee day-to-day performance across manufacturing, operations, logistics, customer experience, sales, marketing, and finance.
- Scale production capacity, systems,



and processes to support growth while protecting quality, margins, and delivery.
- Establish practical operating procedures, performance measures, and reporting.
- Identify bottlenecks and lead improvements across departmental boundaries.
- Ensure leaders maintain appropriate safety, quality, and compliance practices.
- Support alignment across Canadian and U.S. operations, including periodic travel.

Leadership & Accountability

- Build and develop a robust leadership team with clear responsibilities and expectations.
- Coach department heads, address performance issues, and strengthen decision-making.
- Ensure the organizational structure and leadership capacity support business growth.
- Build trust through clear communication, consistent follow-through, and a collaborative, hands-on leadership style.

Financial Performance & Risk

- Own business performance against revenue, profitability, budget, and operational targets.
- Partner with finance leadership on forecasting, cash flow, cost management, and investment planning.
- Use financial and operational data to identify issues and make timely decisions.
- Identify and manage risks associated with growth, capacity, suppliers, and cross-border operations.

Required Experience

- Personally led a founder-led manufacturing or physical-product business through substantial growth, building the infrastructure required to sustain it.
- Held overall business or division leadership accountability, including a full P&L; and multiple functions spanning production, operations, sales, and finance.
- Delivered measurable results from scaling a business, such as revenue growth, increased capacity, improved profitability,



or stronger delivery performance.
- Worked directly with founders or owners, balancing entrepreneurial ambition with operational discipline.
- Built and developed leadership teams and operating systems in a growing business with evolving processes and limited corporate infrastructure.
- At least eight years of progressive leadership experience, including a senior role such as COO, President, General Manager, or Managing Director.
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, margin management, and capital investment decisions.
- A hands-on approach and the ability to build credibility with frontline employees.
- Ability to attend the Ontario facility regularly and travel periodically to the United States, with appropriate travel documentation.

Candidates should be prepared to discuss the business they helped scale, its starting point, the results achieved, and their personal accountability for those results.

Additional Assets

- Experience scaling a business to $50 million or more in annual revenue.
- Experience working with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
- Experience overseeing Canadian and U.S. operations.

Location & Travel

Candidates across Ontario are welcome to apply, provided they can reliably commute to the company’s Ontario facility for regular on-site leadership. Hybrid flexibility is available; consistent in-person involvement is essential.

Periodic travel to U.S. operations is also required.

Compensation

Annual on-target earnings range from $135,000 to $250,000 CAD. Base salary, performance incentives, and how on-target earnings are achieved will be discussed during the recruitment process.

Equal Opportunity & Accessibility

Our client is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Accommodations are available upon request at any stage. Please advise the recruiter of any accommodation needs.

Pay: $135,000.00-$250,000.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Guelph, ON

📌 Managing Director (Guelph)
🏢 Confidential Privately-Held
📍 Guelph