General Manager

Cobourg Home Building Centre is looking for an energetic, customer centered leader to join our growing team in Cobourg as a General Manager.

Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada’s largest independent home improvement retailer. The company is owned by close to 1,100 independent small business operators from every corner of Canada, who operate under one of four banners: Home Hardware, Home Hardware Building Centre, Home Building Centre and Home Furniture.

Cobourg Home Hardware Building Centre has been built on its focus and dedication to providing quality products, top-notch/first-rate customer service, and taking pride in the personal touch they bring to all their customers.  This opportunity provides the successful candidate with an opportunity to be part of a locally owned Canadian institution.  We are proud of our commitment to our local communities

At Home, every Dealer-Owner is dedicated to supporting their Staff in order to help them achieve their utmost potential. From training courses to educational programs, every Home Staff member has the support they need to provide customers with the exceptional service and expert advice Home is known for. If this sounds like an environment where you will excel, we want to hear from you!

Reporting to the ownership group, the General Manager is accountable for a high-performance team that consistently achieves the revenue, profitability, and customer experience targets of the business.

We are looking for a self-motivated and results-driven person who is motivated to achieve operational efficiencies in a fast-paced environment.  This person is naturally collaborative, resourceful and keeps a close eye on key performance indicators.  The General Manager oversees the people and systems that generate our success and will be willing to do what it takes to maintain a high level of customer service, increase sales and control costs.

Key responsibilities include:

Leadership and personnel management

• Leading and coaching staff to achieve all company objectives – including customer service and sales expectations
• Ensuring Employee performance management and development plans are completed on an annual (or as required) basis, in collaboration with Human Resources
• Team builder – fostering a collaborative environment
• Ensuring high levels of employee engagement on a daily basis
• Ensuring employees are aware of, and supporting the corporate objectives and adhering to company policies
• Conduct regular staff meetings, providing updates on progress against corporate plans
• Meet with department leads monthly to understand sales, margins, pricing, services and competitor position in the market

Customer Service

• Coaching staff to provide superior customer service and resolve problems to meet or exceed customer expectations
• Proactively working to resolve escalated customer concerns and issues
• Relationship management and relationship building with larger/key customer accounts
• Ensures exceptional customer service is provided by team members at all times
• Ensures customer quotes are provided accurately and in a timely manner
• Consistently works to enhances store reputation and image

Merchandising and promotion

• Develop and implement effective advertising and promotional plans
• Ensures pricing is accurate
• Ensures promotional items are properly priced and displayed
• Advise staff of upcoming promotions, sales strategies and pricing

Store operations

• Development of annual budgets, including regular reporting and variance analysis
• Oversee and inspect all operations
• Ensures inventories are accurately maintained and balanced
• Oversee regular inventory counts
• Review of inventory productivity and associated space allotment
• Ensure merchandising is done on a regular basis to improve appearance and stock turnover
• Ensures automatic, manual and seasonal items are properly ordered
• Ensuring Purchase orders are recorded accurately and in a timely manner
• Drive sales and profitability to achieve overall growth targets
• Manage wage costs, budgets, and inventory turns
• Apply forward-thinking financial awareness to anticipate risks and opportunities
• Scan and evaluate the business for efficiencies, waste, and opportunities
• Solves problems and removes roadblocks

Qualifications

• A proven track record of success in a retail environment, with a focus on home improvement, building supplies, or hardware sector is preferred
• Minimum of 7-10 years of work experience in a supervisory/leadership role
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Post-secondary education in Business Accounting or equivalent will be considered an asset
• Proven ability to successfully lead a team of 60 team members
• Exceptional budgeting and finance skills
• Demonstrates ability to attract and retain excellent performers and develop high performing teams
• Experience working in an environment with a strong emphasis on inventory control

This role requires an experienced hands-on leader that has experience leading sales teams and building relationships with existing and new clients. The successful candidate will be strategic and lead the planning, directing, and evaluating of all aspects of store operations, while demonstrating an entrepreneurial flair in assessing the market and identifying new opportunities.

Qualified applicants are asked to submit their resume along with a covering letter, no later than March XX, 2021.

We appreciate all expressed interest in this position; however, only the candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.  No phone calls, please.