Manufacturing Operations Manager
Sunnybrook, Alberta | Full-Time | On-Site
The Opportunity
Sunnybrook is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Operations Manager to take accountability for the performance, discipline, and continuous improvement of our manufacturing operations.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who understands manufacturing from both the shop floor and the numbers. You will be accountable for achieving our production plan and established targets for quality, productivity, cost, schedule attainment, and other key manufacturing KPIs.
Working closely with our President of Production, CEO, Shop Foreman, and Product Development team, you will translate business objectives into effective production plans, systems, processes, and measurable results.
We are looking for someone who can bring structure and accountability without unnecessary bureaucracy—someone who understands that the best manufacturing systems are the ones that work in practice.
What You'll Be Responsible ForProduction & Operational Performance
- Own and drive achievement of Sunnybrook's production plan, including productivity, quality, cost, schedule attainment, and established KPIs.
- Lead production demand, capacity, and resource planning.
- Identify bottlenecks, constraints, and operational risks and drive corrective action through resolution.
- Work closely with the Shop Foreman to establish production priorities and ensure effective shop-floor execution.
- Develop, monitor, and continuously improve meaningful manufacturing KPIs.
- Lead Lean and continuous-improvement initiatives focused on throughput, efficiency, quality, waste reduction, and cost.
People Leadership
- Provide leadership and performance direction for the manufacturing function in collaboration with the Shop Foreman.
- Establish clear expectations and accountability for manufacturing performance.
- Identify staffing, training, competency, and cross-training requirements.
- Coach and develop manufacturing leaders and employees.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning in partnership with leadership and HR.
- Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, safety, quality, and teamwork.
Manufacturing Financial Performance
- Monitor manufacturing job costs and investigate labour, material, scrap, rework, overtime, and other operational variances.
- Identify the root causes of cost and margin performance and lead appropriate operational improvements.
- Use operational and financial data to support decisions regarding staffing, equipment, tooling, outsourcing, workflow, and capacity.
- Develop business cases and ROI-based recommendations for manufacturing investments and improvements.
Procurement & Material Planning
- Lead procurement and material demand planning in alignment with production requirements.
- Ensure appropriate visibility into material requirements, inventory levels, supplier lead times, and potential supply constraints.
- Proactively identify and mitigate material or supplier risks that could affect production.
- Balance production requirements with responsible inventory and working-capital management.
Quality, Systems & Process Improvement
- Develop, document, implement, and maintain practical SOPs, standardized work, and manufacturing processes.
- Strengthen quality-control systems and drive corrective action and root-cause resolution.
- Support the development and implementation of quality-management systems, including ISO-based practices where appropriate.
- Promote process discipline while continually looking for better ways to manufacture.
- Support effective use and continuous improvement of manufacturing ERP/MRP systems.
What You BringRequired
- Demonstrated experience in an operational leadership capacity within a manufacturing environment.
- Strong practical experience in welding/metal fabrication and working knowledge of metallurgy.
- Demonstrated experience with production demand and capacity planning.
- Demonstrated experience with procurement/material demand planning and management.
- Experience managing manufacturing performance through measurable KPIs.
- Experience with job costing, operational variance analysis, and manufacturing cost drivers.
- Experience developing and implementing SOPs, standardized work, and process improvements.
- Strong analytical, organizational, leadership, and problem-solving capabilities.
- The ability to work effectively with both experienced shop-floor employees and senior leadership.
Relevant post-secondary education in manufacturing, engineering/engineering technology, operations, supply chain, business, a skilled trade, or a related discipline is preferred. An equivalent combination of technical training and significant manufacturing experience will also be considered.
Strong Assets
- Demonstrated Lean Manufacturing experience.
- Lean or Six Sigma certification.
- Experience implementing or maintaining ISO 9001 or another ISO-based quality-management system.
- ISO implementation or auditing experience.
- Experience implementing or optimizing manufacturing ERP/MRP systems.
- Experience with Fulcrum Pro.
- Experience in agricultural equipment, machinery, welding, or metal-fabrication manufacturing.
Authority & Accountability
This position is expected to do more than identify problems or make recommendations.
The Manufacturing Operations Manager is accountable for owning operational issues through resolution—identifying the problem, using data to understand the root cause, developing solutions, coordinating with the appropriate people, implementing agreed-upon actions, and measuring the result.
The Manager will be empowered to make operational decisions within established responsibilities and delegated authority. Significant decisions affecting production strategy, staffing, capital investment, or other material business considerations will be made in consultation with the President of Production and CEO.
Who We Are
Sunnybrook is an Alberta-based agricultural manufacturing company focused on developing and manufacturing practical, innovative solutions for the agricultural industry.
We believe sustainable growth comes from combining practical experience with disciplined processes, strong people, continuous improvement, and a willingness to challenge how things have always been done.
Our Core Values
Growth — We continuously learn, improve, and develop our people, processes, products, and business.
Grit — We tackle difficult problems, persevere through challenges, and follow through on our commitments.
Authenticity — We communicate honestly, take ownership, and act with integrity.
Reputation — We understand that the quality of our work, our products, and how we conduct ourselves builds the Sunnybrook name.
Innovation — We challenge existing approaches, look for better solutions, and turn practical ideas into meaningful improvements.
We are looking for someone who doesn't simply agree with these values, but demonstrates them in how they lead, make decisions, solve problems, and work with others.
Location
This is a full-time, on-site position in Sunnybrook, Alberta.
Being present and actively engaged with our manufacturing operation is an essential requirement of the role. Candidates must reside in, relocate to, or be within a reasonable daily commuting distance of Sunnybrook.
This is not a remote or hybrid position.
Why Join Sunnybrook?
This is an opportunity to have a meaningful impact on how a growing manufacturing company operates.
You will have the opportunity to improve systems, develop people, strengthen manufacturing performance, and help build the operational foundation required for Sunnybrook's next stage of growth.
If you are a practical manufacturing leader who enjoys solving problems, developing people, using data to make better decisions, and turning continuous improvement into measurable results, we would like to hear from you.
Pay: $95,000.00-$110,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Profit sharing
- RRSP match
- Tuition reimbursement
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Sunnybrook, AB: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
