Manufacturing Manager in Brantford

The Manufacturing & Distribution Manager will oversee approximately 40-50 employees through a team of supervisors and operational leaders across manufacturing and distribution functions. This individual will be responsible for ensuring safe and efficient day-to-day operations while also leading longer-term initiatives related to continuous improvement, automation, KPI development, production planning, process optimization, and operational scalability. The role requires a leader who can build trust with long-tenured employees while helping guide the organization through operational change and modernization initiatives. The successful candidate will bring a highly collaborative leadership style, strong manufacturing and distribution expertise, and the ability to mentor supervisors while driving accountability and operational performance improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for manufacturing, warehousing, shipping, and distribution operations
• Ensure compliance with Workplace Health & Safety legislation, environmental regulations, and company policies and procedures
• Lead and support supervisors and operational teams
• Monitor and improve operational KPIs including production output, throughput, efficiency, scheduling, and service levels
• Develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives, Lean Manufacturing practices, and process optimization strategies
• Support automation initiatives, equipment implementation, and capital projects
• Collaborate closely with various teams to ensure production and distribution alignment
• Oversee production scheduling and shipping priorities to support distribution centres across Canada
• Manage operational budgets, capital expenditures, and departmental spending
• Support succession planning, cross-training initiatives, and development of standard operating procedures to preserve operational knowledge and improve workforce flexibility
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, engagement, and continuous improvement
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with vendors, contractors, and external partners

Compensation

• Competitive base salary of $120,000-$130,000
• Performance-based bonus opportunity
• Pension program
• Comprehensive health and benefits package

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience within a production or industrial environment preferred
• Experience in custom batch building
• Experience leading manufacturing and/or distribution operations within paint, chemical, industrial, automotive, consumer products, packaging, or related continuous manufacturing environments considered an asset
• Strong leadership capabilities with experience coaching supervisors and leading operational teams through change
• Demonstrated experience with Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, KPI development, and operational performance management
• Exposure to industrial automation, process improvement, and capital project implementation
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, inventory management, warehousing, and distribution operations
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance short-term operational priorities with long-term operational planning
• Experience with ERP systems such as Oracle or Microsoft Dynamics considered an asset
• College Diploma or University Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or a related field considered an asset

This role is viewed as a critical operational leadership position within the organization and is ideal for an authentic and collaborative manufacturing leader who thrives in a fast-paced production environment, values continuous improvement, and can effectively balance operational accountability with strong people leadership.