Partnership Manager - Burnaby, BC

Location: This hybrid role requires 3 days on-site at our Burnaby, BC office and 2 days remote per week.

Relocation support: We will offer up to $15,000 in relocation support, should the successful candidate be outside the Greater Vancouver area.

Welcome to Specsavers – where we’re not just about eyecare and eyewear, but changing lives through better sight. Ranked the 5th Best Workplace™ in Canada and 12th globally by Great Place to Work®, we’re proud of our optometrist-owned model that makes high-quality, eyecare and eyewear accessible to all Canadians. 

Founded 40 years ago in the UK by visionary husband and wife optometry duo 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 over 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

The Partnership Manager, working with the broader Partnership and Recruitment Teams, is responsible for attracting, selecting and assessing the best optometry, optical and retail talent for our Joint Venture Partnership (JVP) Franchise opportunities with Specsavers.

The end to end process will include the entire partner candidate process from initial attraction of candidates through to execution of the full suite of franchise agreement documents.

Key Responsibilities

• Working alongside the Head of Partnerships - Canada to develop strategies for resourcing, including attraction, selection and assessment, and overall resource planning suited to local environment.
• Develop and agree a strategic approach to ensure we are proactively reviewing our recruitment fulfillment plans and responding to the changing market conditions.
• Ensure all resourcing specific systems are maintained and developed to support resourcing and talent strategy (including intranet, careers website, smartsheets database, LinkedIn and applicant tracking system)
• Supporting business colleagues in the development of more complex solutions in relation to resourcing and talent matters including talent planning and succession
• Take a lead role in promoting mobility and agility (nationally and globally) within the business / candidate pool to deliver talent into our partnership
• Operate as an effective change manager with the gravitas and credibility to influence JVPs about developing their “top talent” for the good of the wider business
• Ensure the development of a talent pipeline through the appropriate relationship with Optical/Retail Professional Recruitment, Graduate Recruitment and Retail Support teams
• Support the internal Pathway program in identifying, supporting and assessing candidates through the journey to become JVP’s.
• Drive a culture of long-term thinking and partnership regarding succession, building effective relationships across the Retail Support team to gain a deep understanding of the talent landscape in stores
• Working closely with the Business Development Managers and Cross Functional Teams to understand future growth plans and ensure the links are made between our talent pipeline (Pathway) and ongoing BD forecasts and requirements.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong understanding of franchise operations within a retail environment, with proven experience managing candidates through the full franchise recruitment lifecycle
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including developing and mentoring teams and leading cross-functional collaboration to deliver business outcomes
• Commercial acumen, with the ability to build and interpret 5-year business models (P&L and balance sheet)
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, including presenting to senior leaders and board-level audiences and producing clear, concise reports
• Strong customer focus, with a solid understanding of talent attraction strategies and the ability to partner effectively with Professional Marketing
• Highly organized and analytical, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, solve problems, and interpret complex information
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Compensation: $120,000 - $140,000 base salary, plus quarterly bonus, profit sharing, and benefits. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience

Speccies’ Benefits

• 4 weeks of vacation and 1 paid volunteer day per year
• 1 extra paid day off plus an eyecare voucher to celebrate your birthday.
• Health and dental benefits, RRSP matching and a Healthcare Spending Account active from your first day.
• Mental health and wellbeing support, including $3,000 annually for practitioner care and access to our Employee Assistance Program.
• Quarterly bonuses, based on your performance.
• Annual Profit Share program to recognize your part in Specsavers’ success.
• Free parking, access to the building gym, and a fully stocked kitchen with snacks and coffee/tea.
• On‑site wellness offerings in-office, including RMT and yoga sessions.
• Team and company social events, including holiday and annual celebrations. 

Behaviours We Value

• Collaborative: We work together as one Specsavers to deliver on our purpose
• Curious: We question, explore, and seek out diverse perspectives to develop our knowledge and understanding
• Courageous: We challenge the status quo, we experiment with good ideas, and we are brave, bold, and fast in our decision making
• Compassionate: We care, support, and help each other
• Commercial: We treat money wisely and make decisions that are good for our customers, our partners, our people and for the long term

We hope that in applying with us, you value these things as well!

Our Hybrid Work Model

Experience the best of both worlds. At Specsavers, we embrace a hybrid approach that balances in-office collaboration with the flexibility to work from home. We come together in office three days a week to connect, innovate, and keep our culture thriving.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Specsavers, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that a diverse team enriches our work environment and enables us to achieve our goals. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. If you believe you can contribute to our mission and vision, we welcome your application, even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We value the unique skills and perspectives each individual brings to our team.

Accessibility and Accommodations

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know by contacting us at careers.ca@specsavers.com . We will work with you to meet your needs and ensure a fair and equitable experience.

#LI-CC1 #LI-Hybrid