Thrift General Manager, Leamington Ontario

Canada, Ontario, Leamington

Applications due: 31 Mar, 2026

Job Synopsis

The General Manager is responsible for the financial health of the shop, including annual revenue, expenses and applicable planning and reporting. This salaried full-time position directly supervises three staff and provides general oversight and support to 8 staff and 150 volunteers, cultivating and maintaining a team approach.

This senior leadership role ensures operations at Thrift on Mill are in accordance with the policies and guidelines established by Mennonite Central Committee Ontario (MCCO) and works with the staff and volunteers to promote a friendly, caring presence in the community, showing value and respect to all, promoting faithful stewardship, and raising funds for MCC. The General Manager will demonstrate servant leadership and will ensure the shop is in harmony with the vision and goals of MCC.

This position is one of several General Manager positions at Mennonite Central Committee Ontario (MCCO). The General Manager is an active member of MCCO’s Thrift Network Team and the Cross Departmental Leadership Team, working together, along with core support staff, to promote the shop and engage shoppers, donors and supporting churches.

Additional information:

MCC is a charitable organization that partners with churches and community organizations worldwide to walk with people who are disadvantaged. MCC supports activities that provide emergency assistance, reduce poverty, and promote healthy communities, sustainable living and alternatives to violence. As an internationally recognized NGO, MCC currently serves in more than 45 countries with over 475 partners, 1000 staff and 40,000 volunteers.

Applicants must be legally able to work in Canada for the duration of their employment. Successful candidates will be required to provide a Police Background Check upon hire.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected to move forward in our hiring process will be contacted.

Job Details

Salaried Employee -Full Time at 1 FTE

Qualifications

All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active participation in a Christian church or Christian community; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

Leadership:

• Demonstrated capacity for coordination, supervision, leadership, and administration.
• Proven ability to provide leadership in a fast-paced environment, engaging the talents of volunteers and staff.
• Experience in managing, training, and mentoring a staff team.
• Strong planning, monitoring, budgeting, evaluating, and reporting skills.
• Ability to engage and influence others to achieve organizational goals.
• Ability to effectively deal with conflict in all areas of the shop (staff, volunteers, donors, customers).
• Ability to make quick and thoughtful decisions.
• Ability to engage staff and volunteers in creating a positive, customer centric, welcoming atmosphere within the shop, balancing patience, creativity, humour, and energy.
• Proven history of taking initiative, leading with creativity and flexibility.

Retail and Customer Service

:

• Knowledge of the second-hand market with an awareness of regulations regarding selling donated goods.
• Knowledge of sustainability practices and waste reduction.
• Proven leadership in a retail environment and/or warehouse environment.
• Excels in a fast-paced environment with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to create and refine systems and processes for increased efficiencies.

Communication

:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English including reading, writing and analysis.
• Ability to communicate in an articulate, engaging manner with tact and diplomacy when speaking with staff, the public, volunteers, colleagues, and supporters.
• Ability to set, communicate and enforce policies.

General

:

• Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent education and training) and 6 years of related experience.
• Excellent organizational and relational skills with good attention to detail.
• Commitment to the operating principles of MCC Thrift and the values of MCC including a heart for justice and active peacemaking.
• Intermediate working knowledge of MS Office programs including Excel, Outlook, Word and PowerPoint. General comfort with computers. Ability to learn and adopt new software. Familiarity and comfort with computer programs that facilitate remote connectivity (e.g. MS Teams, Zoom, etc.). Knowledge of Point-of-Sale systems and reporting
• Required to work non-standard hours, including evenings and Saturdays.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and exert 11 to 25 lbs. of force frequently.
• May require 6 or more hours of intermittent standing or walking in a standard workday.
• Ability to repeatedly bend or stoop to floor level shelves and able to reach upper shelves with use of a stool or a ladder when necessary.
• Able to travel domestically, especially within Ontario. Meeting attendance at 50 Kent Avenue in Kitchener and MCCO Thrift Shops is required approximately 6-7 times per year.

Key Responsibilities

General

• Provide vision and overall direction for Thrift on Mill based on MCCO’s strategic plan, including developing, monitoring, and evaluating project plans and annual plans for the thrift shop.
• Provide supervision, coaching, evaluation, support, training, and development for direct reports. Schedule and chair regular staff meetings. Create the monthly staff schedule.
• Actively participate in MCCO Thrift Network meetings and Cross Departmental Leadership meetings, collectively developing strategic plans and operating principles.
• In partnership with the Assistant Managers, develop and monitor shop budgets, tracking key indicators, spending, revenue, trends, etc. and managing sales growth.
• Monitor and evaluate success over time according to indicators identified. Through tracking and reporting, measure and manage the sales growth of the shop in consultation with the Thrift Support Team.
• Maintain all office and financial work including accounts payable and receivable, financial and business information, daily cash deposits and reconciliation.
• Ensure appropriate records are kept and current, including finance, evaluations, job descriptions, and risk management documentation.
• Oversee the recruitment, placement and management of co-op students, interns, and Canada Summer Jobs students.
• Participate in public speaking engagements as a way to promote donations, shopping and volunteering as well as the general work of MCC.
• Liaise with the Shop’s Advisory Council, community, supporting churches and local schools to further build relationships and gain support for the shop.
• Provide back-up support for the Assistant Managers and Team Members in their absence or as needed, including opening, and closing of the Thrift Shop.

Volunteer Engagement

Each shop has a Volunteer Engagement Manager who is directly responsible for these tasks listed below. The General Manager will oversee that role and hold ultimate responsibility of the fulfillment of these duties.

• Responsible for volunteer staffing including role design, recruiting, interviewing, scheduling and evaluating volunteers with the staff team
• Ensure orientation, training, education and ongoing development for volunteers
• Ensure appropriate records are being kept and maintain volunteer database in consultation with the MCCO Volunteer Services Manager
• Arrange special events and group bookings – including Volunteer Appreciation
• Arrange and chair regular volunteer meetings, either informal or formal
• Keep volunteers and staff informed about MCCO and Thrift Shop activities with daily announcements
• Be proactive in promoting positive public, staff and volunteer relations

Health & Safety

• Responsible for all aspects of safety of the facility.
• Ensure yourself, staff and volunteers adhere to company policies and legal regulations.
• Ensure staff comply with the risk management policy and procedures and foster a culture where risks are identified and mitigated.
• Support and direct the effective implementation of MCCO’s health and safety policies, procedures and regulations.

Other

• Ensure employees adhere to company policies and legal regulations.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned, including assisting with special events and projects as needed.
• Participate in MCCO orientations, provincial meetings, Peace Conference and Staff Development Days.
• Participate in a local faith community, being willing to use your personal gifts within this community.
• Model nonviolent peacemaking through respectful daily interactions with staff, volunteers, and the public.
• Maintain a high level of integrity, reflecting Christian respect and Christ's unconditional love to those with whom you work, including colleagues, partner agencies, the homeless and the marginalized.
• Serve as a brand advocate and ambassador for MCC’s mission and values in every interaction with customers and donors, being proactive in promoting positive public, staff, and volunteer relations.

Start Date

05 May, 2026

Salary Details

Base salary: $65,355. The salary stated is an annual amount. This role starts on day 1 with a company paid benefit package

Benefits

Group benefits package is employer paid and includes supplemental medical/dental/vision, life insurance, AD&D, global medical assistance, EAP and RRSP contributions matched - starts on day one.

LTD premiums are the responsibility of all permanent, salaried positions. These are the responsibility of the team member and are paid through salary deduction.

Additional Information

MCC Ontario affirms:

• That AI is not used to screen, assess, or select applicants for any position.
• All job postings are for an existing vacancy.

Thrift on Mill is open Monday - Wednesday 9-5, Thursday- Friday 9-8, and Saturday 9-5.

Location Description

This role will work out of the Thrift on Mill Thrift Shop in Leamington, Ontario.