Department Manager

Purpose

To manage the department on a day to day basis whilst balancing strategic goals of the Company. To run all aspects of the store operations in line with Company objectives.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Good knowledge of the Company, the brand and the store they are applying for
• Solid experience managing a similar fast-paced retail operation (for external candidates) or outstanding performance and accomplishment at INDITEX (for internal candidates)
• Passion for fashion, market, competitors and trend awareness
• Proven ability to maximise profitability and drive sales
• Strong team management experience
• Has led a stable and consistent career

DELIVERY & PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

• Supervise the plan for placing the new product on the shop floor, based on new arrivals and units prior to delivery, and ensure any shop moves requiredare made accordingly, prior to receivingthe delivery
• React to unexpected circumstances on delivery day, putting solutions in place (e.g. missing box in delivery)
• Provide feedback to the Product Managers (about new lines, product needs, initial allocation, stock levels...)
• Controls product levels in the store and place product requests when necessary

MERCHANDISING

• Manage in-store displays and internal mannequins in order to maintain high standardsby following brand guidelines
• Demonstrate understanding of the different ways to represent each collection on the shop floor according to current trends, concept of the collection and customer profile
• Identify and action creative and visual ideas for the store
• Promote new lines effectively

COMMERCIAL

• Work with the commercial tools to guarantee the correct level of product (order, block, filter, tendency, ...)
• Build action plans based on analysis of commercial reports and take necessary action based on business needs and the needs of the store
• Plan the commercial and visual activity of the store in a daily/weekly and seasonal manner
• Understand how commercial decisions have an impact in the store
• Create an analysis of the impact (results) of commercial decisions, and demonstrates ability to react to new information, putting solutions in place and offering alternatives
• Understand the significance and importance of best sellers and is able to put in place following commercial strategy
• Showawarenessofwhothecompetitorsareforthecompanyandmystore,whatmakesusdifferentfromthem,aswellasthingswehaveincommon.Bringideasfromthem,communicatingthesefindingswithmanagersandstaffmembers,andunderstandhowcompetitorsaffectourbusinesswhentakingcommercialdecisions
• React to the information we get from the Pilot Workshop

SPECIAL DAYS

• PrepareaSeason/Annualcommercialplannercoveringtheprioritiesofthedepartment(Sales,Launch,Easter,Ramadan, Christmas,Hajj,Hanukkah,Passover,Payday,HalfTerm,FashionNightOut,BlackFriday,PublicHoliday,Valentine'sDay, Halloween...)
• Ensure smooth preparation of a Special Day whilst understanding the process
• Work alongside the GM, OM and regional team
• React to any issues on the day putting solutions in place
• Analyse results post-event and make changes accordingly

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Ensure that the 6 minimums of customer service are followed
• Deal correctly with customer complaints
• Analyse and react to mystery shop reports and create action plans for the department
• Understand the store customer and adapt the customer service model of the store to him/her
• Train the team and adapt the staff organisation towards giving the best customer service

STOCK&STOCKROOMMANAGEMENT

• Work together with the OM to guarantee a correct management of the stock levels based on the sales of the department, its commercial performance and the capacity of the store
• Understand how the stockroom is organised, organise stock according to families and styles quickly and accurately, can process overstock and understand what to do with faulties
• Ensure that all shopfloor material is correctly stored and classified

PROCESSES

• Ensure that store and stockroom processess are coordinated in order to guarantee the best replenishment
• Support the OM during the delivery process in order to complete all tasks, avoid mistakes and achieve the delivery productivity target (chain process)
• Ensure the correct allocation of resources to cover main processes of the section (fitting room, opening, closing...)

SECURITY &LOSSPREVENTION

• Supervise and support the stocktakes (preparation, action, revision & confirmation)
• Ensure the security checklist is completed
• Develop and follow up on action plans to improve totals achieved and reduce potential stock loss
• Supervise training plans to ensure staff are more vigilant and aware of all security procedures

MAINTENANCEANDHEALTH&SAFETY

• Support the other managers following up on site inspections, monthly, quarterly and annual checks by ensuring checklists are done to evaluate the situation in the store
• Ensure that all maintenance deviations in the department are correctly reported and fixed, including back areas
• Ensure there is a routine for waste and recycling, device checking, back areas management

STAFF ORGANISATION

• Put together effective schedules taking into account business needs, customer service, store image standards, skills of your team and priorities
• Ensure that employees change between different tasks in order to keep a good work balance
• Deal with unexpected circumstances, making adjustments to the schedules when necessary whilst respecting the work/ life balance of individuals

RECRUITMENT

• Identify current & potential needs of the department, adjust vacancy requests and put forward a case to General Manager
• Hold professional interviews with external and internal candidates using all materials provided by the Company

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

• Ensure a healthy work environment
• Deal with issues promptly to avoid them escalating and causing grievances in the team and use the correct paperwork to record issues happening in the store
• Followand promoteHR Policies & Procedures and the Code of Conduct in the store
• Handle staff disputes in a professional manner and escalate serious staff incidents to senior management when needed

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

• Train & develop the department team in commercial and merchandising aspects such as key collections/items, trends for the season, quantities to display in each furniture, cross-selling and outfit-building
• Set up a season training plan for the store/department which covers the commercial priorities
• Communicate clear expectations to individuals and the team using a clear communication and open body language
• Plan and hold regular review/feedback sessions with team members
• Plan and hold performance reviews with individuals at least once a year reviewing achievements and opportunities
• Set and review SMART development goals with individuals regularly
• Agree and review personal development plans with individuals at least once a year
• Identifyunderperformanceissuesandtakeanynecessaryactionsincludingaplanforsupport,informal/formalprocesses
• Guarantee that the induction programme to all new starters correctly covers commercial aspects

POTENTIAL & SUCCESSION

• Build a talent pool and succession plan for all the roles in the departmentteam by identifying potential candidates and developing them
• Develop action plans (SMART) and follow up meetings for potential candidates

RETENTION & ENGAGEMENT

HEALTH & SAFETY

• Be able to implement safe working practices while leading a team
• Fully understand and thoroughly implement risk assessments and company procedures
• Be able to identify and propose areas of improvement and effectively deal with Health and Safety situations
• Actively manage and make significant improvements in the Health and Safety standards of their workplace