Department Manager, Food Services - Northern Canada

The Department Manager, Food Services is accountable for the efficient and fiscally-responsible operation of the department. The Manager will lead and manage staff to achieve the highest level of customer service, while adhering to all Food Safety Protocols, Standard Operating Procedures, Corporate Policies, Health and Safety, and other programs and initiatives. The Manager will also manage budgets, labor costs, inventory control, product presentation and merchandising. The Manager will coach, motivate and develop their team to foster customer loyalty, fulfil customer needs and actively contribute to an environment of employee and customer engagement.

CANDIDATES MUST BE WILLING TO RELOCATE TO MULTIPLE MARKETS IN THE NORTHERNMOST REGIONS OF ALBERTA, MANITOBA, ONTARIO, SASKATCHEWAN, QUEBEC, NUNAVUT, AND NORTHWEST TERRITORIES. RELOCATION ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE AND PAID FOR BY THE NORTH WEST COMPANY.

More than just retail.
Come make a difference.

The Northern/NorthMart stores currently have exciting opportunities for full-time, permanent employment in retail stores across the North. This is an excellent opportunity to join a team where your experience and work ethic are appreciated and rewarded. With Northern/NorthMart, you’re encouraged to learn and grow on the job and to explore the beauty and the culture of the communities in which we live and work.

Are you a couple? Friends, siblings or just two colleagues that get along really well? We are looking for enthusiastic and highly motivated retail professionals who welcome the opportunities for career advancement that we have to offer. If you are customer service leaders with a passion for being part of a hardworking retail team

Northern/NorthMart offers rewarding experiences and unique opportunities for growth.

• Salary Range: $48,450 - $65,000 annually (Salary will be commensurate based on Candidates Qualifications and Experience.)
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Allowances for both food and accommodation
• Paid training

Your Responsibilities
Provide excellent customer service by delivering on the Value Offer.

• Focus on customer service as a top priority by creating strong customer relationships and providing excellent customer service
• Deal with customer complaints and requests quickly and effectively
• Address and respond to all customer inquiries
• Schedule department staff to maximize customer service and fulfill business needs
• Ensure an enjoyable shopping experience for customers

Manage the Food Services Department to maximize sales and profits.

• Ensure that the Food Services Department is ready for business, stocked and maintained throughout the day
• Understands customer product requirements.
• Promotes Food Service operation throughout the Community.
• Supports local events and initiatives in the Community.
• Develop departmental business plans in order to meet or exceed sales and gross profit goals
• Protect company assets: maintain and control inventories
• Monitor gross profit, investigate and address variances and communicate to Category Manager
• Oversee the correct cost of all invoices and communicate variances to Category Manager
• Complete Business Segment inventories as required
• Complete regular competitor price checks to protect competitive position
• Provide regular input to Procurement and Marketing Team on sales trends and new or requested items
• Monitor inventory levels and shrink reduction; rotate stock to guarantee freshness

Ensure that the daily operating disciplines, as described in the Best Practices Manual (Retail Basics) are consistently met.

• Fully support and participate in all advertising campaigns and P.O.P strategies as directed through Procurement and Marketing
• Ensure operating goals are met by monitoring performance, following merchandising practices, supporting promotions, maintaining operational standards and controls. Take remedial actions as described in Retail Basics
• Ensure product quality through correct ordering, receiving, inspection, handling, labeling, pricing and stock rotation
• Follow merchandise guidelines for all food resets
• Maintain equipment and fixtures as directed by the manufacturer and Facility Maintenance
• Maintain 52 week files and records

Support, train and develop staff

• Ensure that staff provide outstanding customer service
• Participate as a key member of the store team, providing leadership to store team and support to the Store Manager
• Work with supervisors to recruit, train, lead and develop Food Services Department employees
• Through on-going communication keep staff current with key activities
• Supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate Food Services Department employees as required

Skills and Qualifications
We’re looking for professional, organized workers who have a healthy sense of adventure and a strong knowledge and experience base.

• A minimum of two years of experience in a high-volume grocery/retail environment
• Strong customer service skills.
• Record of bottom line and sales results in previous roles.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions both verbally and orally.
• Computer knowledge of Excel and Outlook.
• Strong knowledge of grocery operating principles.
• Exceptional analytical, problem solving and decision making skills with a high attention to detail
• Proven organizational, planning and prioritizing skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal skills and superior customer service skills
• Must have the ability and desire to develop an in-depth understanding of Northern/NorthMart customers
• Demonstrates a personal and enthusiastic commitment to Northern/NorthMart's vision, mission, values and strategies
• Highly motivated and adventurous with an appreciation for small town life in a culturally diverse setting considered an asset

Working Conditions

• Work in extreme conditions
• Lift 50+ pounds
• Work extended hours
• Will be required to stand for long periods occasionally.
• Use full hand mechanics
• Handle or feel and reach with hands and arms
• Work in remote areas

Note: We may use AI-assisted tools as part of our recruitment process to support application review and administrative tasks. Final hiring decisions are made by human decision makers.

Our Promise to Indigenous Peoples

The North West Company ("NWC" or "North West") recognizes its longstanding relationship with Indigenous Peoples and its role as the largest provider of goods and services to Indigenous communities in northern Canada. North West’s predecessor entities were fur trading and provisioning companies that economically intertwined with Indigenous Nations for hundreds of years, well before the accelerated settler periods of the 19th and early 20th centuries. North West acknowledges its predecessors were also instruments of European sovereignty and power that contributed to the colonization of Indigenous territories and Nations that make up the geography of Canada today. In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, we acknowledge Canada’s colonial history and the policies of racism that created power imbalances throughout history and the resulting harm done to Indigenous Peoples.

Our Promise to Indigenous Peoples is a reaffirmed commitment to building more collaborative relationships that will enhance the inclusion and social well-being of Indigenous People of Canada. We fully commit to the spirit of reconciliation reflected in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and final report.

Help Us Serve Rural and Remote Communities

The North West Company plays a critical role in serving rural and remote communities across Canada’s north. Customers trust our Northern stores and NorthMart stores to provide the products and services that make their lives better. In turn, we trust our in-store personnel to deliver! If you are considering a career in the north, we offer excellent compensation and the freedom to make a store your own. You’ll have the rare opportunity of experiencing life in the north, with its outdoor activities and culturally engaged communities. We put our full support, including first-rate training, behind you. Many of our most successful operators worked their way up through our stores. If you are ready for adventure and hungry for a meaningful, wide-open career, take a look at what we have to offer.

We’d love to hear from all workers who are motivated to thrive professionally and personally while making a difference in multiple communities across the North. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The North West Company is proud to serve and support communities in Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. Our stores offer a broad range of products and services with an emphasis on food, and our goal is to be the best local shopping choice for everyday household and local lifestyle needs.