Job Description

Aplin has partnered with a leading manufacturer to recruit a Production Manager for their South Western Ontario facility. This is an excellent opportunity to step into a key leadership role overseeing a unionized workforce in a stable organization with a strong backlog of work and upcoming capital investment.
The Role
The Production Manager will oversee approximately 60 direct reports across two shifts, with the majority of the team (around 50 employees) on the day shift. The workforce is unionized under the Iron Workers, requiring a leader with excellent interpersonal skills and proven experience building trust and credibility with operators.
This role requires a balance of leadership, organizational, and technical ability. While the facility has strong technical experts to support the incoming leader in their first three to six months, the most critical measure of success will be the Production Manager's ability to engage operators, foster accountability, and model the company's values on the shop floor.
Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and engage a team of ~60 employees across two shifts, ensuring productivity and strong operator relations.
• Coordinate production to meet customer demand while managing human and material resources effectively.
• Build trust and credibility with unionized staff, particularly with operators on the floor.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards and champion a strong safety culture.
• Develop, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures for production operations.
• Oversee adherence to quality systems, including corrective actions and non-conformance management.
• Monitor product quality, implement tracking programs, and analyze data to identify and resolve production issues.
• Partner with two experienced Production Supervisors (tenure of three and two years, respectively).
• Contribute to the successful integration of a new tube machine, scheduled for delivery and commissioning within the next 10 months.
• Manage light budget responsibilities, primarily related to training and health & safety initiatives.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient utilization of labor, materials, and equipment.
• Participate in interviewing, hiring, and onboarding new employees.
• Prepare and maintain production reports and ensure cost control measures are in place.
• Model the organization's vision, mission, and values, ensuring employees do the same.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Business Administration, Management, Engineering, or Industrial Technology.
• Proven leadership experience in production or manufacturing, ideally in a unionized environment.
• Strong knowledge of health & safety standards and quality management systems.
• Willingness to actively participate in the Joint Health and Safety Committee and obtain Level 1 & 2 Certification.
• Solid understanding of production and manufacturing processes and techniques.
• Proficiency with ERP systems; Microsoft Dynamics AX experience is an asset.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to earn respect and engage operators effectively.

David Aplin & Associates Inc., operating as Aplin, and its associated brands, CompuStaff and Impact Recruitment, is an award-winning employment agency connecting diverse, top-tier talent with exceptional organizations across North America. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and charge no fees to apply or engage with our recruiters. Our clients partner with us to help expand and diversify their teams. Please note that all applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada, including holding any necessary work permits.

Skills Required