General Manager Operations

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of a custom fabrication and repair facility specializing in machining, welding, hydraulics, and heavy equipment service.

This role is responsible for overseeing a small multi-disciplinary team across shop and field operations, while ensuring efficient workflows, strong safety and quality standards, and consistent delivery of high-quality work to a global customer base.

This is a critical leadership position with succession planning in mind. The successful candidate will work closely with a long-tenured technical expert and gradually absorb key institutional knowledge, with the opportunity to take on expanded responsibilities over time, including quoting, estimating, and technical oversight.

The Operations Manager will directly oversee key functional areas including facilities, heavy equipment service, procurement, and shop floor teams (approximately 15 employees, with growth potential). The role requires balancing operational execution with business development, as generating and maintaining customer relationships is essential to sustaining and growing the business.

You will need to draw on your previous experience within the mining/aggregate industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations across machining, welding, hydraulics, and repair services, including both in-shop and field-based work
• Lead, mentor, and manage supervisors, lead hands, and shop floor employees, fostering a transparent, accountable, and team-oriented environment
• Coordinate production schedules, work orders, and resource allocation to ensure jobs are completed on time and within budget
• Collaborate with procurement to manage inventory, materials, and vendor relationships effectively
• Optimize shop scheduling and manpower allocation to meet changing customer demands and deadlines
• Ensure adherence to safety standards, quality requirements, and workplace regulations, including inspections and corrective actions
• Implement and enforce existing processes and SOPs, while identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and operational efficiency
• Monitor KPIs such as on-time delivery, rework, and shop efficiency, and drive accountability across teams
• Support and progressively take on quoting and estimating responsibilities for custom machining and repair work
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships, including participation in client meetings, site visits, and industry events/trade shows
• Provide operational insights and recommendations to senior leadership to support strategic decision-making
• Identify and recover lost revenue opportunities through improved job management, cost control, and process discipline
• Support hiring, workforce planning, and training initiatives to ensure the team is equipped for current and future demands
• Qualifications & Experience
• Proven experience in operations management within a custom machining, fabrication, heavy equipment repair, or similar industrial environment.
• Machining experience preferred
• Strong technical understanding of machining processes; ability to interpret drawings, tolerances, and specifications is essential
• Experience with custom, one-off or low-volume manufacturing environments
• Exposure to welding, hydraulics, and heavy equipment service operations is highly preferred
• Proficiency with Auto
• CAD or similar CAD software is important
• Experience with quoting, estimating, and job costing in a custom manufacturing environment is an asset
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams in both shop and field service environments
• Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, and inventory management
• Experience working in or alongside unionized environments is an asset
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to balance hands-on involvement with leadership responsibilities
• Compensation & Benefits

Salary range

• $150,000 – $200,000, based on experience and qualifications
• Company vehicle (including personal use), gas card, and insurance coverage
• Competitive benefits package
• Defined contribution pension plan
• Vacation: starting at 4 weeks (negotiable based on experience)
• Work Environment & Culture
• This is a hands-on, fast-paced environment where no two projects are the same.
• The team is experienced, collaborative, and takes pride in their work.
• Your leadership style is direct, transparent, and relationship-driven—success in this role requires someone who can build trust with the team, enforce accountability, and lead from the front.

The operation supports a global customer base across industries such as mining and heavy equipment, with work that is highly custom and often time-sensitive. The ideal candidate will be comfortable in a “roll-up-your-sleeves” environment with minimal formal onboarding, and capable of quickly learning the business while making an immediate impact.

Working Hours & TravelStandard hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Friday, 7:00 AM – 1:30 PM (flexibility required)Occasional travel for customer visits, field support, and trade showsThis role is best suited for a well-rounded operations leader who combines technical expertise, strong people management skills, and a business-minded approach to driving performance and growth.

If you feel like this job is for you, please apply to:

Shannon Davies, Director - Manufacturingshannon@harbingernetwork.ca, 365-599-5010Harbinger Network Inc. is a Canadian-based firm that serves companies across Canada andUSA, a diverse Network of Recruiters, and expertise in over 10 major disciplines. Our mission is to connect exceptional professionals with organizations across North America, delivering talent that integrates seamlessly and makes an immediate impact.

To apply for the position of Operations Manager in confidence, please include an up to date resume.

To learn more about Harbinger Network visit www.harbingernetwork.ca or contact us at 905-257-9691.

Disclosure:

This posting represents an active and genuine vacancy with one of Harbinger Network’s clients and is not for speculative or pipeline recruitment. Harbinger Network and/or our Clients may use AI-assisted tools to support the screening and evaluation of applications; however, these tools are not intended to replace the Hiring Manager’s judgement or decision-making in the hiring process.