Area Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Provide responsible and skilled leadership in directing all retail aspects of the Brand in the Area.
• Drive sales and profitability of the Stores within the Area.
• Manage the retail operations, training, and visual merchandising aspects of the stores in the area in line with the Brand and Valiram standards.
• Oversee inventory integrity.
• Work with the Store PICs to effectively lead recruitment and development of retail staff.
• Foster a positive, engaging ethical working environment and bring inspiring leadership and guidance to the retail team within the Area.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Optimize the Stores sales and profits

• Work with Senior Manager Operations to maximize sales by ensuring accurate, timely and commercial sales planning and forecasting for the stores in the area.
• Ensure the brand delivers business plan profit through delivery of both volume and cash margin in existing as well as new stores in the area.
• Manage all new store openings from a retail operations perspective.
• Ensure that the Store Management and retail operations are driving sales based on the key drivers of the Limited Brands and the VG strategic directions.
• Work with merchandising department to manage full price and mark down sales, intake margins, levels of mark down activity and terminal stock.

Achieve High Service and Maintain Best Retail Working Standards

• Guarantee that our stores are offering WOW customer service in stores via training and coaching.
• Work with Store PIC to train and coach ongoing basis staff in service standards, WOW service training.

Day to Day Retail Operations Excellence

• Lead and monitor day to day retail operations and monitor sales achievement of the Brand for all stores.
• Check if retail standards are being followed and working with store PICs to resolve discrepancies in retail standards.
• Tour the stores regularly, talk to Store PIC, sales staff and customers, and if necessary, assist in resolving urgent issues.
• Coordinate all matters related to POS systems – receiving records, invoices, transfers, shortage, and damage reports and purchase orders.
• Ensure Visual Merchandising are implemented efficiently.
• Ensure proper care for stocks fixtures and furniture within the store and keep neatly and tidy at all times.
• Act on ad-hoc retail operational issues and make quick judgment calls to resolve the issues.

Inventory Integrity

• Evaluate stock requirements and ensure timely replenishment, maximum stock turns and control aged inventory in the stores.
• Work with the store staff to manage inventory and minimize stock losses.
• Monitor outlets monthly stock take routine to ensure inventory accuracy and submission of reports on timely manner.

Team Leadership

• Monitor Rosters of all staff/all stores and manage Store PICs performance.
• Work with the Store PICs to close vacancy in the stores and identify talent pool within the department while ensuring retention of staff.
• Conduct staff appraisal and quarterly performance review.
• Improve staff morale leading to positive and dynamic working attitude.
• Deal with staff issue if needed.
• Maintain general and acceptable staff working conditions.
• Staff to conduct themselves in a proper and professional manner in compliance with Code of Business Conduct.

REQUIREMENT

• Candidate must possess at least a Diploma/Advanced/Higher/Graduate Diploma/Professional Degree in any discipline.
• At least 7-8 years of retail experience with minimum 5-6 years in retail management or a related field.
• Good Interpersonal & Communication Skills.
• Proven Leadership Skill.
• Able to manage complex and competing priorities.
• Analytical and business-driven.
• Pleasant and able to work in a team.
• Willing to travel.
• Fluent English in written and spoken. Able to converse in other languages is an added advantage.