Head of Stores; Ontario East

Position: Head of Stores (Ontario East)
Location:

This is a remote situated role, and involves regular travel to stores throughout your area of coverage.

Welcome to Specsavers  – where we’re not just about eyewear and eyecare, but about changing lives through better sight. Ranked the 11th Best Workplace™ in Canada and 12th globally by Great Place to Work®, we’re proud of our optometrist-owned model that delivers high-quality, accessible eyecare for every budget.

Founded 40 years ago in the UK by visionary optometrists Doug and Mary Perkins, Specsavers has remained privately owned since day one. Today, we are a $7.8 billion global business with over 45,000 colleagues across more than 2,700 retail optical locations.

In Canada, our support office is based in Burnaby, BC. Since entering the market in 2021, we’ve been scaling rapidly, now with 270 locations nationwide. With advanced clinical equipment and a wide range of affordable, high‑quality eyewear, we’re transforming the way Canadians experience eyecare.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a values‑driven organization, join us as we continue to grow. Together, we can change lives through better sight.

What You’ll Do
This position is responsible for overseeing daily operations, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring operational excellence across all store locations within the province. The role works closely with Partners and store teams to ensure effective operations, the continued growth of market share and maximising sales and profitability in their region.

This role works closely with the other Heads of Stores and Head of Operations. As the senior lead in their geographical area, they will collaborate and coordinate with Property, Business Development, Recruitment, Partnership, Clinical, Finance and Training. The success of this role is the ability to coach RRMs and stores partners enabling them to achieve their budgets, business plans, run highly profitable businesses whilst maintaining a Great Place to Work for their teams.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Business Growth

Execute the provincial retail strategy in alignment with national and global Specsavers objectives.

Drive store performance across the province, ensuring delivery of sales, margin, and profitability targets.

Develop and implement a 3–5-year physical capacity and workforce plan to support future growth.

Collaborate cross‑functionally with Property, Marketing, Clinical, Product, and Recruitment teams to deliver integrated business outcomes.

Partner & Store Support

Coach and support store Partners to develop and execute robust business plans.

Oversee onboarding and development programs for new Partners, from pre‑opening through post‑launch stabilization.

Ensure underperforming stores are identified early and supported with tailored improvement plans within 8–12 weeks.

People Leadership & Team Development

Build, lead, and inspire a high‑performing team of RRMs to deliver consistent support and challenge to store Partners.

Champion a culture of coaching, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Lead regional forums and events to align teams, share best practices, and foster engagement.

Customer Experience & Brand Standards

Set and uphold high standards for customer service across all stores.

Ensure stores deliver the Specsavers customer journey and brand promise consistently.

Act as a brand ambassador and escalation point for customer or Partner issues.

Risk, Compliance & Operational Excellence

Ensure compliance with all provincial and federal regulations, including competition and employment law.

Monitor and manage operational risks, working cross‑functionally to mitigate issues.

Ensure stores are audit‑ready and aligned with Specsavers’ operational standards.

What We’re Looking For

Experience:

7+ years in senior retail leadership, ideally in a franchise or multi‑site environment.

Leadership:
Proven ability to lead through complexity and scale high‑performing teams.

Financial Acumen:
Strong understanding of P&L management and financial forecasting.

Customer Focus:
Deep commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Communication:
Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills…