Electronic Recycling – General Manager – Montreal

The recycling and disposal of electronics products has become a topic of global concern as governments and industry face the challenges of managing ever-increasing volumes of end-of-life materials. In addition to the cost and availability of landfills, electronics products contain materials that cannot easily be treated as common waste. There are also relatively small quantities of specific materials that may be potentially hazardous, particularly if they are not disposed of in a safe, professional manner. If properly processed, however, most of these materials are recyclable and have reuse value, leaving little to no negative environmental footprint behind them.

Recycling firms provide critical handling and disposal of these materials with the objective of optimizing recycling and reuse. In addition, they play an increasingly important role in aiding industry with surplus logistics, returns, warranty, secure data-cleansing, refurbishment, and even remarketing of electronics products, all with the aim of minimizing pollution and waste, recovering materials, and unlocking the residual value of client products.

Our client is a global leader in electronic recycling with operations across Canada, the US, Mexico, South America, and Europe. An approved recycling processor under all existing provincial stewardship programs, our client owns and operates 14 facilities across North America. Our client is dedicated to ensuring the secure, transparent, and environmentally friendly recycling of electronics on behalf of governments, municipalities, OEMs, and enterprises.

With full profit and loss responsibility for the company’s Quebec operations, the General Manager will report to the Vice of Operations. Consistent with the company’s strategic goals and plans, the General Manager will formulate and effectively execute the Quebec operations plans while creating energetic and positive relationships with the company’s customers, employees, and other key stakeholders.

Our client boasts fast-growing core markets, a myriad of new emerging market opportunities, a dedicated national team, and a committed ownership group.

• Align and execute operational plans for the company’s Quebec business to the overall corporate strategic plans. Responsible for managing system integrity – MRP and inventory accuracy.
• Assess and evaluate all current processing processes, make recommendations, and execute ongoing changes that improve throughput efficiencies, cost, and yields.
• Develop meaningful key performance indicators (KPIs) and other metrics by which to better monitor, measure, manage, and improve operations.
• Develop strategic projects to identify and deliver key business improvements throughout operations from identifying initial potential opportunity, delivering the business case, gaining approval, and delivering to agreed scope, budget, and timescale.
• Cultivate a continuous improvement or related lean manufacturing culture across the organization.
• Play a hands-on role in managing all day-to-day operations for the Quebec business, working closely with key operations managers and team members.
• Collaborate and share best practices with General Managers and business leaders in other geographies.
• Continue evaluating costing, supply chain, and logistics strategies and approaches against best practices.
• Strategic planning, budget preparation, and accountability for operational matters within the budget process.
• Manage and oversee all aspects of process innovation, design, and engineering to ensure the company maintains its innovative leadership position in the market.
• Manage and oversee the maintenance and servicing of the company’s processing equipment to minimize downtimes while maximizing the efficiency and working life of all processing equipment and machinery.
• Ensure that the company remains compliant with all applicable regulatory standards and all outputs are handled in accordance with and to the highest recycling safety and quality standards.
• Ensure that quality processes and standards are compliant and continually enhanced.
• Evaluate staff-related processes and procedures including work rules, position descriptions, responsibilities, training, etc., with a view to both optimizing productivity and enhancing employee relations. Gain alignment with needs of the business.
• Proactively pursue revenue-generating opportunities and collaborate with other company stakeholders in pursuing such opportunities within the Quebec market and beyond.
• Proactively pursue strong positive relationships with the employee population.
• Motivate staff through being a positive, encouraging champion for continual improvement.
• Develop staff to ensure their capabilities scale as the business scales.
• Contribute to the overall executive management of the firm, as part of the senior management team.
• Foster strong working relationships with executive team members as well as company owners.

In light of the identified responsibilities, the following are specific deliverables that the position is designed to achieve.

• Continuous improvement and service delivery excellence – Leadership or teamwork contribution in expenses, process cost, yield, downtime reduction, safety, and client service.
• Teamwork – Effectiveness in working with the sales, finance, and engineering teams to achieve the business objectives.
• Client satisfaction – High quality, efficient processing that meets or exceeds client’s requirements.
• Expense control – Meet or exceed approved budgets or forecasts.
• Reporting – On-time accurate monthly reports and forecasts.

The following competencies listed below define the role of General Manager at our client.

Role Expertise
Demonstrates critical technical or professional knowledge/skills related to the role. Has thorough knowledge of relevant products, services, and methods. Expands technical knowledge/skills and keeps up-to-date in own area of expertise.

Planning & Objective Setting
Systematic in approach to work. Produces action plans in which objectives are defined and steps for achieving them are clearly specified. Plans by breaking down large tasks into subtasks. Develops plans that anticipate obstacles. Is realistic about time-scales and builds in appropriate checkpoints, milestones, and controls in order to ensure that desired results are realized.

Commercial Acumen
Applies appropriate commercial and financial principles. Understands situations in terms of costs, profits, added value, and return on investment. Appreciates the commercial impact of own work on the organization’s total expenses and revenues.

People Management
Establishes and communicates clear priorities and sense of direction. Clarifies roles and responsibilities. Adapts management style to achieve optimum results.

Developing & Coaching Others
Accurately assesses strengths and development needs of employees. Challenges others to improve their abilities and actively supports their development. Continually provides timely and constructive feedback, coaching, and challenging learning opportunities. Adjusts coaching style based on each employee’s ability and motivation level.

Adaptability
Quickly adapts to new situations and approaches. Open to change and readily adopts new methods in the face of shifting priorities and ambiguity. Can alter own perspective and behaviour in order to adjust to changing demands and plans.

Strategic Approach
Develops a strategic plan to realize the vision. Revises strategy in light of changing circumstances. Takes a long-term view of organizational success. Works to clarify long-term organizational goals. Able to stand back from immediate problems in order to focus on more far-reaching ideas.

Team Skills
Helps to create a sense of team spirit and harmonious relations through cooperation and support. Balances personal goals with those of the team. Fosters collaboration among team members.

The following indicates specific industry, academic, and functional experience/qualifications that are important to the successful achievement of the identified responsibilities and performance deliverables.

• 15 plus years of broad-based manufacturing, operations, engineering process management, process improvement, and related experience.
• Experience in implementing best practices in operations, quality systems, and engineering.
• Significant change management, business transformation experience within mid-sized and private businesses.
• Experience in striking a balance between substantive yet measured change that moves the organization forward without risking its future.
• Complementary business experience that can be leveraged in the current role and for future growth opportunities.
• A track record of success distinguished by having cultivated positive working relationships with staff, peers, and superiors.
• The position is Montreal-based.
• Competitive and innovative compensation package which will be discussed with serious candidates.