Store Manager – Marks & Spencer

Job description / Role

Marks & Spencer, part of Al Futtaim Retail, is a globally recognised retail brand offering stylish, high quality, great value clothing and home products as well as outstanding foods.

With 14 Stores currently located across the GCC including locations in the UAE, Oman, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar there is further growth planned with  an additional four stores to open in 2012 to further strengthen this exciting brand within the Middle East market.

We are now looking for an experienced Store Manager to manage our new store in Amman, Jordan.

As a Store Manager who likes to have an active presence on the shop floor, your primary responsibility will involve leading a team of approx. 40 FTE as well as managing the day to day operations.  As full P&L responsibility will be given, you will also have the challenging task of driving our business forward and ensure our Store is fulfilling its objectives.  We are looking for highly sales driven people who can make a profit.

Other key responsibilities include:
Store Operations: As the key custodian of the M&S brand you will ensure the brand integrity is maintained throughout the Store and implemented to the Franchisor standards and guidelines
Staff Management: You will ensure that the Store has a positive and supportive work environment and the staff are suitably recruited, trained and motivated to perform their jobs effectively.
Store Development: You will support the process of developing the store by proactively keeping abreast of advances in the clothing business locally, within the region and within the international market.
External Operations/Relationships: Cultivate a proactive partnership with local authorities such as Government, Health Authorities & Labour/Immigration Departments. You will also develop a strong working relationship with Mall Management and external marketing teams.
Corporate Social Responsibility & Plan A:  This involves supporting the Marks & Spencer Corporate Social Responsibility and Plan A (Environmental) initiatives.

Requirements

With a minimum of four years experience in a similar level role, you will be a strong team leader who has the retail operational knowledge required to continue to lead the team towards the highest of standards. Your track record influencing and negotiating with key decision makers will compliment your strong leadership and relationship building skills. You will have a solid understanding of the retail (preferably fashion) industry in the Middle East with demonstrated experience in driving sales and building customer loyalty.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.