Client Organization: Brewers Distributor Limited

Position Title: General Manager, Distribution West

Reports to: Vice President, Logistics

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

THE COMPANY

Brewers Distributor Limited (BDL) is a private joint venture company owned by Labatt Breweries of Canada and Molson Breweries for the wholesale distribution of beer and the collection of returnable, refillable and recyclable beer containers within the four Western Canadian Provinces, as well as Northwest Territories and the Yukon. The overall goal of the distribution alliance between the shareholder companies in Western Canada, is to maximize cost and service performance within the two distinct business processes – wholesale distribution of beer, and the collection of returnable, recyclable beer containers. BDL operates six distribution centers and four cross dock facilities in the Western provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia). These facilities serve licensed customers throughout Western Canada and the Northern Territories.

For more information about Brewers Distributor Ltd, please visit BDL.ca

The General Manager, Distribution West will assist the Vice President, Logistics, in setting BDL’s strategic direction, corporate objectives and targets and develop and implement operational plans to support all corporate objectives. The General Manager will provide leadership and management of BDL operational staff, employees, facilities, and assets to meet customer service expectations and cost targets. He/she will represent the company with industry groups and regulatory agencies ensuring compliance with the storage and delivery of beer and the collection of empty beer containers in the four Western provinces.

This position has oversight on activities across four provinces with responsibilities that fall into the following categories:

• Ensure processes are in place to adhere to regulatory health and safety requirements;
• Ensure BDL health and safety policies are implemented and integrated to all workplace activities;
• Promotes a positive health and safety culture by measuring facility performance, supporting training requirements and supporting efforts to identify and reduce hazards associated with our activities;
• Review time loss incidents serious near miss documentation and endorses appropriate recommendations to prevent recurrence;
• Conduct senior management facility safety audits;
• Requires processes to ensures warehouse and fleet equipment is maintained in accordance with established guidelines.

Customer Service, Regulatory Issues, Brewers Concerns External and Internal

• Monitor Warehouse performance against customer service metrics such as accuracy, on-time delivery, breakage, etc.;
• Respond to customer concerns and questions;
• Respond to Provincial Regulators’ concerns and questions and work with Regulators to implement changes required to improve network efficiency/cost;
• Work on and with the BAC and public affairs on Alberta Beverage Container Corporation (ABCC) and Brewers Recycled Container Collection Council (BRCCC) related issues;
• Answer brewery market concerns and questions.

Planning, Financial Performance, Cost Control

• Develops annual operating plan that identifies key business unit objectives and ensures their alignment to the corporate strategic plan and targets; provides updates to executive team or Board as required on their accomplishment;
• Review financial statements and reports, daily, weekly, monthly and develops plans to improve performance;
• Reviews and approves request for capital before submission for further approval;
• Review volume, productivity daily, weekly, monthly and other performance reports and ensures plans are in place to address deficiencies relative to annual targets;
• Complete required annual budget and forecast activity and reviews/approves operational submissions;
• Reviews/approves requests for changes in manpower requirements;
• Develops presentations for submission to Board.

Administration and People Management

• Daily reviews, authorizations and signatures;
• Daily Contact with Direct Reports project and initiative updates;
• Reviews strategy development for union negotiations and administration of the collective agreements to achieve effective labour relations and foster a productive work environment;
• Ensures appropriate Standard Operating Procedures are in place and that processes are in place to ensure adherence to these;
• Ensures processes are in place to monitors staff performance; identifies issues and takes appropriate corrective action in accordance with Company programs & policies;
• Supports efforts to identify and develop high potential talent.

Special Projects

• Acts as Chair of the BDL Industry Committee;
• Participates in the Western Commercial Committee;
• Identifies initiatives to improve performance;
• Develops submission, executes and reports on performance relative to initiative plan.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

Our client is looking for a proven leader who will meet the following criteria:

• +10 years plus progressive senior logistics management in a leadership capacity;
• Solid background in physical distribution including large warehouse facilities, transportation, and financial management in an ERP environment;
• Comfortable in a highly unionized environment and experienced in managing in a challenging labor relations culture with strong background in Collective Agreements;
• Working understanding and experience in the regulatory requirements of the storage and delivery of beer and the collection of beer containers from the marketplace in the four Western Canada provinces;
• Strategic and strong planning skills complemented by an ability and willingness to ‘roll up their sleeves’ and get tactically involved in helping their teams get the job done;
• Strong financial management skills, has a track record of managing budgets and providing timely and accurate reports on operations and financial conditions
• Superior communicator with employees and a diverse group of shareholders and the ability to build strong relationships with external stakeholder groupsContinuous improvement mindset, seeking opportunities to improve performance and operational efficiencies

CONTACT INFORMATION

Tim Hewat, Partner and Head of Executive Search, North America

E-mail: tim.hewat@lhhknightsbridge.com

Tel: 416.526.1084

Nick Protti, Partner

E-mail: nicholas.protti@lhhknightsbridge.com

Tel: 604.788.7541

Madiha Rashid, Senior Consultant

E-mail: madiha.rashid@lhhknightsbridge.com

Tel: 416.928.4549

About LHH Knightsbridge – www.lhhknightsbridge.com

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