Group Director, Manufacturing

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

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life:

• 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

What You’ll Bring:

• 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 commercial/financial objectives.
• Experience driving staffing and technological improvements and solutions to build world-class manufacturing sites and teams.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills with the ability to comfortably navigate complex situations.
• Ability to adapt to working hours in various time zones; willing to handle work outside of normal office hours and travel when required.
• Advanced skills in the use of Microsoft Office Suite; experience within an SAP environment is an asset.

What We Offer at Maple Leaf Foods:

• Being part of a high-performance, people-focused company that has an inspiring and unique vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, and a deep commitment to sustainable protein across North America.
• An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps our people safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute their best.
• Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs, including programs focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. These benefits start on your first day of employment.
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment.
• Learning and development opportunities, including workshops, ‘speaker series’ events, and resources that allow you to develop your skills and progress your career.
• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program that supports continuous learning and development of our team members through investment in eligible degrees, diplomas, professional certification, or trades programs.
• Supporting our deep commitment to community impact, we offer up to two paid days annually to volunteer at a cause of your choice.

About Us:

We’re a carbon neutral food company on a purposeful journey to Raise the Good in Food through better nutrition, safer food and workplaces, more humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We care about our communities and commit to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Join us on the journey. Let’s build a better future, together.

We’re passionate about food. For more than 100 years, we’ve made delicious, healthy protein that Canadians love under iconic national and regional brands, like Maple Leaf®, Schneiders®, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co.® We’re on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company – not just in Canada – but on earth.

• We are carbon neutral.
• We are one of the only food companies in Canada to set science-based targets.

We’re a global food company with more than 13,500 team members. We operate sites in 20+ locations across Canada. We also have locations in the U.S. and Mexico, and do business in Asia.

A diverse and inclusive work environment

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision and living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values. We believe in building, investing in, recognizing, and rewarding remarkable people who value an inclusive workplace, embrace all forms of diversity, and commit to including every voice in our collaborative environment. We’re so much stronger when we know we’re accepted and valued for who we are and what we each bring to the workplace.

We embrace a strong, values-based culture

Our eight Leadership Values are our north star. They guide the decisions we make for all our stakeholders: our consumers, our customers, our people, our communities, our shareholders, and the environment.

• Doing What’s Right
• Shared Value
• High Performance
• Diverse and Inclusive Teams
• Disciplined Decision Making
• Our Accountability
• Intense Curiosity
• Transparency and Humility

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision, living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values, and delivering winning results. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired; please contact our Talent Attraction Team at accommodations@mapleleaf.com.

Disclaimer: Please note that salaries posted on sites other than the MLF Careers Page are not a reflection of Maple Leaf Foods and are an estimated salary range provided by that particular job board. Maple Leaf Foods offers competitive wages and an attractive total rewards package, which will be discussed during an interview with our Talent Team.