General Manager, Terrington Consumers Co-operative Society Ltd.

Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL

Terrington Consumers Co-op is seeking a collaborative, decisive, and community-minded leader to serve as its next General Manager. This is a pivotal role at the heart of Labrador's most successful locally owned grocery and general merchandise store. With nearly $40 million in annual sales and growing, this is an opportunity to guide one of Labrador's anchor businesses into its next era of service, innovation, and member value.

The Organization

Located in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Terrington Consumers Co-op has been a staple in the community for over 50 years. A proud member-owned enterprise, the Co-op is a 40,000 square foot retail space and has more than 5,400 members and over 100 employees, offering groceries, general merchandise, and essential household goods. What sets Terrington apart is not just its size, but its heart - deeply rooted in cooperative values, community service, and sustainable growth. In a market with growing competition, the Co-op remains a leader, known for its strong workplace culture, low employee turnover, and deep commitment to local needs.

The Role

The General Manager of Terrington Consumers Co-op is a strategic and operational leader responsible for the success of one of Labrador's most respected and community-rooted businesses. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the General Manager oversees all aspects of store operations, finance, and team leadership, while modernizing systems and maintaining a strong member-first culture. This leader sets the tone for collaboration, engagement, and innovation, while building on the Co-op's proud history and ensuring its continued relevance in a changing marketplace. They will foster a people-first culture, emphasizing employee engagement, professional development, succession planning and workplace well-being.

As General Manager, your day-to-day will be varied and meaningful. You'll guide both the big picture and the finer details. Your key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Leadership: In collaboration with the Board, develops and implements a business and membership engagement strategy that supports Terrington's growth and sustainability while promoting a collaborative, high-performance environment.

Operational Leadership: Develops the operational budget and leads day-to-day store operations, aligning departmental activities with strategic priorities and ensuring efficient, member-focused service. Modernizes internal systems to improve efficiency, transparency, and performance. Responsible for managing existing Wholesale Supply Agreements with vendors and leading negotiation of renewals.

People and Culture: Fosters a positive, collaborative workplace, supports staff development, and sustains high engagement across a diverse and unionized team.

Governance and Partnerships: Supports the Board through timely reporting, planning input, and clear role delineation between governance and operations. Reviews, develops, and recommends formal policies and procedures that support the effective operation and governance. Acts as the public face of the Co-op, building strong relationships with members, local partners, and the wider Happy Valley-Goose Bay community.

The Ideal Candidate

As the ideal candidate, you care about people first. You believe a business can be both high performing as well as rooted in local community. You bring solid experience in retail, grocery, or co-operative settings and are known for your ability to connect with people-from frontline staff to community members and board directors. Strategic yet approachable, you bring a modern mindset to systems and operations while valuing relationships, fairness, and transparency. You are energized by the opportunity to lead change and strengthen one of Labrador's most respected employers, without losing sight of its mission or community roots.

Qualifications and Experience:

The Search Committee is interested in meeting with all qualified candidates and will accept practical experience that is equivalent to formal education. While no one candidate is likely to meet all qualifications in equal measure, those listed below are desirable and will be used to compare candidates.

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in a retail or grocery environment, ideally at a general or store manager level.
• Knowledge of grocery operations, retail systems, inventory control, and merchandising.
• Understanding of co-operative businesses and how they differ from corporate environments.
• Strong people management skills in unionized environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and retail/operational systems.
• Experience working with or reporting to a Board of Directors is an asset.
• Postsecondary education in business or management is preferred.

Skills and Attributes:

• A "people person" who is comfortable engaging with staff, members, and the community.
• Decisive, confident, and approachable leadership style.
• Cross-cultural awareness and a commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Strong judgment, integrity, and community orientation.
• Comfortable in modern work environments and open to systems improvement.
• Passionate about the Co-op model and member-first values.

Why Join Terrington Co-op?

This is more than a job, it's a leadership opportunity within a member-owned organization with deep community roots.

The Co-op offers market competitive compensation with a performance bonus program based on established KPIs, a group benefits plan, and potential housing assistance for candidates relocating to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. You'll join a proud and capable team ready to support a leader who shares their commitment to service, innovation, and mutual success.

Application Process

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Northern Context

Terrington Co-op is located in the heart of Central Labrador, a region shaped by rich Indigenous cultures, diverse settler histories, and the resilience of northern communities. We recognize the unique social, cultural, and geographic context in which we operate, and we are committed to fostering equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in ways that reflect this reality.

We encourage applications from individuals who self-identify as Indigenous, Black, or a person of colour, and especially those with lived experience and a demonstrated ability to integrate EDI principles into operational practice. As part of a vibrant and close-knit community, the successful candidate will be expected to actively support a welcoming, collegial, and respectful workplace, while advancing inclusive practices that reflect the diverse voices and strengths of our region.

Accommodations

Please email [email protected] or communicate your needs to a recruitment professional named below to ensure that accessibility needs are accommodated through this process. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Michelle Doyle at [email protected], or Dr. Jennie Massey at [email protected] or submit your full application package online.

The Committee will begin reviewing applications on May 30, 2025.