General Manager (Contract)

Indigo Books & Music; Thunder Bay; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Indigo Books & Music is seeking a General Manager to oversee all facets of store performance, lead a team to deliver exceptional customer experiences, and ensure sales and profitability targets are met. You will drive employee engagement, growth, and development while managing operations, inventory, and health and safety standards.

The role emphasizes strategic leadership, frontline coaching, and omnichannel customer service, with flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6+ years of management in specialty or multi-unit retail.
• Ability to be mobile on the sales floor for extended periods.
• Flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds with proper technique.
• Bilingual French/English required for all positions in Quebec.

Responsibilities

• Articulate Indigo’s mission and strategy and communicate business goals to store team.
• Ensure sales, profitability, and customer experience targets are met through variable staffing and scheduling.
• Lead recruiting, onboarding, and performance feedback to grow team capability.
• Oversee Visual Merchandising Assessments and product flow to boost sales and customer satisfaction.
• Own store scheduling, opening/closing, and health and safety compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Store operations

Staff development

Customer experience

Inventory control

Education

College degree preferred

Tools

AI tools

Job description

Company Description

WHO WE ARE

Indigo is a physical and digital place inspired by and filled with books, ideas, beautifully designed lifestyle products, and the creative people who help make it all happen. We believe in real books, living life fully and generously, being kind to each other and to the environment, and that stories – big and little – connect us. Indigo is our customer’s happy place – for joyful moments of discovery and to connect with people who share their passion for reading, their belief in ideas, and their commitment to making the world a better and more beautiful place.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Our Mission is to inspire reading and enrich the lives of booklovers. As such, we believe in the power of people and their stories. We aim to attract top talent, nurture the potential of our employees, and create space for everyone to thrive. Our Guiding Principles are the few key ideas that are meant to influence everything we do, every day.

• We Will Hire, Inspire, Promote and Retain the Best – A’s Hire A’s.
• We Will be Customer Centric.
• We Will Be Data Driven – System Thinking – Entrepreneurial.
• We are Committed to True and Shared Value Creation.
• We Will be Human-Centered and AI Enabled.
• We are Committed to Caring About Each Other, Our Communities, Our Environment.

Job Description

The General Manager is accountable for every aspect of the store’s performance, ensuring all areas of the store are achieving key results. They are responsible for leading a team of employees to deliver an exceptional customer experience and for ensuring the store meets or exceeds its sales and profitability goals. They are responsible for creating an environment and store culture that promotes employee engagement, growth, and development.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Functional

• Articulate Indigo’s mission and strategy and communicate business goals to store team
• Ensure strategic priorities, sales goals, and profitability targets are met by identifying opportunities to improve sales and omni customer experience, control expenses, and manage inventory and shrink
• Act as an advocate for the customer by placing them at the forefront of all decision‑making processes
• Identify local market trends and competitors to proactively anticipate customer needs and expectations
• Embrace and champion technology that creates high tech and high touch solutions for Indigo’s customers
• Lead regular Visual Merchandising Assessments (VMA) and review product flow with a focus on customer experience; driving sales and profitability by allocating resources to support visual changeovers and initiatives
• Continually assess staffing levels and lead recruiting and selection of new employees
• Own store schedule
• Open and close store and manage sales floor
• Ensure health and safety of employees and customers is top priority and that store complies with all provincial health and safety policies and procedures

People

• Build strong teams by attracting and developing the best talent
• Bring out the best in others; empower and constructively stretch talent
• Give authentic feedback on performance and potential
• Ensure all team members understand where they stand and have clear performance objectives aligned with Indigo and team goals
• Collaborate with others to drive flexible and just in time solutions, quickly and easily
• Share technical knowledge with others and actively seek to learn from those more knowledgeable than yourself
• Help others see the impacts of their efforts and proactively engage others to get input
• Encourage others to freely share their point of view and be open to feedback
• Accountable for the overall engagement, productivity, turnover, and bench strength of the team

Cultural

• Model Indigo’s beliefs and convey a positive image in everything you do
• Celebrate diversity of thought and have an open mindset
• Take an active role in fostering a culture of continual learning, taking risks without the fear of making mistakes
• Embrace, champion, and influence change through your team and/or the organization

Qualifications

WHO YOU ARE:

• College degree preferred or equivalent job experience
• 6+ years of management experience in specialty retail and/or multi-unit retail business environment; experience leading leaders
• Ability to be mobile on the sales floor for extended periods of time
• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Ability to lift medium to large items, up to 40 pounds, while using appropriate equipment and safety techniques
• Bilingualism (French/English) is required for all positions in Quebec

Additional Information

Indigo uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with certain aspects of the hiring process, such as screening and assessments. These tools support our team but do not replace human judgment. We are committed to using AI responsibly, fairly, and in compliance with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws. We regularly review these tools to help prevent bias or discrimination.

At Indigo, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility are core to our values. We integrate these principles into our training, policies, and hiring practices and continuously evolve to reflect the needs of the communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences, including but not limited to individuals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour), members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and persons with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources [e-mail].

We respect your privacy throughout the recruitment process. Our Candidate Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you apply for a role with Indigo, and the choices available to you.

This posting is for a current opportunity within Indigo.