Merit Ontario

is a construction association supporting small to large construction companies with workforce needs across Ontario. Our talent specialists provide recruitment services and customized solutions to find quality candidates.

Our member,

Forest Fence & Deck , is looking for a

Operations Manager

to join their team in

Richmond Hill, ON .

Who we are: Forest Fence & Deck has designed and built decks, fences, pergolas and boardwalks across the GTA since 1984. We are owner-led, run six installation crews, and have grown about 50% over the last three years. We are hiring an Operations Manager who will run project delivery from day one and grow into our General Manager: the person who runs Forest day to day and pushes it to grow. This is not a coordinator role. You will own every project from the moment it is sold to the moment the customer leaves a review. You plan the work, handle permits, keep customers informed, solve the problems that come up on site and before the build starts, and make the decisions that keep jobs on time and on budget.

Title: Operations Manager, General Manager Track Job Type: Full time Salary: $80k-$100K/year Location: Richmond Hill, ON

The path to General Manager We are hiring the person who will eventually run Forest day to day. You will start by owning operations and project delivery and leading our operations team. As you prove yourself, you will take on more: our sales team, spending and hiring decisions, and then the budget, pricing and direction of the business, working toward the General Manager role.

Working Conditions: Require standing, sitting, and lifting for long periods of time, lifting approximately 50lb throughout the day. The work is outdoors so comfort with various weather conditions as well as heights and ladders is required. There will be a level of strength and endurance required for this position.

What we are looking for: The crew foreman will be a skilled carpenter who takes pride in their work and strives to achieve a high level of quality and job site safety. Forest Fence & Deck is a Pro Platinum Trex installer and we take a lot of pride in perfection.



The job location will vary but centered around Richmond Hill and GTA. A company truck will be provided to go on site and return.

Why this role

Real ownership. You make the calls on your projects. We are hiring someone to decide and fix, not to pass problems up the chain.

A path to run the business. Your responsibility and pay grow as you earn them, up to the General Manager role.

Direct line to the owners. No layers of management and no corporate bureaucracy. Good ideas get used quickly.

A team behind you. You will lead our Planning Manager, who runs ordering, deliveries, locates and a set of simpler projects, and our Technical Estimator, who prepares drawings, takeoffs and permit applications. A strong sales lead hands you sold projects.

What You Will Own

Sales handover: review each sold project, confirm scope with the customer, and catch gaps before work starts.

Customer relationships: be the customer's main contact from handover to completion.

Decisions you make

Project schedules, sequencing and crew assignments, together with the head foreman.

How site, permit and pre-construction issues are resolved, within code and the approved scope.

How customer concerns are resolved, within agreed limits.

Your decision-making authority grows as you move toward the General Manager role. We expect escalations to the owners to be rare.

What You Need

5+ years in residential construction or renovation (such as decks, landscaping, custom homes or renovations), including at least 2 years leading a team or owning project budgets.

Hands-on experience with building permits, examiner comments and inspections at an Ontario municipality.

Working knowledge of the Ontario Building Code (Part 9) for decks, stairs, guards and footings.





Ability to read construction drawings and solve problems on site yourself, before they become expensive.

A track record of handling unhappy homeowners calmly and resolving issues to their satisfaction.

An owner's mindset: clear examples of improving margin, fixing a broken process, or taking responsibility for results without being asked.

Strong organization across many active projects, using job management software (we use Jobber), email, and Google Docs and Sheets.

Valid Ontario G licence and your own vehicle.

Compensation

$80,000 to $100,000 base salary, depending on experience.

Annual bonus based on on-time project completion, customer reviews, project margin and company profit.

Compensation grows as your responsibilities grow toward the General Manager role.

Mileage reimbursement for site visits.

Paid time off.

Schedule and seasonality Monday to Friday, based at our Richmond Hill office with regular site visits across the GTA. Spring through fall is our busy season, and longer days are normal then. Winter is quieter and goes to permit preparation, planning the next season and improving how we deliver. Occasionally an urgent customer or site issue needs attention outside regular hours.

What Success Looks Like

First 30 days: learn our process, Jobber and active projects, ride along with each crew, and start running sales handovers.

By 90 days: you run project delivery day to day, and customers and crews come to you first.

By 6 months: the owners are fully out of daily operations, and you are improving how we deliver.

Location: 13554 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 2S9, plus customer sites across the GTA. Forest Fence & Deck is an equal opportunity employer and encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Disclaimer: Although Merit Ontario employs artificial intelligence enabled tools to conduct initial application screening based on job-related criteria, decisions about who progresses in the hiring process are always made by people. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

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