Department Manager, Member Experience

Mountain-Equipment-Company-; Whistler Village; On-site; CAD 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

MEC is opening a new store in Whistler and seeks a Department Manager, Member Experience, to lead service excellence across the sales floor and service desks. You will coach frontline teams, partner with the AGM, drive community engagement, and uphold our values of respect and inclusivity.

Reporting to the General Manager, you’ll manage daily operations, recruitment, and training while delivering exceptional member experiences in a world‑class outdoor destination.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years' experience leading frontline, member-facing teams in retail or service environments.
• Strong floor leadership and coaching skills with real-time feedback.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Member Experience on the sales floor, Cash and Member Service Desk, and Tech Service Shop.
• Coach and develop frontline teams, including onboarding and training.
• Use store metrics to guide decisions and improve results.
• Ensure consistent operational, visual merchandising, loss prevention, and safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Customer service

Job description

Salary Range: $48,100.00 To $58,000.00 Annually

Why Join MEC

MEC is expanding! We're opening our newest store in Whistler, and we're looking for an experienced retail leader to join our founding leadership team. As a Department Manager, you'll have a unique opportunity to help shape the culture, build the team, and bring MEC's purpose and values to life from day one in one of the world's most iconic mountain destinations.

At MEC, our purpose is to equip people for a lifetime of great outdoor experiences and adventure. Our home is on the trail—and everything we do is grounded in a deep belief in the power of the outdoors to build confidence, connection, and community.

What sets MEC apart is our deep expertise, thoughtful product curation, and strong community connection, all focused on serving our members. Our teams bring lived outdoor experience and product knowledge to every interaction, helping members find the right gear and guidance for where they're going next. We curate products with intention—prioritizing quality, performance, and sustainability—so members can trust what they buy and how it's made. And we show up in our communities through local partnerships, events, and shared outdoor experiences that extend far beyond our store walls.

We're a people-first organization, grounded in our values of respect, integrity, inclusivity, collaboration, and accountability. As part of a founding team, you'll play a hands-on role in bringing these values and differentiators to life from the very start—leading with care and clarity, and helping build what MEC means to the Whistler community for years to come.

The Opportunity

As the Department Manager, Member Experience, you are a key store leader responsible for delivering exceptional member experiences across the sales floor, Cash and Member Service Desk, and Tech Service Shop.

Reporting to the General Manager, you lead and develop frontline teams, strengthen community connections, and ensure consistent execution of service and operational standards. You are highly visible on the floor—coaching in the moment, supporting teams, resolving member needs, and making sound, real-time decisions that build trust and confidence. You also partner closely with the Senior Staff Team to drive strong business results, team engagement, and a positive, inclusive store culture.

What You'll Be Responsible For:

Leading the Member Experience

• Act as the Member Service Manager on the floor, setting service tone and directing daily execution
• Champion MEC's member service standards and coach teams through real-time observation and feedback
• Oversee service execution at the Cash and Member Service Desk, ensuring friendly, efficient, solution-focused experiences
• Resolve member issues in the moment, escalating when appropriate
• Lead, coach, and develop frontline teams, including the Store Learning Assistant (SLA)
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and training in partnership with the AGM and SLA
• Identify skill gaps and deliver targeted training to strengthen service, product knowledge, and role capability
• Build an inclusive, respectful, and high-engagement team environment

Community Engagement

• Lead store community outreach, partnerships, and member-facing events
• Deliver product demos, clinics, and local initiatives that build meaningful connections
• Measure the impact of community programs to ensure value for members and the business

Business & Operations

• Use sales and service metrics (e.g., conversion, ATV, UPT) to guide daily decisions and improve results
• Support store budgeting, scheduling, and workforce planning
• Ensure consistent execution of operational, visual merchandising, loss prevention, and health & safety standards
• Partner with the Senior Staff Team to deliver store goals and initiatives

What You Bring

• 1–3 years' experience leading frontline, member-facing teams in retail or service environments
• Strong floor leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to give real-time, observation-based feedback
• Ability to interpret service and sales KPIs and turn insights into action
• Proven ability to onboard, train, and develop teams
• Sound judgment, strong communication skills, and comfort resolving issues in fast-paced environments
• Passion for outdoor activities and community connection
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required

Bonus if you have:

• Experience in outdoor or specialty retail
• Outdoor certifications or instructional experience (an asset, not required)

This is an active, hands-on leadership role that requires a regular presence on the sales floor. You'll move throughout store environments, engage frequently with members and staff, and occasionally lift up to 50 lbs as part of daily operations.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

MEC is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive, respectful, and barrier-free workplace. We value diversity and believe our teams are stronger when everyone feels safe, supported, and able to be themselves at work.

Compensation

• This role ranges from $48,100 to $58,000 depending on skills and experience.