General Manager – Lumber & Building Materials
Location: Red Deer, AB
Industry: Lumber & Building Materials
The Opportunity
We are recruiting a General Manager to lead the launch and growth of a new lumber and building materials operation in Red Deer, Alberta.
This is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new business backed by an experienced building materials leader. The focus will be on building a strong, service-driven operation supporting contractors, builders and professional customers throughout Red Deer and Central Alberta.
This is a true hands-on startup role. We are looking for someone who can lead the business, develop customers and build a team, but who also has the technical LBM knowledge to complete lumber take-offs, estimate projects and work directly with contractors from plans through to quote.
What You’ll Do As General Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the growth and performance of the Red Deer operation, with involvement across sales, estimating, operations and people.
You Will
- Lead the startup and day-to-day operation of the new Red Deer location
- Complete lumber and building material take-offs from residential construction plans
- Prepare accurate estimates, material lists and customer quotations
- Work directly with builders and contractors to understand project requirements and recommend appropriate products and solutions
- Build relationships with contractors, builders and key accounts throughout Central Alberta
- Drive new business development and establish a strong customer base
- Build and develop the local team as the operation grows
- Oversee purchasing, inventory, pricing and margins
- Manage yard, delivery and logistics operations
- Ensure quotes and orders move efficiently from estimating through delivery
- Establish processes, expectations and accountability across the business
- Recruit, coach and develop employees
- Manage budgets, expenses and overall branch profitability
- Work closely with ownership and senior leadership on growth strategy and future opportunities
What We’re Looking For This role requires someone with strong lumber and building materials experience who understands both the commercial and technical sides of the business.
You Bring
- Strong experience within lumber and building materials, ideally supporting residential builders and contractors
- Hands-on experience completing lumber take-offs and estimating from construction drawings
- Strong knowledge of dimensional lumber, sheathing, engineered wood products and related building materials
- Ability to prepare material lists, estimates and quotations accurately
- Previous leadership experience as a General Manager, Branch Manager, Sales Manager, Operations Manager or similar
- Strong relationships or knowledge of the Red Deer and Central Alberta building market would be an asset
- Experience developing contractor and builder accounts
- Understanding of pricing, margins, purchasing, inventory and branch profitability
- Strong business and financial acumen
- A hands-on leadership style and willingness to jump into estimating, sales or operations when required
- An entrepreneurial mindset and comfort working in a startup environment
Why This Opportunity? This is an opportunity to
build rather than maintain.
The successful candidate will have significant influence over how the Red Deer operation develops, from customers and employees to processes and overall market strategy.
You will have the backing of an experienced building materials leader while still having the autonomy and entrepreneurial environment that comes with building a new operation.
For an experienced LBM professional who knows the contractor business, can estimate and complete take-offs, and wants the opportunity to build something from the ground up, this is a unique opportunity in the Central Alberta market.
