General Manager - Forestry Division (Management & Executives)

  Murray Latta Progressive Machine

  Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Job description

Join the industry leader of innovation in custom forestry equipment manufacturing! Bring your creativity and ingenuity to this key leadership role with a mandate to drive the next stage of growth and expansion.  

Our client, Murray Latta Progressive Machine, has been the forest industry’s trusted manufacturer and distributor of planer mill equipment, parts and consumables. They have manufactured and refurbished complete planer lines and wood waste processing equipment for over 50 years, and leveraged this experience to remain the technical leader in equipment upgrades and components to enhance productivity, quality and safety. Additionally, they represent other industry leading equipment suppliers to provide the full spectrum of capital equipment, parts and repair services for all planer mill equipment needs.

As the company prepares for the next stage in its evolution, they are looking for an experienced industrial equipment leader to take on a succession role as General Manager of their Forestry division. This position will be based out of their head office in Surrey, BC. 

The Opportunity:

Reporting to the VP Forestry, you will lead the Forestry division’s commercial efforts by developing their business plan that will lead to achievement of the division’s objectives for growth and expansion. You will develop and strengthen relationships with executive clients, engineers, integrators, industry influencers and key strategic partners to maintain awareness of customer needs, emerging markets, trends and competitive status. You’ll develop product and service positioning along with grouping and pricing strategies to increase market share.

Operationally, you’ll initiate and coordinate major client projects (such as plant layout changes, installation of captial equipment, major repairs), ensuring quality requirements are met for productivity, timeliness, completeness, and cost containment. You’ll be fully supported by an experienced team of capital sales associates, supply chain, and service departments. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you’ll provide regular reporting and strategic direction on innovative solutions that will ensure Murray Latta’s continued success as the industry’s technical leader.

Who You Are:

We’re seeking a well-rounded business leader with a proven success in the heavy industrial equipment sector. You bring an entrepreneurial and competitive spirit, strong face-to-face presentation skills, and demonstrate a sense of urgency in executing day-to-day responsibilities.

For successful consideration you must bring the following:

• You are an accomplished operations executive with success in a privately held, complex and growing industrial service or distribution business; ideally will bring experience in an organization with a custom design manufacturing, fabrication, and service sales components.
• Knowledge of forest products manufacturing or similar heavy industrial equipment sector experience is essential, along with an active network of industry contacts who will be invaluable in business development and for staying on top of innovation and developments in advanced technologies.
• A strong commercial outlook and an entrepreneurial approach to business development.
• Skill at developing a proactive, can-do approach to operations that supports the business through growth. You are able to develop the buy-in from a team to drive that vision forward.
• You will have implemented process and system changes that have enhanced operational performance, contributed to effective decision making and driven bottom line performance.
• Team leadership capabilities; able to recruit, develop, and grow technical teams for long-term success
• A natural communication style that builds constructive working relationships at all levels internally and externally; with direct reports, customers and distribution partners.
• Post-secondary education in operations management or business administration
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the Pacific Northwest as required

Why You Should Apply:

Murray-Latta offers their leaders and professional staff full support and the resources they need to be successful, along with a high degree of autonomy; they’re fast paced and bureaucracy free. You can truly get things done there, delivering on new initiatives and making the most of programs and partnerships currently in place.  

Compensation

This position offers a total rewards package that includes competitive base salary and incentive plan, and premium extended health benefits.

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