Haliburton Forest is hiring an Operations Manager for each of our two sawmill sites — one based in Huntsville, Ontario (unionized environment) and one based in Madawaska, Ontario. These are two separate openings; candidates are welcome to indicate a location preference or apply to both.
The right candidate is a proven leader who can manage people, process, and budget well — sawmill and forestry-sector knowledge can be built on the job with the support of our experienced production team.
About the Role
The Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the mill site, or within the larger of the operations, the sawmill, specifically: safety, people management, production output, quality, cost control, and coordination with maintenance, logistics, and head office. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who is comfortable in an industrial/production environment, potentially with some experience managing in a unionized environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and hold accountable a team of production staff and shift/area supervisors.
- Own site safety culture and compliance; drive toward zero-incident performance.
- Manage production schedules, throughput, and quality targets against site budgets.
- Control operating costs, labour planning, and inventory of key inputs.
- Build and maintain a strong communication link with head office, other Haliburton Forest departments, and the sawmill's technical/production leads.
- Identify and lead continuous-improvement initiatives across process, equipment uptime, and workflow.
- Hire, develop, and retain a capable, engaged team.
What We're Looking For
We care more about how a candidate has led people and operations than whether that experience was in a sawmill. Strong candidates typically bring:
- A track record of managing a team and a P&L or cost centre in an operational, industrial, manufacturing, or resource-sector setting.
- Demonstrated leadership: someone who earns trust, sets clear expectations, and holds people accountable fairly.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making under real production pressure.
- Comfort with budgets, KPIs, and reporting to senior leadership.
- A genuine willingness to learn sawmill/forestry operations — prior sawmill experience is an asset, not a requirement.
- Willingness to be present and visible on the mill floor.
Locations
Madawaska, Ontario
Sawmill site and surrounding operations in the Madawaska area.
Huntsville, Ontario
Sawmill site and surrounding operations in the Huntsville area.
Compensation & Reporting
- Compensation: Commensurate with Experience
- Reports to: President Forest Products Division
- Employment type: Full Time Position
How to Apply
Please send your resume and a brief cover note indicating your location preference (Huntsville, Madawaska, or either) to Donna Rudnick at [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until September 30, 2026.
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
