General Manager C/D

Socket.dev; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

MEC is seeking a General Manager to lead store performance, culture, and operational excellence. You will set clear expectations, develop leadership, and drive exceptional member experiences while delivering strong financial results.

Reporting to the Regional Manager, you will oversee multiple departments, ensure safety and compliance, and cultivate an inclusive, high-performing workplace aligned with MEC values and strategy.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior retail leadership experience in a customer-facing environment.
• Proven ability to lead leaders and drive engagement and performance.
• Strong business and financial acumen with P&L interpretation.
• Accountability for operational excellence, compliance, health & safety, and loss prevention.
• Coaching, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to operate in fast-paced, multi-department environments with competing priorities.
• Passion for the outdoor lifestyle and MEC values.
• Willingness to work retail leadership schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Own overall store performance, including sales, margin, profitability, labour, and inventory outcomes.
• Lead Senior Staff Team and hold leaders accountable for key metrics.
• Develop leadership capability and succession readiness.
• Ensure fair, consistent performance management and staffing practices.
• Drive end-to-end member experience and uphold MEC service standards.
• Oversee loss prevention, safety, and compliance across store operations.
• Champion community engagement and reinforce MEC brand and values.

Skills

Senior leadership

Lead leaders

Financial acumen

Operational excellence

Coaching

Stakeholder management

Flexible schedule

Job description

Location:Store-specific

Reports to:Regional Manager

Why Join MEC

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, andsustainability—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. Our leaders play a hands‑on role in bringing these values and differentiators to life—building strong teams, leading with care and clarity, and ensuring every decision supports meaningful experiences for our members, our staff, and the places we love to explore.

The Opportunity

As the General Manager (GM), you are accountable for the overall performance, culture, and operational excellence of the store. You lead through others—setting clear expectations, buildingleadership capability, and holding the Senior Staff Team (SST) accountable for consistent execution across all areas of the business.You are responsible for delivering exceptional member experiences, strong financial results, and a safe, inclusive, and engaging workplace aligned to MEC’s purpose, values, and strategy. WhileDepartment Managers and the AGM own day-to-day execution within their functions, you remain accountable for outcomes across the entire store.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Store Performance & Business Results

• Own overall store performance, including sales, margin, profitability, labour, and inventory outcomes
• Analyze P&L results and operational KPIs to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
• Set clear performance expectations and hold leaders accountable for key metrics such as Sales vs. Budget, Conversion, ATV, UPT, Margin, and Labour Efficiency
• Make informed decisions that balance member experience, employee engagement, and financial sustainability

People Leadership, Engagement & Culture

• Build and sustain an inclusive, respectful, and high‑performing store culture aligned to MEC values
• Lead, coach, and develop the Senior Staff Team, building leadership capability and succession readiness
• Ensure fair, consistent execution of performance management, attendance management, and people practices
• Partner with the People Business Manager and Regional Manager to ensure compliance with employment standards and policies

Member Experience Leadership

• Own the end‑to‑end member experience for the store
• Champion MEC’s service standards, ensuring they are consistently trained, communicated, and delivered across all departments
• Maintain a visible presence on the floor, reinforcing member‑first behaviours and service expectations
• Use observations and performance insights to identify gaps and drive targeted coaching through leaders

Operational Excellence & Risk Management

• Ensure consistent execution of operational, inventory, merchandising, visual, Tech Shop, and back‑of‑house standards
• Hold the AGM and Department Managers accountable for operational performance, safety, and compliance
• Oversee loss prevention, health & safety, and facilities outcomes, ensuring risks are identified and addressed
• Partner with Support Office teams to ensure systems, product flow, and store operations are effectively supported

Talent, Workforce & Capability

• Own recruitment, onboarding, and development outcomes for the Senior Staff Team
• Set expectations and hold leaders accountable for frontline hiring, onboarding, and training quality
• Ensure workforce planning, scheduling, and coverage practices are fair, compliant, and aligned to business needs
• Invest in learning and development to build capability, engagement, and long‑term performance

Community & Brand Leadership

• Own the store’s community engagement strategy and outcomes
• Ensure local outreach, partnerships, and member‑facing events strengthen community connection and brand trust
• Represent MEC’s values, brand, and purpose within the local community

What You Bring

• 5+ years of senior retail leadership experience (e.g., General Manager or equivalent) in a complex, customer‑facing environment
• Proven ability to lead leaders, build strong leadership teams, and drive engagement and performance
• Strong business and financial acumen, with experience interpreting P&L results and operational KPIs
• Demonstrated accountability for operational excellence, compliance, health & safety, and loss prevention
• Strong coaching, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills
• Comfort operating in fast‑paced, multi‑department environments with competing priorities
• Passion for the outdoor lifestyle and alignment with MEC’s purpose and values
• Flexibility to work a retail leadership schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays

Work Environment

This is an active, hands‑on leadership role requiring regular presence on the sales floor and in operational areas. The role includes standing, walking, lifting (up to 50 lbs), and navigating varied store environments while leading teams and overseeing daily operations.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

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

This posting is intended to backfill an existing role, The anticipated base salary range of this role is $75,500 to $90,000.The exact salary will be dependent on the successful candidate’s relevant skills, experience, qualifications, store location, and internal equity. Thisrole is eligible for a variable annual incentive plan.