7+ years in retail merchandising, category management, or trade marketing
Experience in fast-paced retail or consumer goods environments; cannabis experience is a plus
Proven track record in managing partnerships and negotiating agreements
Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel proficiency for data analysis
Familiarity with enterprise-grade BI systems; PowerBI experience is a bonus
Solid understanding of retail KPIs and financial metrics
Excellent communication skills and ability to juggle multiple priorities
Responsibilities
Act as primary relationship lead for 50+ suppliers, managing the partnership lifecycle
Collaborate with suppliers to refine joint business plans and align on growth targets
Source and onboard new suppliers to fill assortment gaps and negotiate agreements
Design and enhance supplier engagement processes and governance frameworks
Develop performance reporting and scorecards to evaluate supplier effectiveness
Work with Store Operations and Marketing teams for seamless execution of merchandising initiatives
Collaborate with various internal teams to ensure cohesive strategy execution
Benefits
Competitive compensation with performance-based bonuses
Comprehensive health and dental benefits, including a Healthcare Spending Account
Three weeks of paid vacation with rollover
Flexible hybrid work arrangements for work-life balance
Recognition programs for individual and team achievements
Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) for mental health and financial support
Employee perks and discounts across various services
Full Job Description
Work Location Toronto Corporate Office
About the Role
The Manager, Strategic Partnerships plays a critical role in translating merchandising and commercial strategy into mutually beneficial supplier partnerships and trade programming for SNDL's Cannabis Retail segment, supporting 120+ stores across the Value Buds and Spirit Leaf banners.
Reporting to the Senior Director, Category Strategy, you'll act as the day-to-day relationship lead for 50+ suppliers, managing all aspects of the vendor partnership lifecycle with a focus on driving overall retail revenue and margin growth.
Candidates based our of SNDL's Toronto (49 Spadina Ave) or Edmonton (17220 Stony Plain Rd) offices on a hybrid basis are strongly preferred. Exceptional candidates working remotely from Ontario, Alberta, or British Columbia may also be considered.
Responsibilities
Act as the primary relationship lead for 50+ suppliers, managing all aspects of the partnership lifecycle including onboarding, business reviews, commercial negotiations, billing, collections, and issue resolution
Partner with key suppliers to continuously refine joint business plans, aligning on growth targets, investment priorities, and commercial opportunities
Lead the sourcing and set up of new suppliers to address assortment gaps and evolving customer needs, including the negotiation of commercial agreements
Design and continuously improve supplier engagement processes, governance frameworks, planning cycles, and performance review cadences to create a consistent and scalable partnership model
Develop reporting, scorecards, and business reviews that measure supplier performance, evaluate commercial program effectiveness, and identify growth opportunities
Partner with Store Operations, Marketing, and Loyalty teams to ensure seamless execution of in-store and digital merchandising and promotions initiatives
Across all the above, partner closely with Category Management, Merchandising Operations, Retail Planning & Analytics, Supply Chain, Store Support, Store Operations, Marketing, and Loyalty
Qualifications
7+ years of experience in retail merchandising / category management, trade marketing, commercial management, or a related role
Experience working in a fast-paced retail and/or consumer goods environment. Bonus points if you have experience working in cannabis
Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to turn large amounts of disparate data into clear, actionable insights. Advanced proficiency in Excel with experience working with large datasets, financial analysis, and performance reporting is required
Experience working with enterprise-grade BI systems. Bonus points if you have experience working with PowerBI
Strong financial acumen with a solid understanding of retail KPIs, margin mechanics, promotional economics, and inventory metrics
High attention to detail, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities across regions and timelines
What Makes SNDL a Great Place to Grow:
Competitive compensation including performance-based bonuses and annual salary reviews.
Comprehensive health and dental benefits, including a Healthcare Spending Account.
Three weeks of paid vacation with annual rollover.
Flexible, hybrid work arrangements to support work-life balance.
Recognition and rewards programs that celebrate individual and team achievements.
Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) with mental health, financial, and family support.
Employee perks and discounts program, offering savings across fitness, wellness, lifestyle, retail, and everyday services
We are grateful for the interest in this role from all candidates, however, we will be contacting only those that are selected for next steps in the hiring process.
