Store Manager | Retail | M&S | KSA

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organisation to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

Overview of the role:

The Store Manager will lead the team to achieve the Retail Objectives, creating an environment that delivers an exceptional customer experience by serving and selling in store and through all digital channels.

What you will do:

People Development/ HR

SALES

• Deliver the respective sales plan for the store by identifying opportunities to drive sales performance across key departments.
• Lead a selling culture within the team and maximise sales in store and through all digital channels.
• Identify and anticipate opportunities to drive sales performance and availability through regular review and analysis of MI and embed this behaviour in the team.
• Lead the business selling strategy and inspire your team to deliver store and regional events.
• Build strong relationships, networking both internally and externally, to drive sales performance, maximise footfall, share best practice and provide influencing business feedback.
• Ensure right first-time implementation of all retail activity and deliver excellent visual standards of presentation.

Maximises stock accuracy & On-shelf Availability through effective management of stock

• Drive accuracy & availability process to deliver business availability targets.
• Manage an effective food fill and top up process through the delivery of cost improvement programs and productivity targets.
• Probe daily diagnostic and take action to deliver stock to the required standard every day.
• Manage on shelf availability and check store stock reports for accuracy and sign off on a daily basis.

Ensures accurate and timely implementation of corporate layout, phase change and events

• Review and implement plans at department level accurately reflecting the floor plan and recommendations from the planning team.
• Coach advisors to deliver and maintain sale floor plans.
• Provide feedback to visual merch. manager of any issues with the plans and ensure store feedback is provided as part of the floor plan sign off process.
• Manage space and equipment accuracy within the store.
• Deliver décor to policy and liaise with the relevant teams to ensure correct implementation.

SERVICE

• Provide feedback to individuals that recognises great service and drives improvement.
• Use relevant service measures to identify and implement actions for improvement. Feed back to the team and individuals on key risk areas.
• Sample and measure service in store using Tell M&S results, Customer recommendations and use feedback to improve the service offer delivered by the team.
• Recognise individuals who deliver excellent service by giving feedback and utilizing Exceptional Efforts and Champion Awards and nominations to reward those who provide excellent customer service.
• Coach team to ensure they actively demonstrate and role model Service – ‘Doing the right thing’ and the 4 key service behaviours.

Manages the delivery of the Customer Service Experience

• Ensure a memorable shopping experience (MEMS) by engaging with and making a personal connection with the customer.
• Deliver great service for our customers and role model 'Service -Doing the Right Thing' and our 4 key service behaviours at all times - 'Being Positive, Being Determined, Taking Ownership & Responsibility and Being Respectful'.
• Ensure service standards are driven throughout the day by conducting Ready To Trade checks, customer walkthrough and Observations.
• Ensure right people in the right place and react on a daily basis to meet the needs of our customers.
• Effectively manage and resource all service points e.g. till point, etc.
• Engage with team to ensure their understanding and delivery of the Customer Service Experience.
• Resolve customer complaints in a timely manner.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the competition’s service proposition and make comparisons to the service offered across the store.
• Ensure individual and team's personal appearance meet the M&S standard including the wearing of the correct uniform and name badge.

STANDARDS

• Lead the team to the delivery of ‘Ready to Trade Standards’, delivering an aspirational and clean environment for customers and colleagues.
• Lead the delivery of a safe and legal working environment for colleagues and customers to ensure the store is compliant at all times.
• Drive operational excellence throughout the store and look for opportunities to work efficiently and continuously improve.
• Analyse risks and opportunities to maximise profitability and control store operating costs.
• Use the store resource allocation and drive a culture of flexibility to meet customer and operational needs.
• Lead the delivery of business change.
• Ensure the store is ‘Ready To Trade’ and corporate standards are maintained throughout the day.
• Ensure clean as you go is a rhythm and routine through the section manager team driving this on their departments.
• Drive a collaborative approach with the visual team on delivering excellent standards across all aspects of Visual Merchandising and ensuring the delivery of the Marketing Principle for all ‘eye and buy’ level decor.
• Work with the Commercial Department Manager and Café Managers to deliver the Food best practices across the relevant department.

Ensures a Safe & Legal working environment for colleagues & customers

• Drive the team to deliver all legal ticketing and decor is on display in line with the Country/M&S Policy.
• Ensure all legal & compliance training is completed on time and by the appropriate person.
• Have a detailed understanding of company due diligence requirements and the internal audit processes and keep up to date with any changes to the policy.
• Ensure the equipment on the sales floor and decor is compliant with Health & Safety Regulations and adheres to company guidelines to manage risk.
• Ensure all kit swap out or new equipment is planned for implementation and instilled in line with safe working practices.

PEOPLE

• Develop and lead a motivated team, celebrate success and recognise contribution.
• Raise the performance and capability of the team through clear accountability, coaching and regular feedback. Drive improvements in performance, conduct and attendance in line with company policy.
• Identify and develop a clear and active talent pipeline to meet the store and regional succession plans.
• Develop a capable BIG team and create a strong and effective working partnership with BIG in line with the Constitution.

Drives individual performance and develops potential

• Deliver the performance review process within agreed time frames and drive delivery of consistent standards of performance and behaviour.
• Agree stretching targets for their team and take appropriate action to deal with poor performance in a timely manner.
• Take an active role in ensuring all new and existing employees develop the skills and experience to perform well in their roles.
• Identify and develop talent through effective development planning.
• Identify recruitment needs and take an active role in the selection of their team.
• Implement Company HR policies fairly and consistently across the store to drive improvements in attendance and behaviour.
• Take Ownership for own development.

COSTS

• Drive the store’s profitability through minimising losses, accurate staff cost management and drive an efficient & productive working culture.
• Drive a profit protection mentality in store, raising awareness of potential risks and play their part in the shrinkage plan including stocktake preparation and execution.
• Lead through the Management Team by managing controllable costs eg Waste.
• Effectively support the managing of the stores staffing budget including holiday planning and absence management targets.
• Understand store profitability and the impact on the Store Costs e.g. cleaning and maintenance costs.
• Probe the monthly store cost report and the impact on store accountable contributors.
• Ensure that there is an effective absence management process in place with the section manager team through the use of the Return to work interviews.
• Lead improvement in store efficiencies by taking ownership in the process delivery.
• Drive the team to deliver individual productivity and take appropriate action to improve/address where necessary.
• Ensure the staffing model is regularly reviewed and reflects store activity and utilises maximising resource process to deliver right people in the right place and at the right time for Customer Assistants and SSAs- CDMs.

Minimum Qualifications and Knowledge:

• High School Educated (preferably a university degree), with on the job technical knowledge and related experience for Food and Hygiene.
• 4+ years of retail/ F&B sales experience.

Job-Specific Skills:

• Good verbal communication skills, F&B hygiene knowledge and certification.
• Connects with our customer and each other by being positive, determined, respectful and taking ownership & responsibility to actively sell.

We’re here to provide excellent service but a little help from you can ensure a five-star candidate experience from start to finish. Before you click “apply”: Please read the job description carefully to ensure you can confidently demonstrate why this opportunity is right for you and take the time to put together a well-crafted and personalised CV to further boost your visibility. Our global Talent Acquisition team members are all assigned to specific businesses to ensure that we make the best matches between talent and opportunities. We not only consider the requisite compatibility of skills and behaviours, but also how candidates align with our Values of Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence.

As part of our candidate experience promise, we also want to make ourselves available to you throughout the application process. We make every effort to review and respond to every application.