Senior Director, Retail Operations - Quebec

About us

At MEC, we believe the transformative power of the outdoors makes us better humans and drives us to do good for the planet. We are here to inspire and support everyone in getting active outside—connecting people to gear, advice, and experiences that build confidence and community.

MEC is an equal opportunity employer and committed to building an inclusive community of staffers. We’re proud to work with our people to create a diverse workplace, where everyone feels like they belong and has the opportunity to be successful. We welcome of all applicants to join our diverse team. Tell us what you need during the hiring process, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

The Opportunity

This is a high-impact senior leadership role responsible for owning and accelerating MEC’s Québec retail business. As Senior Director, Retail – Québec, you operate as the regional business leader, accountable for performance across all stores and channels, while partnering closely with the Senior Vice President, Retail Operations on strategy and enterprise alignment.

You will lead Québec as a distinct market within MEC, shaping multi-year growth plans, driving operational excellence, and building a high-performing leadership team. This role evolves beyond traditional regional management—expanding into strategic planning, portfolio optimization, and enterprise influence, while maintaining strong executional leadership across the store network.

Scope & Accountabilities

1. Regional Business Ownership (P&L + Execution)

• Own and deliver regional financial performance, including revenue growth, margin improvement, and cost control aligned to enterprise targets.
• Lead development and execution of the annual operating plan for Québec, including sales, labour, and productivity targets.
• Partner with the SVP, Retail Operations on multi-year growth strategy for the region.
• Drive disciplined execution through performance management, reporting, and operational cadence.

2. Market Growth & Store Portfolio Strategy

• Shape and execute the Québec store network strategy, including:
  • New store opportunities and relocations
  • Market optimization and trade area performance
  • Store format innovation aligned to customer needs
• Contribute to capital planning discussions with Operations and Finance.
• Drive omnichannel performance, ensuring strong integration between store execution and digital experience.

3. Operational Excellence & Performance Discipline

• Ensure consistent, high-quality execution across all stores, including:
  • Customer/member experience (NPS, service levels)
  • Inventory productivity and merchandising standards
  • Labour optimization and cost management
• Establish and reinforce best practices and operating standards across the region.
• Lead performance improvement initiatives, including store-level turnarounds, productivity enhancement, and operational consistency.

4. Enterprise Partnership & Influence

• Act as the Québec market leader, partnering with:
  • Merchandising (assortment and product strategy)
  • Marketing (local relevance and campaigns)
  • Supply Chain (inventory flow and availability)
  • Finance (performance tracking and planning)
  • People (talent strategy and employee relations)
• Translate enterprise strategy into clear, actionable regional plans and provide feedback to shape enterprise decisions.
• Represent Québec’s customer, cultural, and market dynamics at the national level.

5. Leadership, Talent & Culture

• Lead and develop a high-performing General Manager bench and regional leadership team.
• Build strong succession pipelines and leadership capability across the region.
• Drive a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Champion MEC’s purpose and values, creating an inclusive, high-performance environment.

6. Brand Presence & Community Connection

• Strengthen MEC’s presence in Québec through local partnerships, community engagement, and brand activation.
• Ensure MEC is perceived as a relevant, authentic, and locally connected brand.
• Act as a visible leader representing MEC in key regional relationships.

7. Compliance & Quebec Regulatory Environment

• Ensure all operations are conducted in alignment with Québec-specific requirements, including:
  • Employment standards and employee relations practices
  • French language requirements in workplace and customer environments
  • Consumer protection expectations
  • Privacy and data considerations
  • Health & safety standards
• Lead compliant operations in partnership with Legal, People, and internal experts, ensuring consistent and proactive risk management.

Qualifications

Leadership Profile

• Senior retail leader with significant multi-site operational leadership experience.
• Proven track record of leading large, geographically dispersed retail teams and delivering sustained performance.
• Experience operating at both strategic and executional levels within a complex organization.

Business & Functional Expertise

• Strong expertise in:
  • Retail operations and performance management
  • Financial leadership, including P&L ownership and forecasting
  • Inventory, merchandising partnership, and store productivity
• Demonstrated success driving sales growth, profitability, and customer experience outcomes.

Quebec Market Expertise (Essential)

• Significant experience operating in Québec, with:
  • Strong understanding of labour practices and employee relations
  • Ability to lead within Québec’s regulatory and cultural context
  • Experience managing French language requirements in operations

Leadership & Influence

• Strong ability to influence cross-functional partners and senior stakeholders.
• Proven capability to build, coach, and elevate leadership teams.
• Highly effective communicator with executive presence.

Language Requirement

• Fully bilingual in French and English (mandatory).
• Able to lead, communicate, and operate fluently in both languages across all business contexts.

The Perks

• Generous vacation allocation and Paid Care time (Wellness/sick)
• Maternity and Parental leave top-up
• Staff Discount and amazing deals straight from vendors
• Top-notch benefit plan
• Retirement Plan, matched contributions up
• Paid days to pursue outdoor activities and/or volunteer in your community
• Free staff gear rental program
• Access to a learning platform and educational assistance support
• Career development opportunities
• Field experience days, team away days and much, much more

Note: Availability of the benefits and perks may be subject to your location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. MEC reserves the right to alter these benefits and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

Are you up for your next adventure? We’d love to hear from you!

The Candidate must be able to read and converse in English and French. Le candidat doit être à l’aise de lire et de converser en anglais.