Senior Director, Inventory

Come make your difference in communities across Canada, where authenticity, trust and making connections is valued – as we shape the future of Canadian retail, together. Our unique position as one of the country's largest employers, coupled with our commitment to positively impact the lives of all Canadians, provides our colleagues a range of opportunities and experiences to help Canadians Live Life Well®.

At Loblaw Companies Limited, we succeed through collaboration and commitment and set a high bar for ourselves and those around us. Whether you are just starting your career, re-entering the workforce, or looking for a new job, this is where you belong. 

Reports to: VP, Finance, Enterprise Business Services (EBS)

Role Mandate

The Senior Director, Retail Inventory provides enterprise leadership and strategic direction for Inventory, with accountability for the integrity and accuracy of one of the organization’s largest assets, operational performance, controls, stakeholder experience and the continued transformation of Retail Inventory.

The role leads the enterprise Retail Physical Inventory program across Corporate, Franchise and Associate locations, with accountability for the planning, execution, governance and analysis of physical inventory counts. The role ensures the accuracy of inventory quantities and dollar values, provides insight into inventory results and identifies opportunities to strengthen inventory management and operational performance.

A key component of the role is the governance and oversight of third-party service providers, ensuring clear accountability for service delivery, count quality, operational performance, compliance and continuous improvement.

The Senior Director will also lead the evolution of Inventory from an enterprise perspective, building a more standardized, automated, insight-driven and scalable operating model while strengthening partnerships across Store Operations, Finance, Technology, Loss Prevention and other enterprise functions.

Key Accountabilities

Enterprise Leadership & Strategy

• Set the strategic direction and multi-year roadmap for Retail Inventory, aligned with EBS, Finance Transformation and enterprise priorities.
• Establish enterprise Retail Inventory outcomes and performance expectations that drive inventory accuracy, financial integrity, operational effectiveness and accountability across the portfolio.
• Drive an enterprise approach to Retail Inventory by simplifying and standardizing processes across banners, store formats and locations.
• Shape the evolution of Retail Inventory capabilities and the operating model in response to changing business requirements, operational needs and technology opportunities.
• Challenge existing ways of working and align leaders around opportunities that improve financial, operational, store and colleague outcomes.

Third-Party Operations & Governance

• Provide strategic oversight of third-party service delivery supporting Retail Physical Inventory, ensuring provider capabilities and performance support inventory accuracy, operational requirements and business priorities.
• Ensure effective application of enterprise third-party governance standards, with clear accountability for service performance, count quality, risk, controls and escalation.
• Lead senior-level engagement and escalation for material provider performance, capacity, control or capability issues affecting the Retail Physical Inventory program.
• Hold internal leaders and service providers accountable for addressing systemic performance gaps and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Ensure third-party delivery evolves in alignment with the Retail Inventory transformation roadmap and future operating-model requirements.

Risk, Controls & Financial Governance

• Maintain accountability for a strong financial control, risk and governance environment across Retail Inventory, including internally managed and outsourced activities.
• Ensure appropriate controls are in place to support the accuracy and integrity of physical inventory quantities and dollar values.
• Establish effective governance over material inventory results, variances, adjustments and exceptions, ensuring significant issues are appropriately investigated, escalated and resolved.
• Provide oversight of the review and validation of Physical Inventory results, ensuring significant variances and exceptions are appropriately investigated and resolved.
• Support financial reporting, audit and other governance requirements related to Retail Physical Inventory.
• Ensure material control issues are appropriately escalated and sustainable remediation plans are implemented.

Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Own and advance the enterprise Retail Inventory transformation roadmap, creating a more standardized, automated and scalable operating model.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes, eliminate manual activity and leverage automation, analytics and emerging technology.
• Champion effective change management and adoption across internal teams, business partners and third-party service providers.
• Partner with Finance Transformation, Technology and other functions to connect Retail Inventory priorities with broader enterprise initiatives.

Enterprise Stakeholder Leadership

• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across Store Operations, Finance, Technology, Loss Prevention and other enterprise functions.
• Align Corporate, Franchise and Associate store leadership around accountabilities, priorities and changes required to strengthen Retail Physical Inventory outcomes.
• Maintain an end-to-end understanding of how business functions, operational processes and store activities impact Physical Inventory results.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Operational and Finance leaders by translating inventory results into clear insights, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Communicate complex performance issues, risks, decisions and recommendations clearly and effectively to senior leaders, business partners and service providers.

People & Organizational Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop a geographically dispersed team, creating clear accountability and a strong sense of shared purpose.
• Build a collaborative"one team" culture across functional areas, locations and service partners.
• Develop leadership capability and succession through coaching, feedback, mentorship and meaningful development opportunities.
• Ensure the organization has the right structure, capabilities and talent to support the current and future operating model.
• Foster an environment where colleagues challenge assumptions, contribute ideas and continuously improve how work gets done.
• Demonstrate strategic thinking, results orientation, integrity, authenticity, empathy, curiosity and collaborative candor.

Role Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Retail Inventory, Retail Operations, Finance, Shared Service or a related discipline, including senior leadership experience.
• Demonstrate Leadership Behaviours: Shape Strategy, Drive Performance, Build Talent, Foster Collaboration, and demonstrate blue culture.
• Demonstrated experience leading large, complex operations across internal teams and third-party service providers.
• Strong experience with outsourced service-provider governance, including SLAs, KPIs, performance management, risk, controls and executive escalation.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance, risk management and compliance in a complex operational environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading transformation, operating model change, process standardization and continuous improvement.
• Experience leveraging automation, analytics and technology to improve operational performance and controls.
• Strong enterprise mindset with the ability to influence across functions and organizational boundaries.
• Proven ability to build, coach and lead high-performing teams.
• Strong executive communication, presentation, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a complex, high-volume and continually changing environment.
• Degree or diploma in Business Administration, Commerce, Finance, Accounting or a related discipline.
• Some travel will be required for this role.

Our commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact is an essential part of the way we do business, and we focus our attention on areas where we can have the greatest impact. Our approach to sustainability and social impact is based on three pillars – Environment, Sourcing and Community – and we are constantly looking for ways to demonstrate leadership in these important areas. Our CORE Values – Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence – guide all our decision-making and come to life through our Blue Culture. We offer our colleagues progressive careers, comprehensive training, flexibility, and other competitive benefits – these are some of the many reasons why we are one of Canada’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, Canada’s Greenest Employers & Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.

If you are unsure whether your experience matches every requirement above, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are looking for varied perspectives which include diverse experiences that we can add to our team.

We have a long-standing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion because we know it will make our company a better place to work and shop. We are committed to creating accessible environments for our colleagues, candidates and customers. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment. We encourage candidates to make their accommodation needs known so that we can provide equitable opportunities.  
 
Please Note:
Candidates who are 18 years or older are required to complete a criminal background check. Details will be provided through the application process.

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