Director, Production and Logistics
The Director, Production and Logistics is the architect of the plant’s manufacturing and logistics operations. They plan, organize and optimize production, receiving, warehousing and shipping to support the company’s rapid growth, while ensuring performance, quality, health and safety, and profitability. They build their team, structure processes according to industry best practices and act as a strategic partner to management.
At first, they will also act as production supervisor on the shop floor, while learning the processes, the people and the trade. They will then confirm whether a production supervisor is needed and lead that hire, as well as the hire of the plant engineer.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Start-up mandate
- Oversee daily shop floor operations with the team leads, acting as production supervisor until one is hired;
- Assess production and logistics (processes, capacity, SAP data, skills) and present a prioritized action plan to the President;
- Confirm the structure needed, including whether a production supervisor is required, then lead the hiring of the supervisor and the plant engineer with Human Resources.
Production operations management
- Lead all production activities (welding, painting, assembly, woodworking, finishing and packaging), from scheduling to shipping;
- Validate the production schedule proposed by the buyer-planner against capacity, labour and equipment, and ensure it is carried out;
- Plan resources (labour, equipment, schedules) and adjust priorities with the team leads;
- Ensure compliance with quality, health and safety, and regulatory standards;
- Manage equipment and building maintenance in line with budgets and service contracts, with support from the plant engineer.
Logistics: receiving, warehousing and shipping
- Lead receiving, warehousing, line-feeding and shipping activities;
- Optimize the physical flow of raw materials, semi-finished goods and finished goods from receiving to delivery (layout, storage locations, Kanban, first in, first out);
- Ensure the accuracy of physical inventory and stock movements in SAP, working with Procurement on cycle counts and annual inventories;
- Coordinate transportation with Procurement and Customer Service, and track logistics KPIs (on-time in-full deliveries, receiving lead times, transportation costs).
Data-driven management and SAP
- Run operations using SAP S/4HANA data (production orders, confirmations, consumption, stock movements) and be accountable for data integrity in their area;
- Work with Engineering and Procurement to maintain bills of materials and routings so that MRP reflects how the plant actually runs;
- Implement production and logistics dashboards and report on them to management.
Strategic and budget planning
- Take part in sales and operations planning (S&OP) with the Finance and Procurement Director and the Sales Director;
- Prepare and monitor the production and logistics operating budget;
- Plan production capacity (labour, equipment, space) based on growth forecasts and prepare the resulting capital projects;
- Find opportunities to reduce costs and improve productivity.
Leadership and team management
- Lead the team leads (production, receiving and shipping), the plant engineer and, eventually, the production supervisor;
- Communicate expectations clearly, delegate effectively and hold each person accountable for their results;
- Set individual and team objectives, monitor them regularly and evaluate performance;
- Develop team skills (cross-training matrix, training, development plans) and take part in recruitment, retention and, when needed, disciplinary follow-up with Human Resources.
Continuous improvement
- Roll out industry best practices: Lean, 5S, standardized work, visual management and problem solving;
- Standardize and document processes and work instructions;
- Reduce waste, scrap and lead times, and increase operational efficiency;
- Build a culture of continuous improvement through training and by sharing results.
Health, safety and environment
- Develop and apply the occupational health and safety prevention program;
- Identify, assess and reduce risks related to production and logistics activities, and oversee incident and accident investigations and corrective actions;
- Ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory and environmental requirements.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Experience
- University degree in industrial engineering, operations management, logistics or another relevant field;
- Additional management training (MBA), Lean or Six Sigma certification, or planning certification (CPIM): an asset;
- At least 7 to 10 years of experience in production or logistics management, several of them in a management role;
- Manufacturing experience (required), ideally in sheet metal fabrication, welding or assembly.
Skills and qualities
- Proven ability to work in an ERP (required); experience with SAP S/4HANA is an asset. SAP training is provided at hiring: the system should be neither an obstacle nor intimidating;
- Advanced Excel;
- Fluent spoken and written French, and functional spoken and written English;
- Analyze and understand: map processes, measure and get to root causes before acting;
- Think and propose: design solutions that are well argued, costed and aligned with industry best practices;
- Confirm and execute: get approval, implement and follow through to measured results;
- Challenge the status quo respectfully, including your own ways of doing things;
- Structured and structuring: document, standardize and leave behind clear, lasting processes;
- Comfortable with change and the pace of a rapidly growing company;
- Lead: communicate expectations clearly, delegate effectively, follow up and help your team grow.
WHAT WE OFFER
- A $500 annual health and wellness budget (optometrist, sports equipment, massage therapy, gym membership, public transit, etc.);
- Great free coffee;
- A group RRSP;
- A 4-day work week in July;
- Four weeks of vacation per year, including two during the summer shutdown (the second week of the Quebec construction holiday and the week after);
- A laptop and a cell phone allowance;
- About ten paid days off during the holiday season;
- Stûv traditions: Christmas party, pre-vacation BBQ, sugar shack outing, and more;
- Work-life flexibility;
- An on-site position in Bromont, close to the mountain and the bike path.
Stûv America is the North American subsidiary of Stûv SA, a Belgian company that designs and manufactures high-end wood stoves and fireplaces. Founded in 1983, Stûv employs approximately 150 people and manufactures more than 15,000 units per year for distribution worldwide. In Bromont, Stûv America operates a manufacturing plant that serves only the North American market, through a network of retailers across Canada and the United States.
The company is well structured but growing very fast: here, the status quo doesn’t exist. If change motivates you, and you enjoy analyzing, questioning the way things are done and building solid processes, you have the Stûv DNA. Our values of respect, openness, commitment, transparency and excellence guide our actions every day.
