Assistant General Manager in Victoria, British Columbia at Mountain Equipment Company

Location: Store-specific

Reports to: General Manager

Why Join MEC

At MEC, our purpose is to equip people for a lifetime of great outdoor experiences and adventure. Our home is on the trail—and everything we do is grounded in a deep belief in the power of the outdoors to build confidence, connection, and community.

What sets MEC apart is our deep expertise, thoughtful product curation, and strong community connection, all focused on serving our members. Our teams bring lived outdoor experience and product knowledge to every interaction, helping members find the right gear and guidance for where they’re going next. We curate products with intention—prioritizing quality, performance, and sustainability—so members can trust what they buy and how it’s made. And we show up in our communities through local partnerships, events, and shared outdoor experiences that extend far beyond our store walls.

We’re a people-first organization, grounded in our values of respect, integrity, inclusivity, collaboration, and accountability. Our leaders play a hands-on role in bringing these values and differentiators to life—building strong teams, leading with care and clarity, and ensuring every decision supports meaningful experiences for our members, our staff, and the places we love to explore.

The Opportunity

As the Assistant General Manager (AGM), you are the second-in-command and a critical partner to the General Manager in leading overall store performance, operations, and culture. You help translate strategy into action—ensuring priorities are executed consistently, standards are upheld, and teams are supported to deliver strong business results and an exceptional member experience.

You work across all areas of the store, coaching and supporting Department Managers, identifying risks and opportunities, and reinforcing disciplined execution across people leadership, service, merchandising, inventory, and compliance. Through visible floor leadership and strong cross-functional collaboration, you help build a high-performing, engaged, and inclusive store culture.

What You’ll Be Responsible For Store Performance & Execution

• Partner with the General Manager to drive overall store performance, including sales, margin, labour, and operational results
• Review and interpret store-level KPIs and financial results to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
• Coach and hold leaders accountable for key metrics such as Sales vs. Budget, Conversion, ATV, UPT, Margin, and Labour Efficiency
• Support informed decision-making that balances member experience, employee engagement, and financial outcomes

People Leadership, Engagement & Culture

• Lead and develop store leaders through coaching, feedback, and performance conversations
• Foster an inclusive, respectful, and high-engagement culture aligned to MEC values
• Support consistent and fair execution of performance, attendance, and people practices
• Act as a visible, approachable leader and escalation point for employee questions and concerns

Recruitment, Onboarding & Capability

• Own frontline recruitment and onboarding outcomes in partnership with the DM, Member Experience
• Support recruitment and onboarding of Senior Store Team members alongside the General Manager
• Reinforce training priorities and leadership development across the store
• Ensure teams are staffed, trained, and supported to meet business and service needs

Member Experience & Floor Leadership

• Act as the Member Service Manager on the floor as required
• Champion consistent execution of member service standards across all departments
• Use floor observations and service insights to identify gaps and support targeted coaching through store leaders

Operational Oversight & Risk Management

• Support consistent execution across inventory, merchandising, visual, operations, and Tech Shop functions
• Monitor operational KPIs and escalate risks related to inventory, safety, loss prevention, and compliance
• Reinforce health & safety standards, loss prevention practices, and operational discipline across the store

What You Bring

• 3–5+ years of progressive people leadership experience in a multi-department retail, service, or operational environment
• Demonstrated experience leading leaders (e.g., Department Managers or equivalent)
• Strong business and operational acumen, with the ability to interpret KPIs and translate insights into action
• Proven ability to coach performance and apply people practices consistently and fairly
• Experience with workforce planning, scheduling, and labour management
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across teams and functions
• Comfort operating in fast-paced, complex environments
• Passion for outdoor activities and alignment with MEC’s purpose
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays

Work Environment

This is an active leadership role requiring regular presence on the sales floor and in back-of-house areas. The role includes standing, walking, lifting (up to 50 lbs), and navigating varied store environments while supporting daily operations and team leadership.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

MEC is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive, respectful, and barrier-free workplace. We value diversity and believe our teams are stronger when everyone feels safe, supported, and able to be themselves at work.