Arrow Speed Controls Limited (est. 1980) is the leading Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Integrator in North America. With over 20,000 successful applications to date, we are a trusted partner across the heavy industries. We engineer and assemble speed control equipment for a wide range of electric motor applications. In addition to VFD's, we also do DC drives, soft starts, servo controls and PLC systems. 

Summary

The Director of Operations is accountable for the overall execution, performance, and continuous improvement of Arrow Speed Controls’ Production, Engineering/Design, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Project Delivery functions across Canadian site locations. This is a senior leadership role overseeing a department of 50+ employees, responsible for building scalable operating discipline across manufacturing and engineering to improve throughput, quality, on-time delivery, and margin performance.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on operational leader who combines technical fluency with practical execution. They build high-performing teams, establish clear operating rhythms, and foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement. This role also requires a strong understanding of industrial automation solutions and experience delivering to heavy industrial customers in mining, forestry, ports, and/or oil & gas.

This role leads a department of 50+ employees across manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and warehouse operations. Direct reports include: Engineering Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Shop Foreman, Warehouse Manager

1) Operational Execution & Delivery

• Lead day-to-day execution across production, engineering/design, supply chain, and warehouse operations to ensure efficient end-to-end delivery.
• Ensure projects and manufactured deliverables are executed safely, efficiently, on schedule, and to defined quality standards.
• Optimize workflows, capacity planning, and resource allocation to improve throughput and reduce operational constraints.
• Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools, and operating practices (e.g., standard work, visual management, root cause analysis, constraint removal).
• Establish and enforce disciplined execution practices for engineered-to-order work: scope control, change management, schedule adherence, and quality gates.

2) Industrial Automation and Heavy-Industry Execution

• Provide operational leadership in an environment delivering industrial automation and electrical solutions, including engineered electrical equipment, control panels/MCCs, PLC/SCADA integration, VFD systems, and related controls/power solutions.
• Ensure operating practices, documentation standards, quality controls, and test/inspection processes meet the expectations of industrial customers in mining, forestry, ports, and oil & gas.
• Support customer requirements for FAT/SAT preparation, documentation packages, and commissioning readiness (as applicable to Arrow’s scope).

3) Performance Management & Operating Rhythm

• Establish and run an operating cadence (daily/weekly production and engineering reviews, constraint and staffing reviews, and monthly KPI reporting).
• Track and report performance, including schedule attainment, engineering throughput, quality performance, labour productivity, and resource utilization.
• Identify operational risks early (capacity, supply chain, engineering throughput, quality, safety) and implement mitigation plans.

4) Financial & Commercial Discipline

• Own departmental budgets, forecasts, and spending plans; manage labour and overhead performance.
• Monitor project and manufacturing financials (cost control, margin performance, cost-to-complete discipline) and drive corrective actions to improve results.
• Improve estimating-to-execution feedback loops to reduce variance, improve quoting accuracy, and protect margins.

5) People Leadership, Safety, and Culture

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary operations organization of 50+ employees spanning production and professional engineering teams.
• Set clear expectations, build role clarity, coach performance, and develop succession and bench strength across front-line and management roles.
• Champion a strong safety and quality culture; ensure compliance with company policies and applicable standards.

6) Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Alignment

• Partner with Sales, Engineering, and Project Delivery to align operational execution with customer commitments and application requirements.
• Provide clear escalation paths, communicate constraints early, and drive alignment across functions to protect customer outcomes.
• Collaborate across Madison Industrial Group (MIG) businesses as appropriate to share best practices and optimize resources.

 Measures of Success

• On-time delivery/schedule attainment (production and project milestones)
• Engineering/design throughput and release quality (rework reduction)
• Quality performance (defects, NCRs, rework hours)
• Safety performance (incidents, near-miss reporting, corrective action closure)
• Margin performance (gross margin, cost-to-complete accuracy, variance reduction)
• Supply chain performance (lead-time adherence, inventory turns, expedite reduction)

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Automation, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations leadership within manufacturing, engineered-to-order environments, or industrial project delivery.
• Demonstrated experience leading large production and engineering teams (department size 50+ employees), including front-line leaders and professional engineering management.
• Strong understanding of industrial automation solutions (e.g., control panels/MCCs, PLC/SCADA, VFD systems, industrial controls/power distribution) and how these solutions are executed through engineering and manufacturing.
• Experience supporting customers and applications in mining, forestry, ports, and/or oil & gas (owner/operator, OEM, EPC/EPCM, integrator, or service provider experience acceptable).
• Proven ability to establish KPI discipline, operating cadence, and continuous improvement in a safety-critical environment.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred

• PMP, Lean, Six Sigma, or related certifications.
• Experience with ERP/MRP-driven manufacturing and engineered-to-order project environments.
• Familiarity with industrial electrical codes, quality systems, and customer documentation/testing expectations common to heavy industry.

What we will give to you:

• $150,000-$200,000 per annum, dependent on experience
• RRSP matching
• Extended health and dental benefits
• Education and training funding opportunities
• Social functions with team
• Paid time off for personal wellness
• Opportunities to move up with your career with Arrow

Arrow Speed Controls is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Arrow is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or other legally protected status.