Interim General Manager, Operations – Wood Processing & Industrial Operations
Requirement: French & English Bilingual
Duration: 6 months
About xNorth
xNorth™ deploys experienced executives and operational leaders to support organizations through critical periods of growth, transformation, performance improvement, and operational change.
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Interim General Manager, Operations to support a large industrial operation focused on wood processing.
Reporting to the General Manager, this leader will be responsible for improving operational performance, strengthening management discipline, and driving execution across harvesting, logistics, processing, maintenance, and support functions.
This assignment requires a highly visible, hands-on leader capable of establishing accountability, improving productivity, and implementing sustainable performance management practices across the organization.
This assignment is based at an international industrial operation and requires extended periods on site. Candidates must be fully mobile and comfortable working in remote operating environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead day-to-day operational activities across multiple industrial functions.
- Improve productivity, reliability, and overall operational performance.
- Implement KPIs, management routines, and performance reporting structures.
- Strengthen accountability and operational discipline across teams.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives and operational excellence programs.
- Improve coordination between field operations, processing, logistics, and maintenance.
- Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with operational standards.
- Coach and develop operational managers and supervisors.
- Support change management and execution of performance improvement initiatives.
- Partner closely with the General Manager and leadership team to achieve business objectives.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of industrial operations leadership experience.
- Proven track record improving operational performance in complex industrial environments.
- Experience in wood processing, forestry products, pulp & paper, biomass, mining, quarrying, or similar heavy industries.
- Strong experience leading large operational teams.
- Demonstrated success implementing KPI-driven performance management systems.
- Hands-on leadership style with strong field presence.
- Experience operating in remote or challenging environments.
- Fluent French and English required.
Why Join xNorth
- Lead a high-impact operational transformation mandate.
- Work alongside experienced executives and operators.
- Drive measurable business results in a complex industrial environment.
- Join a growing network of interim leaders supporting critical assignments across North America.
