Current Opportunities

Vice President, Central & Western Region, Heavy Vehicles | UAP Inc.

The Organization

UAP Inc. (“UAP)” is the Canadian leader in the distribution of parts and accessories for all types of cars and heavy vehicles. They are made up of several brands that serve consumers, automotive maintenance‑and‑repair shops, and commercial fleet operators. UAP is also a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company (GPC), the largest vehicle parts distribution network in North America, which is headquartered in the United States. Combining an international presence with a local approach, GPC allows us to reinforce our leadership position and benefit from both a solid distribution network and proximity to their communities in Canada.

UAP employs more than 5,000 individuals who work hard every day to build a recognized and reputable company.  With outlets across Canada, UAP is organized into two main divisions:

• The Auto Parts Division: This division is made up of stores that sell auto parts, accessories, paint and body shop supplies, as well as mechanical maintenance‑and‑repair service centres. It includes NAPA Auto Parts, NAPA/CMAX, NAPA AUTOPRO, Altrom/Auto‑Camping, and their NAPA AutoCare program.
• The Heavy Vehicle Parts Division (HVPD): This division relies on several expert brands related to heavy vehicles, including stores that sell parts, accessories, tools and equipment, as well as service centres and heavy vehicles parts distribution centres. The heavy vehicles division also includes distribution centres that supply specialized parts and accessories for diesel engines as well as for the mining, forestry and railroad industries.

 

HVPD has four business segments:

• Traction: Canada’s largest network of stores that sell parts, accessories, tools and equipment for trucks and trailers. It is has a Canadian presents from coast to coast with over 120 stores. Offering more than 500,000 products from over 1,000 suppliers dedicated to trucks and trailers.
• TruckPro: Part of the larger UAP network with more than 125 service and mechanical maintenance repair centres for heavy vehicles in Canada. The banner includes 820 service doors and nearly 900 mechanics who specialize in heavy vehicles.
• TW: Canada’s leading distributor of heavy vehicles parts. With 4 distribution centres strategically located in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal, TW supplies our network of Traction stores, TruckPro repair centres, independent distributors, heavy vehicles repair shops and trailer manufacturers.
• Cadel: This brand gathers three distribution centres dedicated to diesel engines and heavy equipment parts and accessories for niche markets such as original equipment manufacturers, diesel injection specialists, independent wholesalers, dealers, and the railroad industry. To cover the Canadian market, they have three distribution centres located in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

Purpose: Keeping Canada moving every day with quality parts.

Vision: Exceptional service from a dedicated and innovative team.

For more information, please visit: https://www.uapinc.com/en-ca/heavy-vehicles

 

The Opportunity

Reports to:	Senior Vice-President, Heavy Vehicle Parts Division
Direct Reports:	4: General Operations Manager Central, General Operations Manager West, General Sales Manager Central and West, and an Administrative Assistant
Indirect Reports:	325
Travel	40%
Location:	Edmonton, AB

 

Mandate

Reporting to the Senior Vice-President, HVPD, the Vice-President, Central & West, HVPD is a newly created senior leadership role that will be integral in leading development and growth of the Heavy Vehicle Parts Division.

The Vice President, Central & West, Heavy Vehicle Parts Division is responsible for the general management, profitability and growth of the Central and Western region.  They are accountable for the profit and sales growth, acquisition and business development opportunities and establishing strong relationships with customers at all level of the organization. The successful candidate will work closely with their team and Head Office, for the achievement of targeted sales, KPI’s and goals while maintaining conditions that will ensure the continued long-term business performance of the corporate stores and distribution centers.

 

Key Accountabilities

The position will include the following responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Responsible for meeting regional sales objectives through developing, recommending and monitoring growth/acquisition projects for the region, including building a sales funnel of prospects for new distribution & acquisitions;
• Define and standardize sales initiatives and KPIs to allow the region to achieve superior sales growth;
• Empower a team of approximately 330 direct and indirect reports to achieve the region’s strategic plan; and
• Promote communication and sharing of best practices amongst team.

 

Sales and Business Development:

• Manage the development of the annual budget for the region;
• Align sales plans with regional objectives and priorities;
• Monitor overall performance against budget and sales performance indicators;
• Pro-actively identify opportunities for improvement and manage the identification, implementation and follow-up of corrective actions;
• Monitor overall performance against budget and sales performance indicators;
• Develop, recommend and oversee growth/acquisition projects for the region, including building a pipeline of prospects for new distribution centers & acquisitions; and
• Analyze regional sales practices, competitors’ strategies & action plans, and use the findings to update the sales strategy on an ongoing basis.

 

Operational Leadership:

• Participate in the recruitment, motivation and development of their team in order for them to achieve their objectives;
• Build strong relationships with top customers, corporate leadership and associate store leaders within the region
• Ensure a solid succession plan is in place;
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration with all personnel: suppliers, customers, regional management, associate store management and Head Office teams; and
• Active member of the Management Committee and participate in various committees.

 

Attractions

• Join the largest Canadian auto parts distributor and play a lead role in further enhancing the market share in Central and Western Canada;
• Be a part of an engaged and empowered team that invests in their people; and
• UAP makes a difference in their communities by doing the right thing for the planet and the communities for environmental, social and corporate governance issues.

 

First Year Measures of Success

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

• Build trusting, open, collaborative and respectful relationships throughout the organization with employees, vendors, associate store management and customers;
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the organization and the products provided;
• Drive market development to improve Central and Western regional sales and profitability;
• Ensure all departments are effectively collaborating, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and increased efficiency as appropriate and where needed;
• Leverage the UAP ecosystem to effective utilize all available resources (ie. Logistics, freight, corporate services etc.);
• Develop a comprehensive growth strategy for the region; and
• Drive the implementation of national and regional sales growth initiatives in order to achieve budget.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have the following:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in a distribution industry with minimum 5 years in a similar role;
• Strong Business Acumen;
• Experience in the aftermarket parts industry is an asset; and
• Computer literate and proficient in MS Office Suite.

 

Competencies and Attributes:

• Ability to lead, mobilize, motivate and develop a team: Fosters the development of a common vision providing clear direction and priorities and clarifying roles and responsibilities. Sets the tone for the organization’s culture and ensures succession in management and leadership.
• Ability to translate strategy into a sales plan: Develops short and long-range plans that are comprehensive, creative, realistic and effective in meeting goals and objectives, and integrates planning efforts across functions.
• Agility: Pays attention to circumstance and adjusting accordingly. Being able to recognize the need to be flexible and act different because no two situations are exactly alike. Focuses on ease of transaction and effectiveness of interaction.
• Autonomy: Empower employees make decisions to fulfil work objectives.
• Business and Financial Acumen: Understands key business fundamentals, understands the drivers of financial health and accountability of the organization and takes responsibility to maintain its ongoing fiscal soundness.
• Communication and Collaboration Skills: Communicates effectively with stakeholders on goals, plans and issues and seeks feedback and advice before acting. Open to receiving constructive feedback and willing to engage in robust healthy discussion to foster the spirit of continuous improvement.
• Customer and Results Oriented: Continuously pays attention to customer needs adapting as they evolve. Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer centric solutions to both internal and external clients.
• Influence: The ability to gain others support for ideas, proposal, solutions, and getting others to take action to advice work objectives.
• Persuasive: Able to convince others to pursue a course of action.
• Planning and monitoring skills: Develops short and long-range plans that are comprehensive, creative, realistic and effective in meeting goals and objectives, and integrates planning efforts across functions.
• Political Acumen: Possesses keen judgement and a heightened ability to perceive the formal and informal influences on a situation. Correctly reads contextual cues and uses the information to frame and sell ideas, influence others, negotiate, persuade, build networks, initiate and manage change.
• Quality decision-making skills & sound judgement: Good decisions are based on a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement. Making quality decisions while working in an environment where ambiguity and uncertainty are the norm.
• Strategic Leadership: Fosters the development of a common vision providing clear direction and priorities and clarifying roles and responsibilities. Sets the tone for the organizations culture and ensures succession in management and leadership.
• Tenacity: The ability to keep trying until you reach your goal.
• Tolerance for Ambiguity: Adapts effortlessly to changes in priorities, circumstances and environment; is energized by the opportunity to put their mark on an evolving organization.
• Tolerance for Stress: Maintains stable performance when under heavy pressure or stress.

 

Equal Opportunity

UAP Inc. is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse team benefits and is essential to service excellence. UAP Inc. welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and encourage women, members of racialized communities, indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity to confidentially self-identify at time of application.  In accordance with the provincial legislation, accommodation will be provided by Gallagher and UAP Inc. throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

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How to Apply:

Please send your resume in Word or PDF format to: HRCCCanada.GBS.EdmontonES@ajg.com. Copy and Paste the following job title and code and place it in the subject line of your email so we can identify the job and confirm receipt of your application:
AVNY-012660 Vice President, Central & Western Region, Heavy Vehicles | UAP Inc. - AB - Edmonton and Area (OTIAPPLY)

Please note that only those candidates meeting the selection criteria, established by our client, will be contacted further. Although we may not contact you directly for this particular role, all applications will be reviewed as we would like to consider you for future opportunities that may be appropriate. We encourage you to continue to visit our website at optimumtalent.com as our opportunities are updated on a regular basis.