General Manager - Whistler

Mountain Equipment Company

$75K — $90K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of senior retail leadership experience in a complex, customer-facing environment
  • Proven ability to lead and develop strong leadership teams
  • Strong business and financial acumen with P&L analysis expertise
  • Accountability for operational excellence, compliance, and safety standards
  • Effective coaching, communication, and stakeholder management skills
  • Comfortable in fast-paced, multi-department environments
  • Passionate about outdoor lifestyle and alignment with MEC's values

Responsibilities

  • Own overall store performance, including sales and profitability metrics
  • Analyze P&L results and operational KPIs to identify trends and opportunities
  • Set performance expectations and hold Senior Staff accountable
  • Lead and develop the Senior Staff Team to build a high-performing culture
  • Champion MEC's service standards and maintain a member-first environment
  • Ensure operational and safety standards are consistently executed
  • Drive community engagement and brand trust through local partnerships

Benefits

  • Opportunities for personal and professional growth
  • Be a part of shaping a new store in a beautiful location
  • Collaborative and inclusive workplace culture
  • Engagement in community-focused initiatives
  • Flexible retail leadership schedule to promote work-life balance
Full Job Description
MEC is expanding!

We're opening our newest store in Whistler, and we're looking for an experienced retail leader to help bring it to life. As General Manager, you won't just be running a store - you'll be building one from the ground up, shaping its culture, its team, and its place in one of the world's most iconic mountain communities from day one.

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, building leadership 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. While Department 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.

Compensation

  • This role ranges from $75,500 to $90,000 depending on skills and experience.

Similar Jobs

  • Founding General Manager
    $85K — $100K *
    Sugar Mountain
    Redmond, WA 98052 (King County)
  • ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc
    General Manager
    $87K — $120K *
    ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc
    Vancouver, WA 98682 (Clark County)
  • Indigo
    General Manager
    $80K — $95K *
    Indigo
    West Vancouver, BC V7P 1B8
  • Indigo
    General Manager
    $80K — $95K *
    Indigo
    Vancouver, BC V5K 5J9
  • General Manager
    $85K — $100K *
    Optima Living
    Surrey, BC V3R 0B3
  • General Manager
    $80K — $90K *
    Sky Zone LLC
    Beaverton, OR 97007 (Washington County)

More Jobs at Mountain Equipment Company

More Retail & Consumer Goods Jobs

Find similar General Manager - Whistler jobs: