All MCC workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to: a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active church membership; and nonviolent peacemaking.

MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified candidates to apply.

Synopsis:

The National Thrift Shop Development Coordinator is a marketing and business resource and leader for the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) thrift shops in Canada.
This position provides positive, collaborative leadership and support to the Canadian thrift shop network in order to help grow, develop and strengthen this large social enterprise involving over three thousand staff and volunteers and 51 stores across Canada. The Coordinator works closely with her/his counterparts in the U.S. thrift shop network and is also an integral part of the MCC Canada Communications and Donor Relations teams and the larger MCC organization.

This position is available on a salaried basis. To apply, please contact Shay Brandt with a cover letter and resume at shaybrandt@mennonitecc.ca by April 6, 2014 . Only those candidates who are legally eligible to work in Canada should apply.

Please contact Maria Figueroa at mariafigueroa@mennonitecc.ca with all other salary/job-related inquiries and questions.

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary degree or diploma (business administration preferred).
• Three or more years private sector retail experience at a senior management level.
• Demonstrated marketing and merchandising skills in a competitive retail or business environment.
• Forward-looking, strategic thinker and business planner.
• A proven energetic and collaborative leadership style, which actively seeks input from team members and stakeholders.
• Relevant training and expertise in areas such as business planning, marketing, retail strategy, policies and volunteer development.
• Consistently displays integrity, models collaborative leadership behavior and outstanding teamwork.
• Ability to manage demanding situations and decision-making process.
• Strong interpersonal skills and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to influence, enable and work with others in a network and/or team.
• Proven ability to turn concepts into reality, within established time limits and in a collaborative volunteer environment.
• Ability and flexibility to travel, nationally and internationally.
• Experienced with Word, Excel, social networking, and webpage editing preferred.
• Ability to facilitate presentations and deliver training workshops on relevant business and marketing best practices.
• Successful police record check clearance.

Assignment Description:

Contact/Relationships:
The National Thrift Shop Development Coordinator works closely with provincial thrift coordinators and the U.S. Thrift Shop Development Coordinator. The Coordinator will also connect with retail business professionals outside the MCC thrift shop network to remain current on retail and merchandising trends, best practices, etc.Internal Contacts: MCCC Director of Communications and Donor Relations; provincial coordinators; MCC Canada Graphic Designer; Web Manager, Senior Writer/Editor; Financial Services; Canada Resource Generation Network; U.S. Thrift Shop Development Coordinator.External Contacts: general public, conference speakers, marketing companies, government and regulatory agencies, lawyers and others with expertise the thrift shops may need from time to time.

Supervision:
Through a dotted-line relationship the Provincial Co-coordinators within the Thrift Shop system report to this position thereby ensuring a close positive and collaborative working relationship with respect to hiring and evaluation of Co-coordinators.

Complexity/Competencies:
Able to maintain healthy, effective working relationships with provincial thrift shop coordinators and the U.S. Thrift Shop Development Coordinator and Provincial Executive Directors. Able to provide leadership in a collaborative work environment. Able to use business entrepreneurial skills in a faith-based, volunteer operationBe a task-driven, self-starter bringing relevant knowledge and insight.Able to introduce new ideas and ways of operating into MCC thrift shops in order to develop, strengthen and facilitate teamwork and performance.Monitor legislation, laws and standards to ensure thrift shops are aware of relevant tax and charity law, labor and workplace standards in order to manage risk and compliance.Be a resource for thrift shops, the thrift shop network as well as Communications and Donor Relations staff on marketing and business matters.

Independent Action:
Works productively and pro-actively with minimal supervision.Inspires and mentors other leaders in the Thrift shop system.Provides direction and leadership through the development of an annual plan.Works to initiate with the Provincial Co-coordinator Team new and improved shared learning and practices as identified collaboratively and within the annual plan.

Initiative and Ingenuity:
Able to spot thrift shop retail opportunities and together with the thrift shop network act on them as appropriateAdopt or adapt successful private sector retail marketing and merchandising techniques and trends as appropriateOn an ongoing basis, develop new, creative ways of connecting the work of MCC with the energy, passion and outreach potential of thrift shops in CanadaBased on experience and research, develop and help implement successful marketing strategies, sales campaigns, etc.Advise Communications and Donor Relations staff on MCC promotions and marketing initiativesHire outside expertise as neededDemonstrate commitment to continued professional growth and development

Communication/Interpersonal Skills:
Professional written and oral skills with the ability to be persuasive and critical, complimentary and encouraging, objective and helpful.

Mental/Physical/Visual Demand:
This can be a high-stress position because of the highly collaborative culture of the thrift shop and MCC structure and need to ensure strong volunteer ownership while improving support and performance.Handles detailed, complex concepts and problems and balances multiple tasks simultaneously.Although hours are generally regular, there will be times when flexible hours are necessary.

End Result:
That MCC Thrift is optimally positioned to benefit the work and mission of MCC. That MCC Canada’s donor relations, communications and marketing initiatives work as planned.

Major Responsibilities:
Marketing - 20 %Team work and Training - 30 %Administrative and planning - 25 %Event planning and preparation - 15 %Supervision - 5%Other - 5 %

Duties:

• Ensure that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is exemplified in the performance of all job responsibilities and through personal example.
• Participate in regular staff meetings, spending time in devotions and prayer with all in attendance in local MCC setting.
• Model non-violent peacemaking through daily interactions with staff and the public.
• Participate in a local church and gatherings, being willing to use his or her gifts within the local faith community.
• Travel to MCC thrift shops, approximately 20 per cent of the time.
• Provide vision and leadership to carry out the thrift shops’ mission developing and supporting the Provincial Co-coordinator Team.
• Together with provincial coordinators develop, articulate and implement annual and long term goals for the network of MCC thrifts shops in Canada.
• Together with provincial coordinators, develop a multi-year path to accomplish these goals including determining resources that will be needed while ensuring close collaboration and links to the larger MCC system particularly as it relates to communications, marketing and donor relations.
• Share business and marketing experience with coordinators and shops though the development of a training program for the Thrift Network based on identified needs and opportunities.
• Assure thrift shop quality and organizational stability through development and implementation of standards and controls, systems and procedures, and regular evaluation.
• Ensure legal handbook and online resources regarding tax regulations, liability, health and safety concerns, day to day operations, etc. are current.
• Work with legislators, regulatory agencies, volunteers and representatives of the thrift shop sector to promote legislative and regulatory policies that address thrift shop issues and concerns.
• Coordinate/facilitate the flow of information between the provincial thrift shop coordinators regarding retail ideas, store renovation ideas, problem solving, etc.
• Develop and help execute national thrift shop promotions and campaigns.
• Inspire volunteers and staff about the work and mission of MCC.
• Network with retail and merchandising professionals outside the thrift shop network to source new ideas and ways of working.
• Represent the Canadian thrift shops at various MCC meetings.
• Facilitate Canadian thrift shop workshops, meetings, conferences as necessary.
• Help develop and coordinate production of thrift shop promotional materials.
• Ensure the thrift shop website is current.
• Collaborate with the U.S. Thrift Shop Development Coordinator.
• Provide feedback and ideas to the MCC Canada Communications and Donor Relations department on promotional and marketing initiatives.

Location Description:

Winnipeg is a dynamic city of approximately 700,000 located on the Red River, 108 km's north of the US border. Being near the center of Canada, it is a major transportation center. The city's population is fairly diverse, representing people from many different cultures. Most of the people are English speaking with French, Filipino and Chinese being other predominant languages. There are about 65,000 First Nations people living in Winnipeg.

There are almost 50 Mennonite churches in Winnipeg, which is home to about 30,000 Mennonites. Winnipeg has a number of post-secondary institutions including Canadian Mennonite University. There are also two Mennonite private high schools.

Winnipeg temperatures can range from 40°C (104°F) in summer to -45°C (-49°F) in winter, with average summer temperatures around 25.4°C (77.7°F) and average winter temperatures around -12.9°C (8.8°F).

The main MCC building in Winnipeg is located at 134 Plaza Drive and houses approximately seventy staff persons who work for MCC Canada, MCC Manitoba or Ten Thousand Villages. Approximately half of the building area is taken up with open landscaped offices, conference rooms, a library and a supply room. The rest of the area is used for the Material Resource program and a Ten Thousand Villages gift shop. MCC Manitoba has a second office located on Henderson Highway. This office houses approximately 14 staff who work in specific program areas in Manitoba.

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