Heads up: this posting is for future opportunities rather than one specific open role. If you apply, we’ll add you to our candidate network and may reach out when relevant roles come up.

Axial Search is a specialist executive search firm built for one kind of hire: leaders who help organizations navigate AI transformation. Apply today to express your interest in roles like this one.

Visit our website to learn more about our process and explore free tools for your job search, including our live job market dashboard with salary, skills and hiring trend data from thousands of AI transformation roles.

What the market looks like

We've tracked 51 senior-level process improvement postings across Canada in the last six months, concentrated in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta — with Montreal, Toronto, and Mississauga as primary hiring hubs. Manufacturing, financial services, and professional services lead demand, though the function spans retail, healthcare, energy, and technology as well. Compensation for this cohort clusters around $120,000 base, with top performers reaching $130,000+. The strongest candidates bring hands-on experience designing and executing large-scale operational transformations, fluency with lean and Six Sigma methodologies, and the ability to translate process analysis into measurable business outcomes across cross-functional teams.

Job responsibilities

Lead end-to-end process improvement initiatives across multiple business units, defining scope, timeline, and success metrics
Conduct detailed process mapping and root-cause analysis to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and opportunities for automation or redesign
Partner with operations, technology, and business leadership to develop and implement solutions that reduce cost, cycle time, or error rates
Build and mentor a team of process analysts and improvement specialists, setting standards for methodology rigor and documentation
Manage change management and stakeholder engagement to drive adoption of new processes and ways of working
Track and report on KPIs, benefits realization, and program ROI to senior leadership
Stay current with industry best practices and emerging tools in process optimization, data analytics, and workflow automation

Candidate requirements

8+ years of hands-on process improvement experience, with at least 3 years in a director or senior-level leadership role
Demonstrated expertise in lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous-improvement methodologies — certification a plus but implementation track record is primary
Experience leading cross-functional teams, managing budgets, and driving change across complex organizational structures
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with comfort translating data and metrics into clear, actionable recommendations
Track record of delivering measurable business outcomes — cost savings, efficiency gains, time reductions — from improvement initiatives
Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to influence at all organizational levels

Director, Process Improvement