FT Director, Retail Stores

at  Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries

All Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries employees may apply. Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We strive to hire a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Employment equity will be considered therefore applicants who identify as women, Indigenous people, members of racialized groups, and persons with a disability are encouraged to apply.

PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS

• A degree or certificate in Commerce, Business Administration or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• A minimum of ten years of progressive management business operations experience and exposure to retail operations, purchasing/supply chain, commercial sales, marketing, human resources, and financial or strategic management.
• Previous experience managing large groups of people in a unionized retail environment.
• Must possess excellent communication, analytical, leadership, and strategic planning skills.
• Experience and proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams).
• Must demonstrate strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, combined with demonstrated experience in maintaining positive working relationships with multi-level and diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to handle conflict, stress, and crisis situations, respond to sensitive issues and resolve customer complaints.
• Demonstrated political acumen with sensitivity and understanding of the potential impact of public opinion within the public sector environment.
• Understands market dynamics in a highly regulated and legal landscape.
• Upgrading and professional development are required to stay current with changes in the profession.
• Experience in long-term planning, revenue forecasting, budgeting, and performance monitoring.
• Broad knowledge of Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Return on Investment.

SECONDARY QUALIFICATIONS

• Intermediate or better French language skills is considered an asset.
• Experience in the liquor industry and associated product knowledge is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with Provincial and Federal Liquor and Cannabis Acts and Regulations is an asset.
• Have and maintain a valid Manitoba Class 5 Drivers license is considered an asset.

JOB PURPOSE

Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Liquor and Cannabis Operations, the Director, Retail Stores is responsible for the overall strategic direction, leadership, development, administration, execution, and support of all activities related to the retailing of beverage alcohol in corporate retail stores, while establishing and maintaining optimum customer service and experience in a socially responsible manner. This position is responsible to establish strategies that drive maximum sales and profitability through execution of in-store merchandising and customer experience programs, inventory and expense control, and human resource management through developing and recruiting staff at all levels of the retail store operations.
In addition, this position has ownership and is responsible for providing strategic direction to product education, including product knowledge, and selling skills, given to Liquor Mart staff; product education provided to commercial customers; and providing product experience events to Manitobans.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and develop retail strategies as well as implement plans and annual budgets for all Liquor Marts and Liquor Mart Express stores to achieve and surpass sales, profitability, inventory productivity, and business goals and objectives while maintaining expenditure requirements.
• Lead and develop merchandising strategies that promote premiumization to ensure optimal efficiencies with shelf management and consumer engagement.
• Lead and develop processes and strategies to maximize store contribution by controlling expense lines and ensuring District Sales Managers and Store Managers are adhering to sales goals, payroll budgets, and allocated hours.
• Lead and develop strategies and processes that enable District Sales Managers and Store Management to execute all marketing, merchandising, and retail promotional programs, ensuring appropriate stock levels, merchandise adjacencies, assortments, presentations, and signage expectations are met.
• Establish and monitor educational programs and requirements that enable retail employees to effectively operate Liquor Marts and meet government regulations based on set timelines.
• Lead and develop strategies to ensure regulatory requirements are being implemented and met in Liquor Marts.
• Lead, develop, and monitor loss prevention strategies to manage retail shrinkage in Liquor Marts. Work with Corporate Security to identify store security risks and develop plans and processes to mitigate identified risks.
• Develop, monitor, and manage compliance with all policies, procedures, and company programs through regular store management and staff meetings, store walk-throughs, audits, and action plans.
• Ensure the retail Store Point-of-Sale solution, requirements, processes, policies, and procedures are established. Champion system enhancements, replacements, revisions, or improvements.
• Oversee the execution of e-commerce solutions at the retail level including infrastructure and the development of policies and procedures.
• Provide information, advice, and guidance to executive management in relation to the development of government briefing notes, advisory notes, house book submissions, preparatory notes for Standing Committee, annual reports, annual general meetings, and Board of Directors presentations.
• Oversee the issuance of Expression of Interest, Request for Proposal, and Request for Services for items related to retail operations and opportunities.
• Collaborate with MBLL marketing, supply chain, and category management to ensure product needs are met and in alignment with marketing activities and that the right products are available to meet our customers’ needs.
• Oversee the development, forecasting and control of annual liquor sales budgets and annual business plans, ensuring integration and alignment with overall business plans.
• Oversee the development of strategies and initiatives directed towards cost savings, process improvements, and best practice approaches.
• Develop long-term resource strategies to meet increasing succession planning requirements and store development growth.
• Ensure compliance with MBLL standards and practices in the areas of project planning, staffing and risk management.
• Develop long-term store development strategies that capture population growth, demographic changes, market trends, economic development opportunities and sales trends that allow for proper expansion or contraction of the Liquor Mart network.
• Oversee the development of performance indicators and monitor performance based on those indicators. Ensure various reporting is complete and accurate.
• Approve departmental policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines.
• Oversee the development, monitoring, and implementation of changes for continuous improvement to departmental processes and procedures. Ensure these changes are informed by strong data.
• Develop and communicate action plans to address department performance deficiencies.
• Provide financial and sales reporting to executive management and others as required.