General Manager - Vancouver Flagship

Mountain-Equipment-Company-; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 106,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) Vancouver store seeks a General Manager to own performance, culture and operational excellence. You will lead through others, set the bar, and ensure exceptional member experiences, financial results, and a safe, inclusive workplace.

You will direct Department Managers and the AGM, shaping how MEC’s members across the country experience the brand. Expect a retail leadership schedule with evenings, weekends, and holidays.

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 experience interpreting P&L and KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Own overall store performance, including sales, margins, labour, and inventory.
• Lead the Senior Staff Team, build leadership capability, and ensure accountability.
• Own end-to-end member experience and uphold MEC service standards.
• Oversee operational excellence, safety, loss prevention, and compliance.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop the Senior Staff Team; ensure staffing coverage.

Skills

Retail leadership

People management

Financial acumen

Operational excellence

Coaching & communication

Job description

Salary Range: $106,000.00 To $132,600.00 Annually

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

Our Vancouver store is MEC's flagship - the heart of our brand and one of the most iconic outdoor retail destinations in the country. This is where MEC's purpose comes to life at its fullest scale, in a city defined by mountains, ocean, and an outdoor-obsessed community.

As General Manager, you own the performance, culture, and operational excellence of one of MEC's largest and most dynamic stores. You lead through others - setting the bar, building leadership capability, and holding your Senior Staff Team accountable for consistent execution. You're accountable for exceptional member experiences, strong financial results, and a safe, inclusive workplace that lives MEC's purpose and values. Department Managers and the AGM own day-to-day execution - you own the outcomes, at a scale and visibility that shapes how members across the country experience MEC.

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

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, 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

We offer a competitive salary of $106,000 to $132,600, reflecting your experience and expertise, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your life both on and off the trail.