Position: Store Manager – Local Store
Deadline to apply: Feb 24th, 2025
Compensation: $24-26/hour depending on experience
Scope: 25-35 hours / week.
Number of positions: One
Start Date: February 2025
Location: Fernie, BC
Length of contract: 1 year (Maternity Leave) with possibility of extension
NOTE: YOU MUST CURRENTLY LIVE IN OR NEAR FERNIE TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. YOU MUST BE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED.
About Local
Local is a community-powered local food store and social enterprise operated by Wildsight Elk Valley. We aim to support the local food system through the development of a low-barrier model of food access that supports local farmers and sustainable producers to get their product to market. The Branch’s mission as a non-profit is to cultivate a thriving, knowledgeable, and resilient local food culture in the Elk Valley.
Job Summary
The Local Store Manager is responsible for overseeing and maintaining the daily operations of the Local store, and reports to the Wildsight Elk Valley board of directors. The Store Manager manages Local’s team of staff and volunteers, and is responsible for developing and maintaining positive relationships with Local vendors. They are responsible for invoicing, calculating vendor payouts, reporting, and communicating with the Wildsight Elk Valley Board, the Local Advisory Committee, and bookkeeper. The Store Manager works closely with Local staff to coordinate marketing and communications, and is constantly seeking ways to improve the success and profitability of Local.
Key Responsibilities of Role
COORDINATION:
- Oversee store operations – including cleaning, temperature checks, store operation.
- Teamwork – collaborate with and support the Retail Coordinator(s) in their role to ensure smooth operations and store growth.
- Customer service – promote a culture of high quality customer service. Oversee and remedy customer complaints / issues.
- Stock store – ensure Local is well stocked with a variety of local products. Get approval for new products from the Advisory Committee. Take regular inventory of all products to ensure accuracy. Order wholesale and consignment. Process new inventory.
- Systems – develop and update systems and procedures, including Health and Safety plans. Develop and update an operations manual to have a record of how the store is run.
MANAGE LOCAL STAFF:
- Hiring Local Staff – lead the recruitment and hiring of Local staff with the support of the Local Advisory Committee and the Wildsight Elk Valley Branch HR Committee.
- Manage Local Staff – manage and supervise the Local Retail Coordinator(s) and any future Local staff.
- Local Staff Performance Reviews – participate in biannual performance reviews for Local staff lead by the Wildsight Elk Valley Branch HR Committee.
VENDOR SUPPORT:
- Vendor relationships – support vendors in selling at Local. Develop and maintain positive working vendor relationships. Track vendors’ concerns and comments to identify ways to improve working relationships. Field inquiries from and look for new prospective vendors.
- Local Line support – train and support vendors on Local Line platform
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT:
- Oversee volunteer coordination – support volunteer recruitment, orientation, ongoing training and scheduling. Troubleshoot any issues that arise from the work of volunteers. Help develop materials for volunteer training. Promote volunteer opportunities at Local.
- Train volunteers – assist in training and supporting volunteers. Create a culture of advancement and skill development for volunteers.
REPORTING:
- Vendor payouts – calculate monthly payouts for vendors and communicate to bookkeeper
- Bookkeeping – monitor cash flow and bookkeeping, including spoilt or lost products. Work closely with Wildsight Elk Valley Bookkeeper and Treasurer on financials, including month-end bookkeeping, submitting invoices, and tracking expenditures.
- Reports – complete monthly Wildsight Elk Valley Branch reports, daily cashouts and store updates, and develop Annual Impact Report in collaboration with the Local Advisory Committee.
- Product profitability – track profitability of products and income.
- Track stats – update KPI tracking including sales, volunteer stats, and distance of vendors.
COMMUNICATION:
- Advisory Committee engagement – attend biweekly meetings with the Advisory Committee for feedback, planning, direction and to report on financials, issues, successes.
- Basecamp – utilize Basecamp project management software to communicate with the Advisory Committee and Volunteers. Track work completed at Local via the platform
- CiviCRM – utilize CiviCRM platform to send communications. Keep contacts and groups (i.e. Newsletter, Active Volunteers) up to date.
- Newsletter – develop and distribute monthly Local newsletter, including new vendors, updates, and events. Attract new subscribers.
MARKETING:
- Social Media – work with Retail Coordinators to create timely and engaging social media posts.
- Presale – Develop and implement presale campaigns for novel or seasonal items
- eBlasts – develop content as needed for Wildsight eBlast newsletters
- Website – ensure online content is accurate and up to date
- Public relations – respond to requests for public relations and other information
How to Apply
Wildsight is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our hiring processes and work environment and we encourage women, people of colour, people of indigenous ancestry and LGBTQ2+ individuals to apply for this position.
Deadline to apply is February 24th, 2025. We will respond via email to all applicants by February 26th, 2025.
Please send your resume (maximum 2 pages) and cover letter (maximum 1 page) to elkvalley@wildsight.ca
Organizational Background
The Elk Valley Branch of Wildsight is an BC registered non-profit organization, governed by an engaged Board of Directors and supported by active members and volunteers. Our work aims to promote environmental stewardship and conservation in our community.
Locally produced food and food-growing space are priorities for the Elk Valley Branch. Our passionate volunteers built and managed the Community EcoGarden, the Cold Climate Seed Library, ToolShare, and Local. We work together with Wildsight Regional and the five other Wildsight Branches.