Chief Operating Officer

On behalf of our client, Stone Tile International, Gilmore Partners has been retained to help recruit a new Chief Operating Officer.

Stone Tile International is a Canadian importer and distributor of premium surface materials, specializing in high-end tiles, natural stone, and architectural surfaces. Family-run and entering into their 35th year in business, Stone Tile is headquartered in Toronto, with multiple showrooms/warehouses across Canada, including Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. Stone Tile serves both commercial and residential markets.

We are seeking a results-driven
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
with proven expertise in
supply chain, inventory, and logistics operations
to build and lead a best-in-class infrastructure that supports aggressive growth, efficiency, and customer satisfaction targets. This role will own the development and execution of operational strategies across supply chain, warehousing, inventory control, logistics, and fulfilment, with a sharp focus on
efficiency, cost savings, working capital optimization, and scalability
.

This is a
hands-on leadership role
focused on establishing foundational systems, KPIs, and teams while aligning operational performance to financial goals, including
inventory turns, OPEX as % of sales, supplier costs, and overall cash flow improvements
.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Supply Chain Strategy & Optimization

• Design and implement a
  best-in-class supply chain
  with measurable KPIs across efficiency, cost savings, speed, and service levels.
• Drive improvements in cash flow through smarter procurement, faster inventory turns, and reduction of working capital tied in inventory.
• Implement supply chain technologies and automation to streamline sourcing, ordering, and planning.

2. Inventory Management

• Establish and maintain
  inventory accuracy at 99%
  , leveraging robust SOPs, cycle counting programs, and audit practices.
• Optimize inventory allocation and replenishment strategies across all distribution centers and warehouses.

3. Warehouse Network Development

• Set up a
  best-in-class warehouse network
  , including ABC product allocation and layout design to maximize space and throughput.
• Define and manage metrics such as:
• Order pick accuracy and efficiency
• Shipping error rates
• Average time to process orders
• Drive warehouse automation and real-time tracking to improve fulfilment speed and accuracy.
• Drive sample /facilities

4. Logistics & Freight Management

• Lead strategy and execution for
  inbound and outbound freight
  , including internal fleet and external logistics providers.
• Negotiate favourable freight terms and service-level agreements while ensuring reliability and scalability.
• Optimize transportation routes, costs, and delivery SLAs.

5. Supplier Management

• Oversee supplier performance, relationship management, and contract negotiations.
• Ensure supplier accountability to lead times, quality, and service metrics.
• Develop vendor scorecards and performance reviews tied to cost, reliability, and responsiveness.

6. Operational Performance & Financial Alignment

• Work with the CFO to
  design and implement bonus programs
  across all operations departments, aligned with profitability, revenue, and efficiency KPIs.
• Improve
  operating expenses (OPEX) as a % of sales to 35% or better
  , using data to reduce waste and increase throughput.
• Manage and report on department budgets, forecasts, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Maintain and track
  budgets for gallery construction costs
  and other capital expenditures as required.

7. Samples & Facilities Management

• Oversee the
  Samples department
  to ensure timely processing, fulfilment, and replenishment across all sales and showroom channels.
• Lead and improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of
  Facilities operations
  , ensuring all sites (offices, warehouses, showrooms, etc.) are optimized for safety, cleanliness, and operational readiness.
• Implement preventative maintenance schedules, vendor management, and facility upgrade planning aligned with growth

8. Acquisitions

• Oversee and own all operational aspects of acquisitions
  , from due diligence to post-acquisition integration.
• Lead operational audits, supply chain assessment, and logistics integration for acquired entities.
• Ensure cultural and process alignment of new operations with core business standards, technology platforms, and cost structures.

9. Reporting & Executive Communication

• Deliver a detailed
  monthly operations scorecard
  to the President and Executive Team, covering performance metrics across inventory, supply chain, logistics, and budget adherence.
• Identify risks and provide strategic recommendations to improve operations, profitability, and scalability.

10. Customer Experience Support

• Collaborate with the
  Chief Customer & Gallery Officer (CCGO)
  to ensure a seamless customer experience.
• Use customer satisfaction surveys, operational feedback loops, and issue resolution metrics to align operations with customer expectations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Engineering, or a related field (MBA preferred).
• Minimum 10 years of experience in supply chain, logistics, or operations leadership, including 5+ years in a senior or executive role.
• Demonstrated success in improving inventory turns, reducing OPEX, and implementing logistics KPIs at scale.
• Deep experience in WMS, ERP, and logistics platforms; data-driven with a passion for process improvement.
• Proven ability to build high-performance teams, lead change, and scale operations for growth.
• Strong negotiation, budgeting, and vendor management skills.

Stone Tile International is committed to providing equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure a barrier-free recruitment process. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and our AODA policy, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the hiring process. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please provide your accommodation needs in advance to Gilmore Partners for this opportunity.

We thank all interested candidates in advance; however, only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.