ADMN O 21R – Vendor Relations Manager, Cannabis Operations

About the BCLDB:

The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is one of two branches of government that provide oversight for the beverage alcohol and non-medical cannabis industries in the province. The LDB is responsible for the wholesale distribution of liquor and cannabis, and operates the retails brands BCLIQUOR and BC Cannabis Stores.

The LDB is committed to government’s goals of making life better for people in B.C., improving services, and ensuring a sustainable province for future generations. The revenue generated by the LDB helps fund essential public services like health care, education, and community programming. Learn more on the LDB careers page.

The LDB has been assigned to distribute, wholesale and sell non-medicinal cannabis inclusive of a government owned online channel with a mandate to support government’s key priorities of protecting children and youth, ensuring health and safety standards, and keeping the criminal element out of the supply chain. Following legalization, the BCLDB began distribution and wholesale of cannabis, and operating BC Cannabis Stores in a growing number of locations across the province. Since 2018 the BC Cannabis Stores chain has grown to over 30 locations with more growth planned all across the province. Cannabis operations within the BCLDB includes the Distribution, Merchandising, Retail Operations, Supply Chain, and Marketing departments.

About this role:

Reporting to the Senior Manager Wholesale Supply Chain, the Vendor Relations Manager is responsible for leading and managing the Vendor Relations, Product and Producer Registration, and for maintaining the Product Master Data for all cannabis products in BC.

This position provides expert advice to all current and potential suppliers/agents of non-medical cannabis that want to do business with the LDB, while managing stakeholder impacts. This position represents the LDB with regards to vendor registration, onboarding and liaises with key agencies to develop, adjust and drive policies regarding the distribution and sale of non-medical cannabis in BC.

The LDB has registered thousands of SKUs of cannabis and accessories which are supplied by hundreds of suppliers/producers. Continued support of LDBs current vendors, and onboarding new agents and suppliers is critical to continued business success and growth.

The Vendor Relations Manager is a critical role within the Wholesale Supply Chain team that oversees all supplier onboarding, registration and maintenance of cannabis products in BC. This role is also responsible for maintaining and development of Wholesale Vendor and Item Master Data, the integrity of which is required to maximize the use of business intelligence by all internal and external wholesale partners and to ensure correct application of LDB mark up and prices. In addition, this role also obtains efficiencies in operational processes as well as being an enabler for compliance and performance management.

This critical position manages the team that enables the flow of merchandise into the LDB in order to meet the demand from the provinces private cannabis retailers, government stores, and government online sales channels which results in the LDB revenue. The Vendor Relations Manager is relied upon to provide expert advice regarding product/vendor registration, federal and provincial regulatory knowledge, and data management. Advanced data management skills, customer service skills, and communication skills are needed to achieve a high degree of accuracy and to ensure cannabis products are compliant and cannabis suppliers/ producers meet the regulatory requirements to be able to do business in the province of British Columbia.

This role, in addition to overseeing new vendor and product registration, also manages the administration of other important programs such as External Data Sales and Indigenous Product Shelf Space. Additional initiatives and programs may be assigned as the industry continues its rapid growth and development.

A criminal record check is required. The position is based in a standard office environment. There may be a need to work beyond regular business hours to meet deadlines. Occasional travel to vendor meetings for special events and to LDB distribution warehouses is required.

For complete details about this opportunity, including accountabilities, please refer to the attached job description, also located in the Additional Information section at the bottom of the posting.

An eligibility list for temporary future opportunities may be established.

Position requirements:

Education and Experience:

Degree or diploma in supply chain management, business management, or related field and a minimum of one (1) year of recent, related work experience.

OR

A combination of education, training, and experience may be considered. i.e., secondary (high) school diploma or equivalent certificate with two (2) years of recent, related experience.

Recent, related experience must have occurred in the last five (5) years and include the following:

• Managing the gathering, execution and maintenance of vendor and item data.

• Overseeing the inputting of data into a database system including integrity checks and balances.
• Collaborating with a variety of internal and external partners (e.g., marketing, vendors/suppliers, etc.).

Preference may be given to those candidates with of the following:

• Cannabis industry experience.

Application instructions:

To be considered for this position, your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience as outlined in the position requirements section above. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies as outlined in the attached Job Description. Applicants must meet the requirements as described below to be considered:

• A cover letter is required as part of your application. The content and/or format of your cover letter may be evaluated as part of the assessment process.
• Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history including start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and any relevant information that relates to the job to which you are applying.

For specific position-related enquiries, please contact Andrea Trousdell at andrea.trousdell@bcldb.com .

Only applications submitted using the BC Public Service Recruitment System on this website will be accepted. For more information about how to create or update your profile, please refer to the attached Application Instructions or refer to the Job Application page on the MyHR website. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying for a competition, please send an e-mail to BCPSA.Hiring.Centre@gov.bc.ca before the stated closing time, and they will respond as soon as possible to assist you.

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:00pm Pacific Time on the closing date of the competition.

Working for the BC Public Service:

The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

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The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to applicants that self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, status or non-status, Métis, or Inuit) seeking work or already employed in the BC Public Service. For guidance on applying and interviewing, please contact IndigenousApplicants@gov.bc.ca or 778-405-3452.

The BC Public Service is an award-winning employer and offers employees competitive benefits, great learning opportunities and a chance to engage in rewarding work with exciting career development options. For more information, visit What the BC Public Service Offers .

Job Category

Administrative Services, Leadership and Management

Additional Information

VendorRelationsMgr,CannabisOps