Group Director, Manufacturing Financial Dr

The Opportunity:

The Group Director, Manufacturing is responsible for leading the manufacturing operations across multiple facilities, with a focus on driving operational excellence, maximizing efficiency, and ensuring a safe and healthy working environment. This executive-level position will oversee day-to-day business operations, including the development and implementation of strategic manufacturing and operational plans, policies, and procedures that align with Maple Leaf Foods' forward-thinking vision, mission, and values.

The Group Director, Manufacturing will provide strategic and operational leadership by partnering with a variety of functions including Manufacturing, Co-Manufacturers, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, Food Safety and Quality Assurance to streamline the execution of manufacturing activities—ensuring the efficient production of high-quality products to meet our competitive business objectives. Combining exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, this leader ensures Maple Leaf Foods is positioned for both short- and long-term success.

Reason for vacancy:
Existing Headcount

• Oversee the entire manufacturing process across Maple Leaf Foods' processing facilities, accomplished through your leadership of Site Leaders and Plant Managers across the Maple Leaf Foods network.
• Develop and implement a robust manufacturing plan aligned to Maple Leaf Foods' ambitious operational vision, strategies, policies, programs, and processes.
• Create and inspire vision and strategy for the business, considering global macro-economic trends in the sector, as well as commercial opportunities in the Canadian and international markets.
• Implement consistent manufacturing standards, philosophies, and approaches to ensure compliance with industry best practices and customer requirements, including Good Manufacturing Practices and HACCP.
• Strategize on capacity planning and resource optimization to meet resourcing, labour, and material planning requirements.
• Provide professional leadership and management across all components of the organization to ensure consistent standards of performance that reinforce Maple Leaf Foods' vision.
• Liaise and work closely with industry advocates, union representatives, elected officials, and the community.
• Identify, recommend, and implement new processes, technologies, and systems—including digital solutions and automation technologies—to improve and streamline organizational processes and use of resources.
• Monitor financial performance by developing and implementing cost-saving initiatives and using insights from KPIs to improve processes and boost operational efficiency.
• Ensure employee health and safety and food quality are at industry-leading levels by establishing and maintaining appropriate standards and protocols in partnership with your peers in Health & Safety, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, and Sustainability.
• Engage teams, creating a cohesive, high-performing culture to achieve superior financial performance, with health and safety and food safety as top priorities.
• Work closely with the Maple Leaf Foods leadership team to gain support for strategy and growth initiatives.
• Leverage Maple Leaf Foods' Leadership Values to cultivate a trusting, learning culture of leaders through continuous feedback, coaching, and robust development opportunities.

• Significant senior-level experience in manufacturing, ideally within the food industry or CPG, is critical.
• Experience overseeing multiple plants concurrently, including leadership of Plant Managers or Site Leaders.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Strong commercial/business acumen and understanding of market dynamics, along with exceptional critical thinking and analytical capabilities.
• Strong understanding of yields, labour, and costing, and how it affects day-to-day operations.
• In-depth knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate across functions and levels to solve complex problems, gain alignment, and execute with speed to deliver on…