Interim Executive Lead, Manufacturing Group
Employment Type: Contract (6 months)
Location: West GTA, ON (On-Site)
Rate: Competitive
Industry: Manufacturing
Position Type: Existing Vacancy
About the Opportunity
Our client is a privately held manufacturing group with a global footprint and several operating companies. The businesses run with a high degree of autonomy, each led by its own senior leader, and the organization is lean.
The group needs an experienced executive to lead its manufacturing businesses for an initial six-month term. Reporting to the CEO of the parent company, you will work directly with the Vice Presidents and Managing Director who run the individual businesses. Some of those businesses are steady and need little oversight. Others need hands-on support: one is integrating recently acquired facilities and resetting its plan after a period of rapid growth, and others are working through lower volumes.
This is a mandate for someone who has been around the track many times. You will spend your time in the plants as much as in the office, bring turnaround and integration experience with you, and work with a high degree of independence.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead a group of manufacturing businesses on behalf of the CEO, focusing your time on the businesses that need the most support
- Hold weekly one-on-ones with each business leader, and be on site in their facilities when issues need closer attention
- Bring turnaround experience to underperforming operations: set the plan, hold the team to it, reassess and adjust
- Support the integration of recently acquired facilities
- Help the businesses plan through lower volumes and changing customer demand
- Coach senior leaders, including those newer to the group, on leadership style, communication and building trust with their teams
- Partner with the group’s finance leadership to improve the speed and accuracy of monthly reporting and to support lender discussions
- Pull together quarterly board materials from each operating company into the parent company’s board package, keeping every business to the standard format
- Support key customer relationships where a senior presence helps
- Work alongside the HR leads embedded in each business on people matters
What You Bring
- 10+ years of senior leadership in manufacturing, including time as President, COO or group or divisional lead with full P&L ownership
- Experience leading multiple sites and business units at the same time
- Hands-on turnaround experience, such as an underperforming plant, a low-volume period, or an acquisition and integration
- Strong floor presence: you can walk a plant and quickly see what is and is not flowing
- A track record of leading and coaching senior leaders in a decentralized, entrepreneurial business
- The judgment to work with little direction
- Experience in both union and non-union environments
- Availability to be on site at least three days a week for six months, with five days preferred, and to travel to the United States on occasion
Nice to Have
- Experience in a privately held or owner-led business
- Previous interim or advisory mandates
- Experience preparing board materials for a multi-company group
- A degree in Engineering or Business
Next Steps
We do appreciate all interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Clarity Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and workplace. If you require accommodation, please let us know in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Please note: We use AI-assisted tools for notetaking during the screening process.
Job ID: 3710593
About Clarity Recruitment
Clarity is an executive search and recruitment firm specializing in Finance & Accounting talent across Canada - from accountants to CFOs. Additionally, Clarity partners with organizations to hire exceptional talent in HR, Operations, and IT, helping build the teams that power business success. Our process is designed to minimize risk, maximize alignment, and move quickly. With dedicated practices in Executive Search, Full-Time Search, and Project & Interim Consulting, we help organizations grow with confidence. Visit findingclarity.ca to learn more!
