Head of Retail at a Retail Chain Conglomerate - Teclab Management Services Limited

Core Purpose of the Job

• To contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and review of a business strategy that maximizes the retail net profit by driving sales and controlling costs at regional level; to build motivated and high performing teams through the effective leadership and line management to retail staff.
• Ensures that Mind maximizes ‘added value’ opportunities afforded through its high street presence including raising public awareness and non-retail income.

Task Complexity:

• Works with the Managing Director and other Heads of Function to influence the creation and communication of company strategy, business priorities and targets for the Regional Teams and ensures there are systems in place to enable the shop managers to receive the information in a timely manner
• Generates ideas about future retail activities to ensure a cutting edge strategy; maintains up to date knowledge of the market place, competitors and trends
• Uses open feedback mechanisms from the operations team with other departments to ensure the integration of the retail strategy with Minds’ other activities
• Influences and supports the retail element of the annual budget process ensuring understanding and buy in from the operations team. Constantly reviews financial data and supports the Regional Managers in providing realistic input into the sales budgets
• Takes decisions on matters relating to the day to day retail operation within their defined work area including the strategic planning of resources
• Translates the strategic goals into retail operational plans to achieve the required targeted growth in sales and profit; identifies and optimizes promotional opportunities ensuring these are co -ordinated with wider Mind promotions and campaigns
• Ensures that the retail operation complies to all policies and procedures relating to Security, Health and Safety; influences any changes necessary to meet statutory requirements, ensuring minimum risk to staff members and the business
• Ensures all new shop proposals meet the required return on sales prior to submitting any recommendations to the Managing Director; all new shop locations must be visited to ensure they will trade effectively and meet the proposed budgets.
• Spends time in shops with retail shop teams and customers to understand and identify business critical issues in order to ensure the alignment of tactics and strategies; maintains the corporate identity of Mind in all shops and related initiatives.
• Takes a lead role in building a strong sales management culture with the operations team; spends time coaching Regional Managers, identifying skills and opportunities for development; provides advice and guidance on shop manager issues when needed.

Qualifications

• First Degree in Marketing, Business Administration and Relevant certifications will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 8 years experience, must have 3-5years in a similar role.

Skills:

• Excellent communication skills - verbal, written to include report writing and group presentations
• Influencing and negotiation skills
• Well-developed interpersonal skills
• Commercially sound with a good understanding of profit and loss accounting and the influence of operating factors e.g. volume v price
• Excellent organisation skills, able to prioritize
• A collaborative team player - concerned with the team success as well as individual performance
• Visible Leadership skills - can motivate others to achieve
• Solution orientated, decisive by nature
• Attitude: Must be Friendly, honest, transparent and diligent in all dealings.