Position: General Manager – Branch Operations
Location: Transat Marine – Barrie, Ontario (On-site, In-Office)
Employment Type: Full-time
Industry: Marine Parts Wholesale Distribution
About the Company
Western Marine Company and Transat Marine are distributors of marine parts and accessories serving wholesale customers throughout Canada since 1985. We carry an extensive inventory of over 58,000 items from more than 450+ manufacturers from around the world. We supply to both the commercial and recreational marine sectors. We sell primarily to businesses actively involved in the marine industry, which have established an account with Western or Transat Marine. Our
customers include Towing Companies, Shipyards, Boat Builders, Boat Dealers, Retail Accessory Dealers, Houseboat Operators, and the Commercial Fishing Fleet. The Barrie location supports regional customers through a combination of sales and warehouse operations.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and hands-on General Manager to lead our Barrie branch. This role has full responsibility for branch performance, team leadership, customer relationships, and operational effectiveness. The General Manager works on-site in the Barrie office and partners closely with the Vancouver-based head office.
This is a visible leadership role that requires strong relationship-building skills, sound operational judgment, and the ability to balance day-to-day execution with longer-term business planning. Periodic travel is required with Transat Sales Reps in Central and Eastern Canada to maintain and grow relationships with customers.
Key Responsibilities
Branch Leadership & Operations
- Manage and support the day-to-day operations of the Barrie branch, including sales staff and warehouse staff
- Create a positive, accountable, and safety-focused workplace culture
- Ensure efficient order fulfillment, inventory management, and warehouse operations
- Serve as the senior on-site leader for all branch matters
Customer & Vendor Relationships
- Build and maintain strong relationships with customers and vendors
- Support the sales team by reinforcing service standards and customer expectations
- Act as an escalation point for customer or vendor issues when required
Collaboration with Head Office
- Work closely with the VP of Operations and head office teams in Vancouver to align branch activities with national strategies
- Share regional market insights and operational feedback to support company-wide decision-making
- Ensure branch practices remain consistent with company policies and standards
- Provide input into branch budgeting, forecasting, and ongoing financial performance reviews
- Contribute recommendations on brand and product offerings tailored to the local market
Qualifications & Experience
- Management experience in wholesale distribution, supply chain, industrial sales, or a related environment
- Passion for boating and marine product knowledge is an asset
- Motivation in growing sales and market share
- Demonstrated experience leading both sales and operational/warehouse teams
- Strong customer relationship and communication skills
- Comfortable working in an in-office, hands-on leadership role
- Willingness to travel periodically
Compensation & Benefits
Western Marine Company and Transat Marine support sustainable work through competitive vacation time, paid holidays, and compensation. We have established a strong culture that respects life/work balance.
- Salary Range: $80,000 – $95,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications
- Lucrative profit-sharing program
- Benefits package including health and dental coverage
Why This Role?
- Lead the Ontario branch of a national organization
- Autonomy to manage local operations while being supported by an established head office
- Opportunity to influence customer relationships, product mix, and operational performance
- Stable, specialized industry with long-term growth potential
Please email your resume to “mballard@westernmarine.com”
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted