Production (SMT & Assembly Operations), Senior Manager

About the role

We are an engineering and manufacturing company based in Toronto, specializing in [briefly add your products/industry: e.g., “high‑reliability electronic assemblies for industrial and OEM customers”]. We are looking for a Senior Manager, SMT & Assembly Operations to lead our Surface Mount Technology (SMT) lines and Assembly team.

In this role, you will own day‑to‑day operations for SMT and Assembly, lead a cross-functional team of supervisors/technicians/operators, and drive continuous improvement in throughput, quality, and cost. You will be a key member of the operations leadership team and a partner to Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sales..

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership

• Lead end‑to‑end operations for two SMT lines and downstream Assembly (mechanical and electro‑mechanical) and being hands-on in daily activities.

• Ensure production plans and customer delivery commitments are met (OTD, lead time, throughput).

• Develop and manage daily/weekly production schedules in collaboration with Operations.

• Monitor key production metrics (yield, scrap, rework, uptime, changeover time) and take corrective action where needed.

• Ensure effective handoff and coordination between SMT, AOI/inspection, test, and final assembly.

People Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop the team of approximately 15 people.

• Set clear goals and expectations; provide regular feedback, coaching, and annual performance reviews.

• Build a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement on the shop floor.

• Drive cross‑training and skills development to increase flexibility and reduce single‑point dependencies.

• Organize workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, and succession planning.

Quality & Compliance

• Partner closely with Operations and Engineering to maintain and improve first-pass yield and reduce defects, escapes, and rework.

• Experience with relevant standards (e.g., IPC‑A‑610, ISO 9001, customer-specific requirements) and internal procedures.

• Support and lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (RCA, 8D, 5 Whys, fishbone, etc.).

• Experience in good manufacturing practices (GMP), ESD control, and proper handling of components and assemblies.

• Support internal and external audits and customer visits as the operations lead.

Continuous Improvement & Engineering Support

• Drive continuous improvement, incl. using initiatives like Lean, Kaizen, and others.

• Optimize line setup, changeover, and balancing to maximize throughput and minimize downtime.

• Evaluate and implement new equipment, tools, and technologies for SMT and Assembly.

• Help standardizing work instructions, process parameters, and best practices across lines and shifts.

Safety & Facilities

• Ensure a safe working environment and reinforce adherence to all health & safety policies and regulations.

• Conduct regular safety walks, risk assessments, and incident investigations as needed.

• Partner with Facilities/Maintenance to ensure equipment uptime, preventive maintenance, and quick response to breakdowns.

Budget & Reporting

• Contribute to annual budgeting for labor, equipment, and operational expenses for SMT and Assembly.

• Manage labor utilization and overtime to meet production goals within budget.

• Prepare and present regular reports on KPIs (OTD, yield, scrap, productivity, etc.) to senior leadership.

• Identify cost‑reduction opportunities while maintaining or improving quality and delivery.

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field;

  • A diploma combined with strong relevant experience will also be considered.

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in electronics manufacturing, with 3–5+ years in a leadership/management role.

• Good understanding in of the SMT production line process (e.g., screen printers, pick‑and‑place machines, reflow ovens, AOI) and Assembly operations.

• Proven track record leading teams in a high‑mix/low‑to‑mid‑volume environment.

• Demonstrated experience improving OTD, quality, and cost through Lean/CI initiatives.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of SMT processes, PCB assembly, and related quality standards.

• Understanding of mechanical assembly, box‑build, and system integration processes.

• Familiarity with production planning and scheduling, ERP/MRP systems, and shop‑floor data collection.

• Experience interpreting engineering drawings, BOMs, and work instructions.

• Experience with manufacturing dashboards/KPIs.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Strong people leadership skills with the ability to motivate and coach diverse teams.

• Excellent problem‑solving and decision‑making skills; comfortable working with data and KPIs.

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

• Collaborative mindset, able to work cross‑functionally with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sales.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and performance‑based bonus.

• Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, etc.).

• RRSP/retirement contributions (adjust as applicable).

• Opportunities for career growth and professional development.

• A collaborative environment where operations, engineering, and manufacturing work closely together to deliver high‑quality products.