General Manager

We are seeking a hands-on, results-driven General Manager to lead on-site operations for our Surrey, British Columbia location. This role is a critical leadership position responsible for day-to-day manufacturing and distribution performance, people development, safety excellence, and continuous operational improvement in our growing distribution business. This position reports to the Vice President of Trimlite Canada and be responsible for allocating budget resources, formulating policies/procedures, coordinating business operations, working with HR to develop and coach staff, managing operational costs, improving manufacturing efficiency, and supporting the company’s IT initiatives. The successful candidate will be a visible, floor-focused leader who sets the tone through action, not title. They will bring structure, discipline, and clarity while empowering teams to perform at their best—always with safety as the top priority. Essential Tasks and Responsibilities Operations & Manufacturing Leadership Provide overall leadership for production, distribution, and value-added systems, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable operations. Set clear production goals by department and ensure productivity, quality, and delivery targets are consistently achieved. Monitor operational performance through KPIs, dashboards, and daily management systems; take decisive corrective action when targets are missed. Drive operational efficiency through Lean principles, waste reduction, standard work, and continuous improvement initiatives. Oversee cost control and operating expenses while maintaining service, quality, and safety standards. Safety & Quality Excellence Build, lead, and sustain a best-in-class safety culture where safety is a core value and personal responsibility at all levels. Ensure compliance with all safety regulations, corporate standards, and local requirements; proactively address hazards and risks. Champion quality systems and ensure all products consistently meet or exceed company and customer quality standards. Support and advance Total Quality Management and continuous quality improvement initiatives. People Leadership & Team Development Lead, coach, and develop department leaders with a strong focus on accountability, engagement, and performance management. Partner with Human Resources to assess leadership capability, identify skill gaps, and recruit top talent. Build a strong bench of future leaders through structured development, mentoring, and succession planning. Foster an inclusive, respectful, and high-performance culture that values teamwork, diversity, and continuous learning. Oversee employee relations, discipline, development, and advancement in alignment with corporate policy and procedures. Culture, Strategy & Business Execution Reinforce a strong operational culture aligned with corporate values, safety priorities, and business objectives. Translate corporate strategy and annual operating plans into clear, executable actions at the site level. Work collaboratively with sales and customer service teams to align production, service levels, and customer commitments. Serve as a change leader who drives adoption of new processes, systems, and ways of working. IT & Systems Leadership Act as the on-site leader for IT initiatives, working closely with corporate teams to implement, stabilize, and optimize systems. Ensure technology supports operational efficiency, communication, reporting, and decision-making. Identify gaps in systems or data flow and actively participate in remediation and continuous improvement efforts. Serve as the primary site contact for IT issues, escalations, and system improvements Required Experience 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing or distribution environment. Proven track record of hands‑on operational leadership with responsibility for safety, production, quality, and cost performance. Experience leading teams of 30+ employees, including direct leadership of supervisors and managers. Demonstrated success implementing Lean manufacturing, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement initiatives. Strong experience developing leaders and managing performance in a fast‑paced environment. Prior P&L responsibility with a clear understanding of operational drivers and financial performance. Strong safety leadership mindset with experience building and sustaining a safety‑first culture. Ability to analyze complex operational challenges and translate strategy into actionable execution. Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization. High level of personal accountability, energy, and sense of urgency. Strong computer and systems literacy; comfort working with data, dashboards, and operational metrics. Preferred Experience Experience in building materials, construction products, or related industries. Background in scaling manufacturing or distribution operations during periods of growth or transformation. Experience supporting or leading IT system implementations or operational technology upgrades. #J-18808-Ljbffr