Department Manager - Retail

Job description / Role

Department Manager - Retail | ACE Hardware | Dubai Festival City

Overview of the role

To assist the Store Manager to drive sales by managing the smooth functioning of the store and control the store team to ensure all work and policies and procedures are carried out within the remit of 'Store daily operations' (sales, merchandising standards, customer service, store finance, store HR, store logistics, health and safety and security). Achieve the most profitable operation; establish a high level of customer service, effective management of budgeted resources to achieve the agreed commercial and financial store objectives.

What you will do

Customer Service:

• Has a REAL customer focus, establishes and communicates customer goals and targets while ensuring the highest quality service and results for customers, articulates a strong understanding of customers' needs and does significantly more than required. Acts as a role model for all employees by focusing business strategy on providing exceptional service and improving customer satisfaction. Ensures that all elements of 'Customer Service' are at the forefront of the store team and constantly strives to improve.

Store standards and displays:

• Ensure that all implementation at store level is completed to agreed high standards, whatever the subject matter and that escalation channels are in place and are understood by all store teams. Develops and executes all aspects of 'retail basics', including on-shelf availability, clear shelf edge pricing, overall store standards, exceptional customer service together with outstanding queue management.
• Along with the Regional Visual Manager will be responsible for ensuring eye-catching, effective displays are maintained within the Store. All new promotional activity requiring changes to display should be carefully planned and coordinated to ensure minimum amount of disruption. Must always maintain the brand integrity through corporate display standards and is responsible for ensuring the display reflects and supports the product suitability for the promotional calendar.

Stock Availability:

• To ensure the availability and security of stock in the store through the implementation of agreed delivery plans and by following company procedures relating to stock movement. To liaise with the buyers or Operations Manager regarding product variety or quality and ordering levels providing feedback where necessary. Ensures the proper in-store control of stocks through liaising with the help desk and Inventory team to meet the demands and requirements of the business and customers. Minimize missed opportunities.

Deployment of Resources and Administration:

• Required to oversee the deployment of resources and to constantly challenge his team to utilize all resources to the maximum effectiveness. Improve operational cost effectiveness by ensuring the best deployment of material, financial and human resources and by communicating with subordinates for clear understanding of accountabilities, objectives and targets, and measures. Manages the annual sales, headcount, and expenses to ensure the store performance is within approved budgets.

Human Resource Management:

• With the assistance of the HRBP, the Job holder will fulfil recruitment function where required. To ensure that all employees are fully trained and developed to a required standard to ensure effective staffing and levels of internal and external customer service are achieved. Identify candidates with career growth potential and will initiate advancement for those candidates through the correct channels. Is the leader in establishing an environment where effective teamwork is considered a normal part of the daily routine, where respect and cooperation are achieved. Promote effective management by sound personal guidance and advice to subordinates. Motivates subordinates to the highest level of achievement by sound leadership and example. Uphold and improve the quality and continuity of company employees by ensuring the sound recruitment training and development of subordinates with the help of the HRBP. Responsible for 'People Development' and succession planning with a special emphasis on the development of Assistant store managers and SSAs.

Monitoring and Control:

• Through delegation and supervision, the Job holder is ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with the company policies and procedures. The Job holder will be responsible for ensuring his teams develop self-checking as a normal part of their daily routine. Fulfil the company objectives through the monthly review of performance against plan, by prompt action to resolve variances.
• Ensure the effective implementation of Group and Business Administrative policy and procedures, in collaboration with the Regional Admin and Compliance Manager and maintain high operational store standards, processes and systems in accordance with the approved Group and brand policies. Ensure that proper management of all store functions are maintained and implemented, which will contribute to the efficient and coordinated operation of the store as a whole (Includes compliance with all SOPs).
• Conducts the stock count as per the defined process in the store and in conjunction with Regional Admin and Compliance Manager and develop stock loss action plans.
• Continuous review of costs and expenses of store consumables and stationeries to ensure they are in-line with the budget parameters.
• Review and respond on internal store Audit reports and implement necessary corrective action required.
• To ensure all safety and security standards are met to minimize accidents and loss for the company.

Cooperation and Teamwork:

• Works closely with the Regional Team to ensure the optimal range presentation is available in store.
• Plays a vital role in coordinating, with the Logistics Manager all activities associated with store and customer deliveries.
• Work closely with the Inventory team to ensure the auto replenishment is working, and regularly review for any issues with stocks not getting replenished by the system in order to achieve the target availability of the top lines in stores.

Required skills to be successful

• Commercial acumen
• Result oriented
• Leadership skills
• Customer oriented

What equips you for the role

• Education: form of tertiary education
• Minimum Experience and Knowledge: 5-10 years' experience in Retail, of which at least 1 year in a supervisory role

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 personalized 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.

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.