Retail and Operations Manager

Linde; Nanaimo; On-site; CAD 86,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Linde PLC is seeking a Regional Retail & Distribution Operations Manager to lead retail branch operations, packaged gas distribution, fleet management, and customer service across the assigned geography. The role focuses on safe, compliant, efficient, and profitable operations while driving engagement, sales growth, and customer satisfaction.

The successful candidate will provide leadership to both retail and distribution teams, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and industry

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or Operations Management.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in distribution, logistics, transportation, industrial operations, retail operations, or related environment.
• Proven leadership to manage multi-site operations, lead teams, and drive performance across locations.
• Strong understanding of inventory management and fleet operations.
• Experience managing budgets, operating expenses, and performance metrics.
• Knowledge of industrial gases or industrial distribution is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for retail branch operations and distribution activities, ensuring safe, efficient, and customer-focused execution across the geography.
• Champion safety culture by leading compliance initiatives, audits, inspections, and corrective actions.
• Oversee day-to-day retail operations to meet sales objectives and KPIs.
• Manage inventory performance, improve profitability, and reduce dead stock.
• Support customer growth and retention by maintaining service standards and aligning with sales teams.
• Lead transportation and distribution operations, including fleet utilization and routes.
• Recruit, coach, and develop employees across both unionized and non-unionized teams.
• Manage operating expenses and labour budgets, driving productivity and efficiency.
• Build relationships with customers and internal stakeholders to drive continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership during after-hours emergencies as needed.

Skills

leadership

distribution

logistics

transportation

inventory management

fleet operations

customer service

budgets

safety compliance

regulatory compliance

communication

problem solving

Education

Business

Supply Chain

Logistics

Operations Management

Job description

Retail and Operations Manager (full time)

Reporting to the Regional General Sales Manager, the Regional Retail & Distribution Operations Manager is responsible for leading retail branch operations, packaged gas distribution, fleet management, and customer service activities across the assigned geography. The role ensures safe, compliant, efficient, and profitable operations while driving employee engagement, operational excellence, sales growth, and customer satisfaction. The successful candidate will provide leadership to both retail and distribution teams, ensuring alignment with company objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

What you will enjoy doing*

• In this role, you will provide leadership for retail branch operations, packaged gas operations, transportation, and distribution activities, ensuring safe, efficient, and customer-focused execution across the business
• Safety is a top priority, and you will champion a strong safety culture by leading compliance initiatives, audits, inspections, incident investigations, and corrective action programs while ensuring adherence to TDG, Transport Canada, and provincial regulatory requirements
• You will oversee day-to-day retail operations, ensuring locations meet or exceed sales objectives, operational KPIs, service standards, and budget expectations
• The role includes managing inventory performance, improving profitability, reducing dead stock, optimizing inventory turns, and supporting freight recovery initiatives
• You will support customer growth and retention by maintaining exceptional service standards, resolving customer concerns, and partnering with sales teams to align operational capabilities with customer needs
• A key focus will be leading transportation and distribution operations, including fleet utilization, route optimization, maintenance programs, on‑time delivery performance, and overall transportation efficiency
• You will serve as the primary escalation point for operational and distribution‑related issues, working closely with scheduling, customer service, and operations teams to support business requirements
• The position involves recruiting, coaching, mentoring, and developing employees while fostering a positive, accountable, and high‑performing work environment across both unionized and non‑unionized teams
• You will be responsible for managing operating expenses and labour budgets, while identifying opportunities to improve productivity, operational efficiency, and overall business performance
• Success in this role comes from building strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and providing leadership support during operational challenges and after‑hours emergencies when required

What makes you great*

• The role is ideal for someone with post‑secondary education in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations Management, or a related field, combined with a strong understanding of operational leadership and customer service
• You will bring 5+ years of progressive experience in distribution, logistics, transportation, industrial operations, retail operations, or a related environment
• Proven leadership experience is important, with the ability to manage multi‑site operations, lead teams, and drive performance across multiple locations
• You will have a strong understanding of inventory management, fleet operations, transportation processes, and customer service best practices
• Experience managing budgets, operating expenses, and performance metrics will help you effectively balance financial objectives with operational priorities
• Knowledge of industrial gases, welding products, or industrial distribution would be considered a strong asset and will support a deeper understanding of the business
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills are essential, with the ability to effectively manage competing priorities and operational challenges
• A demonstrated commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence is critical to success in the role
• You will be comfortable building relationships across functions, supporting customers, and collaborating with teams to achieve business objectives
• The role requires flexibility to travel throughout the assigned region as needed to support operations, employees, and customer requirements

Why you will love working with us

Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company. We live our mission of making our world more productive every day by providing high-quality solutions, technologies and services which are making our customers more successful and helping to sustain, decarbonize and protect our planet.
The company serves a variety of end markets such as chemicals & energy, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and mining. Linde's industrial gases and technologies are used in countless applications including production of clean hydrogen and carbon capture systems critical to the energy transition, life‑saving medical oxygen and high‑purity & specialty gases for electronics. Linde also delivers state‑of‑the‑art gas processing solutions to support customer expansion, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions.

What we offer you!

At Linde, the sky is not the limit. If you’re looking to build a career where your work reaches beyond your job description and betters the people with whom you work, the communities we serve, and the world in which we all live, at Linde, your opportunities are limitless. Be Linde. Be Limitless.
At Linde, every day is an opportunity: an opportunity to learn, to grow, to share success and to contribute to one of the world’s leading industrial gas and engineering companies. Seize the opportunity: take your next step with us and join our team.

This is an existing position with a starting annual salary of $95,000.00.

Linde has an extensive background check process which may include but is not limited to, a criminal background review, driver’s license and abstract review, and may also include reference checks, employment and education verification.
Linde Canada Inc. is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. Applicants requiring accommodation during the recruitment and selection process are encouraged to make their needs known in advance if accommodation is required. We will work with you to meet your needs.
We are committed to employment equity for women, aboriginal people, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities. Interested candidates from these groups are encouraged to apply.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other reason prohibited by applicable law.
*The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Therefore employees assigned may be required to perform additional job tasks required by the manager.