Area Manager - North UK, Retail Manchester, England
Job description
Area Manager (North)
We have an exciting opportunity for an Area Manager to join our Retail Team.
Main Purpose of the Job
Responsible for the operational excellence and financial performance of a group of stores in the Lindt UK retail division.
Lead in every sense of the word – motivating, inspiring and developing teams of dedicated managers and chocolate advisors towards the accomplishment of company business game plan.
Create a team of Lindt Service Ambassadors who are experts at delivering the Lindt Service proposition and exceeding customer expectations
Initiate and support an environment for the generation of ideas and a culture which fosters innovation and embraces change
Key Responsibilities
Maximizing sales turnover and store profitability to grow and drive the business forward
- Use provided business tools, along with good personal judgement to potentialise understanding and improve results
- Tracking of are KPI’s and identifying of opportunities and risks, supported by a clear course of action
- Align with line manager on action plans from Weekly Business Reviews to address identified opportunities, integrating weekly sales results (top line, category, store, etc.)
- Provide monthly learning’s back to the Head Office team on opportunities for key trading periods
- Contribute to the monthly retail and finance meetings, providing insight and executing actions to deliver on profitability and sales generation
- Control store expenses and cost budgets, whilst ensuring that staffing is optimized to meet business demands
- Monitor scheduling and payroll planning to maximize sales generation and productivity.
- Influence appropriate merchandise flow and allocation levels per store; influence depth, breadth, sell-through, and markdown’s; lead teams to be able to commercially identify correct stock levels to generate sales
Delivering and Developing Operational Excellence – Best in class processes
- Create a self-disciplined culture focused on flawless execution of processes, procedures, and initiatives
- Lead the team to implement and manage audit and loss prevention controls, delivering full compliance in all areas including inventory, cash reconciliation, deliveries etc.
- Escalate issues to appropriate team when necessary
- Recommend solutions to identify opportunities taking into consideration cross-functional
- Inter dependencies
- Follow up with store manager on actions from Health and Safety visits to ensure compliancy and a safe working environment and contribute to review of opportunities and risks
- Lead and contribute to initiatives to improve operations and processes in store and actively participate in
- creating solutions as part of a project team – save time, challenge costs and improve quality
Delivering Outstanding premium visibility and communication with our customers
- Create a team of Lindt Service Ambassadors who are experts at delivering the Lindt Service proposition by living the values and personally demonstrating how to foster a customer centric-culture
- Embrace the Global Retail Mystery shop program using the results to recognise strengths and share best practice whilst identifying skill gaps and training requirements
- Monitor execution of in-store marketing/marketing activities and execution of the monthly visual merchandising plan
- Stay informed of current trends in the market place, both commercially and new product development
Leading for an Inspiring Place to work - Developing high performing retail managers
- Inspire a shared vision by communicating clear goals, and fostering a positive and rewarding work environment, through set objectives
- Develop skills and capability in the team and create a culture where they never want to stop learning
- Develop active PDP’s focusing on the what and the how
- Regular monthly 1-2-1’s with feedback and a coaching style to guide your store managers performance
- Active career conversations leading to clear succession planning in support of the evolution of the retail division and organisation
- Recruitment of passionate and driven individuals who will complement the team and are brand ambassadors for Lindt
- Develop line management skills of the team and be the role model
- Resolve performance issues in timely manner, partnering with HR where necessary
Ad hoc Projects, where necessary
Working Relationships
This roles requires the individual to build and maintain relationships with key internal and external contacts:
External
Customers, Shopping Centre and Outlet Centre Managers, retail network
Internal
Retail HO team, HR, Category Management, Finance, Supply Chain, Customer Marketing, IT, Sales, BDT
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience Required
Previous area and multi-site management experience is essential, with a full understanding of people leadership (experience in succession planning, talent development and disciplinary processes as some examples)
Proven track record of creating and managing high performing teams
Proven experience within a retail organisation is preferable, as is a genuine love of the all that a career in retail has to offer
Financial acumen is essential including good knowledge of budgeting, profit and loss statements, scheduling, loss prevention, numeracy and good analytical skills
Numerate with good analytical skills
A self-starter, with a drive for results and highly motivated
Excellent interpersonal skills, able to build relationships and influence at all levels- int and ext
An infectious can do attitude – ability to enthuse everyone you meet
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: From £48,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Sick pay
- Store discount
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Supplemental pay types:
- Yearly bonus
Work Location: On the road
