Operations Manager

The Company Decora Powder Coatings is a family-run coatings job shop specializing in architectural and industrial powder coating and sublimation. The company operates two facilities on one property in St. Catharines: a new state-of-the-art vertical powder coating line and an established horizontal line. Decora focuses on delivering distinctive, high-performance finishes, developing long-lasting customer relationships, and offering unique services at competitive prices. The Opportunity Are you a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced, make-to-order job shop environment? Decora Powder Coatings is seeking an agile Operations Manager to oversee the day-to-day powder coating and sublimation operations and drive efficiencies through people, process, and scheduling. You will establish and lead consistent processes across two busy production lines/facilities and the sublimation process, ensuring every job order moves efficiently from scheduling through to shipment. As well, you will combine creativity with practical execution to handle changing priorities in a high-mix environment where every project is unique. This role is ideal for a proactive, fast-moving, people-focused leader who is technically and mechanically inclined, with a strong understanding of how systems and equipment drive performance. Please read the entire job description before applying. What You’ll Do Plant Management: Oversee all phases of plant operations, including primary processing, production, maintenance, inventory management, logistics, and resource allocation to meet production and customer demands. Spend the majority of working time on and optimizing the production floor, being visible and approachable to staff. Establish and track key metrics including on-time delivery, throughput, first-pass yield, rework/scrap, downtime, powder usage, and labour efficiency. Use data to guide decisions and production improvements. Use financial data to understand where to drive continuous improvement efforts for the most significant operational and cost impact to increase production, reduce waste, and raise first-pass yield. Find ways to optimize equipment for efficiency and automation. Scheduling and Coordination: Build a weekly production schedule by reviewing job orders and incoming parts in advance to understand scope, timing, and process steps, then sequence work by priority and line capacity. Plan supplies and people accordingly. Be engaged with the line to know where to slot rush orders for maximum efficiency by checking line capacity, changeover windows, and material availability. Communicate production plans and changes to supervisors and floor staff daily, and confirm that each shift understands what is running, when, and why. Team Leadership: Lead and mentor supervisors and floor staff across production, logistics, and maintenance (~50 employees). Do what is right, not what is easy. Be firm and goal-oriented while motivating, training, and engaging others enthusiastically. Ensure proper onboarding, technical job training, and cross-training for quality and to maintain flexibility across lines. Set clear expectations for each role, conduct regular performance reviews and provide coaching that reinforces consistency, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Foster a culture of continuous improvement where everyone understands how their work contributes to overall success; use simple language, visuals, and team leads to bridge language and cultural differences. Process Control & Quality: Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to standardize production processes and quality controls across both facilities. Set clear acceptance criteria and first-pass yield targets; verify film build, coverage, and cure before release. Track yield, rework, scrap, and powder usage daily; use trends to adjust racking, paint gun settings, cure profiles, and work methods. Quality - Oversee final inspection, packaging, and staging so parts are protected, correctly labelled, and shipped on time with accurate documentation. Align with ISO 9001:2015 practices and customer specifications; document results for full traceability and close out non-conformances promptly. Maintenance Oversight: Build and run a preventative maintenance schedule; ensure all equipment operates safely and reliably. Prioritize and plan repairs and calibration needs with maintenance staff to minimize disruption, schedule work during off-peak hours or changeovers. Proactively investigate and troubleshoot equipment issues. Track equipment downtime and find root causes; lead follow-up reviews and verify corrective actions are closed. Create operator ownership: train teams to inspect, clean, and care for workstations and equipment; ensure procedures and safety checks are clear and followed. Safety and Compliance: Enforce safety standards and compliance with the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. Maintain a clean, organized, and safe workplace. Communication: Conduct daily production meetings, coordinate with supervisors and management, and communicate updates, challenges, and results clearly. Qualifications Post-secondary education in engineering, manufacturing, or business, or equivalent industry experience. Lean Six Sigma certification an asset Minimum of four years of manufacturing and management experience in a fast-paced, job-shop or custom-production environment. Experience leading cross-functional teams, implementing Lean practices, SOPs, and safety programs. A place for everything and everything in its place.  Delivered measurable improvements in cost, quality, or throughput by standardizing processes and removing bottlenecks. Strong mechanical and technical understanding of equipment and willingness to troubleshoot equipment issues. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Excel. Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills Strong leadership presence: proactive, decisive, and results-driven, with the ability to motivate and influence others through energy, clarity, and accountability. Thrives in a fast-paced, changing environment; balances urgency with sound judgment and maintains focus under pressure. Compensation, Benefits, & Hours $100-150,000  total compensation (base + performance bonus) Vacation - open to discussion Comprehensive health benefits Monday–Friday: Full–time: overtime as required. Performance Metrics On-time delivery Increase Quality Reduce Downtime To be considered for this position, candidates are asked to complete the Predictive Index behavioural assessment as part of the recruitment process. Please copy and paste the link below into the browser: