Operations Manager - 70K-100K - On-Site - Ottawa, ON

Job Location: Greater Ottawa Region, Ontario
Work Mode: On-Site
Salary: $70,000-$100,000 annually
Regular Hours: Monday-Friday, approximately 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, with seasonal flexibility and extended hours during peak periods

• $70,000-$100,000 annual salary

• Company work truck

• High-responsibility position with significant autonomy and direct access to ownership

• Opportunity to become a trusted right hand within the business

• Ability to have a meaningful impact on how operations, teams, and processes are managed

• Entrepreneurial environment where strong performance, initiative, and good judgment are recognized

Our client is an established snow removal and landscaping company serving the Ottawa area. Snow removal is a major part of the operation, with landscaping and related outdoor services making up the warmer-season business.

The company is looking for a strong operational leader to become a trusted right hand to ownership and take significant responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business. This is a hands-on, entrepreneurial environment where accountability matters. The right person will be given considerable autonomy and trust, but ownership needs someone they can genuinely rely on to recognize what needs to be done, make sound decisions, and most importantly, follow through and ensure it gets done.

Our client is seeking a strong Operations Manager to take ownership of day-to-day field operations, with a particular focus on ensuring the company's snow removal operation runs effectively throughout the winter season. This includes crew and driver management, scheduling and deployment, equipment readiness and maintenance, service quality, client issues, and real-time operational problem-solving.

During the warmer months, the position will oversee landscaping operations while helping ownership improve organization, accountability, equipment management, and overall operational efficiency across the business.

This is not a position for someone who needs every task assigned or regularly followed up on. The successful candidate will be proactive, highly organized, and comfortable carrying significant responsibility. If equipment requires maintenance, an employee issue needs to be addressed, a client has a concern, or crews need to be reorganized, this person will be expected to take ownership and see the issue through to resolution.

Snow season is fast-paced and can be unpredictable. When significant weather hits, operations can become extremely busy and longer hours may be required. The Operations Manager will need to be comfortable being available when the business needs them, including 24/7 availability during snow events. This isn't the year-round schedule, but it is an important reality of the position and of running a successful snow removal operation.

• Lead and coordinate snow removal operations, ensuring crews, drivers, equipment, and resources are organized and ready before and throughout weather events

• Oversee landscaping and other seasonal field operations during the warmer months, ensuring projects are properly staffed, organized, and completed to the company's quality standards

• Manage field employees and drivers, including scheduling, performance management, accountability, hiring, discipline, and termination decisions with appropriate oversight from ownership

• Take ownership of operational priorities from start to finish, proactively identifying what requires attention and ensuring tasks, maintenance, and commitments are followed through to completion

• Oversee trucks, snow removal equipment, landscaping equipment, and other company assets, including preventive maintenance, repairs, servicing, operational readiness, supplies, and coordination of replacement or new equipment

• Resolve operational issues including property damage, client concerns, staffing challenges, equipment problems, changing weather conditions, and other situations requiring practical judgment and timely decision-making

• Use GPS tracking, CRM systems, Excel, email, and other technology to organize operations, monitor activity, and improve processes and efficiency

Required:

• Strong experience managing employees in a hands-on, blue-collar or field-service environment such as snow removal, landscaping, construction, excavation, paving, transportation, property maintenance, or a similar industry

• Proven ability to lead teams, hold employees accountable, address performance issues, and make sound people-management decisions

• Exceptional organization and prioritization skills, particularly in environments where priorities can change quickly

• A high degree of personal accountability and follow-through. This is one of the most important requirements for the position

• Strong practical judgment and the ability to identify and solve problems independently without requiring constant direction from ownership

• Comfortable using technology including CRM systems, GPS/tracking platforms, Excel, email, and other operational software

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with field employees, ownership, suppliers, and clients

• Comfortable with the seasonal demands of snow removal, including 24/7 availability during snow events and working extended hours when weather and operational conditions require it

Preferred:

• Direct experience managing snow removal operations is a significant asset

• Landscaping or property maintenance experience

• Knowledge of commercial vehicles, snow removal equipment, landscaping machinery, and preventive maintenance

• Experience operating a tractor or similar equipment

This role is a strong fit for someone who:

• is highly proactive, organized, and takes ownership of operational priorities from start to finish

• is comfortable leading hands-on field teams and holding employees accountable

• can make sound decisions and solve problems independently without requiring constant direction

• is reliable, practical, and follows through on commitments

• can adapt quickly when priorities, weather conditions, staffing, or operational needs change

• is comfortable with the seasonal demands of snow removal, including 24/7 availability during snow events

• enjoys working in an entrepreneurial environment where initiative, accountability, and good judgment are recognized