MAKR Play Group

How would you explain your job to your teenaged self? Problem solver… Coach… Someone who gets stuff done?

What about your answer to the cocktail party small talk question of “What do you do for a living?” Are you a Visionary… Connector… Strategic advisor?

Any (and all) of those are who we’re looking for to join our fabulous client, MAKR Play Group (MAKR), as their VP, Engineering, Quality & Innovation (VP-EQI).

Our client’s growing and global organization is adding another superstar to their strategic leadership team, to continue the momentum of identifying and applying technological solutions to ensure their market leadership (they like to call it world domination). This new role, VP Engineering, Quality & Innovation, reports to the President, and is a career-defining role for a business-savvy executive, with an impressive career encompassing technical and innovative product design and engineering.

MAKR is a group of…well…MAKRs and their purpose, their common goal, their passion, is to connect communities through play and social experiences. The group comprises three brands:

● Parkworks: On-the-ground public recreation space specialists for Western Canada

● Waterplay: Splash pad and water park equipment manufacturer and supplier

● Wekid: Steel fabrication specialists

The VP-EQI joins the strategic leadership team to contribute expertise in technical and innovative product design and engineering and inject entrepreneurial and innovative approaches to existing manufacturing processes. And ideally, even create new ones. The VP-EQI’s broad portfolio includes production, logistics and manufacturing oversight.

This role will provide metrics-driven operations management as the VP-EQI is responsible for ensuring engineering and manufacturing activities are aligned with the broader business goals and objectives of the MAKR Play Group. Key aspects of this role include driving product strategy; identifying and implementing production efficiencies and sourcing strategies; creating a long-term product vision in support of the market growth strategy; and building effective, engaged teams.

Equally skilled in the precise, calculation-rich world of engineering, the VP-EQI understands the nuances of inspiring diverse teams to achieve great things.

What you’ll do in a day, a week, a year :

● Drive the development of a product strategy, from design to engineering to QA/QI

● Design and execute operational/lean initiatives to optimize productivity and reduce costs, in all areas of operations, from design (production) to delivery (logistics)

● Expand and enhance the supply chain network to reduce manufacturing component input costs

● Implement engineering best practices and methodologies, balancing innovation and profitability

● Ensure project management disciplines exist, are understood and embraced

● Provide technical guidance to engineering teams and product development steering committee

● Develop clear, measurable goals and strategies that support the organizational objectives

● Hire, coach, mentor, and develop top talent

● Foster a team dynamic of curiosity, customer service, playfulness, and ambition

What’s on your resume (and what your references will confirm you’re really good at):

● 15+ years of progressive management experience successfully leading technical teams in a manufacturing environment

● Managing product development processes, designing and engineering safe, functionally appropriate products

● Experience working with governance bodies (e.g. CSA, ASTM, EN) and designing products that meet or exceed applicable standards

● Engineering systems design and development, maintenance procedures, plant layout and design, budgetary development and control, energy conservation and safety management

● Lean Manufacturing certification or others such as Kaizen, Six Sigma. 5S, TPM, etc.

● Better than basic knowledge of the project management discipline and product development processes

● Bachelor’s degree within the engineering field and professional engineering designation

● Formal business management training and/or an MBA would be an asset

Our client offers a values-driven work environment, the opportunity to make an impact, competitive compensation, and the chance to define this dream job as your own.

MAKR wants to make sure that they have the best person for the position so they are open to individuals who can work remotely, however, MAKR’s mission control is in Kelowna, BC and they would prefer this role be filled by someone living in the Okanagan area. Either way, there is a requirement to be in Kelowna for regularly scheduled visits.

If this sounds like the position for you, we would love to hear from you. Please respond with a résumé and covering letter to: hello@praxisrecruitment.ca. This position will remain open until filled.

Praxis Recruitment is a Recruitment Firm located on the Sunshine Coast (the traditional and unceded homelands of the shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh Nations) in beautiful British Columbia. We provide exceptional customer service and operate with the highest level of respect to our clients and applicants.