Department manager

It may be almost unknown in the UK, but Reserved is part of LPP, one of the fastest growing fashion chains in Europe. Since opening the first Reserved store in 1998, the group has expanded into 18 countries via six chains; from the more upmarket Mohito to youth brand Cropp and ever expanding Sinsay. The Reserved brand is the apple of LPP’s eye and by far the most successful clothing brand started in Poland. The business operates across Europe and Asia including Germany, Lithuania, Croatia , Estonia, Finland, UAE, Qatar and Egypt.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE TO DRIVE STORE SALES BY:

• Meeting or exceeding sales targets of their department, driving their team to reach the relevant KPIs set.

• Managing their team to operate according to operational rules and processes; including HR functions, training and inductions, cash admin, commercial success and health and safety.

• Guiding their team in the effective operation of their department and/or store. • Successfully and confidently running the store in the absence of senior managers.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Takes full ownership of their department and its commercial and operational success.

• Fully understands company rules and procedures, making sure that all team members follow accordingly.

• Understands the customer profile for the store and in particular their department and makes sound commercial decisions to profit the store turnover.

• Logs and memorises department performance, whilst influencing positive change and also delivering feedback at market level when needed.

• Takes the lead and allocates the correct tools and structure for their department in order to drive productivity.

• Always monitors customer service and feedback – working actively with the store team to make regular improvements by driving their senior managers’ customer service vision.

• Assesses store operations and procedures and provides productive suggestions of improvement.

• Leads by example with both customer service and operational tasks, takes ownership of the running of said tasks and ensures that the team is highly driven to follow all rules and service instructions as per market standard.

• Makes sure brand knowledge is spread and used throughout the entire team.

• Manages the visual aspect of the department by working closely with both senior store management and the store visual merchandising team to keep the department on trend, on brand and relevant to market and customer profile.

• Drives the recruitment, induction, training and development module for their team. Making sure that all HR policies and procedures are followed fully by all team members including supervisors.

• Partners with senior store management and HR advisor on all store issues and tracks all HR information in store at all times.

• Follows the disciplinary rules and procedures fully and leads by example in this field at all times; highlighting any issues and/or causes for concern to senior store management team and HR advisor.

• Utilises the store hours budget, provided by the RSM, and works with senior management to ensure the store has the right staff in at the right time to accommodate the trading pattern of the store.

• Works with the entire management team and HR advisor to identify both strong and weak performers in the team enabling growth to happen in the company and ensures weaker team members are managed accordingly.

• Develops a team with a high achievement environment where there are clear SMART goals set daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly etc. that are consistently reviewed to drive high performance.

• Leads, inspires and motivates the team to hit store and individual targets. • Drives the team to be self-motivated and use initiative, encouraging independent working.

• Manages loss prevention in the store working closely with senior store management, stockroom manager, Retail Operations Facilities Team and Security Team in store identifying risks and also making sure all loss prevention procedures are followed fully, investigating any issues and/or concerns when needed.

• Gives feedback on operational performance making suggestions for improvement on systems and processes during weekly catch ups with senior store management and Retail Operations Team when needed.

• Works with fellow managers to openly discuss issues and ideas to improve working practises in store, feeding information back to senior store management and the Retail Operations Team when and where needed.

• Always wants to learn new information in order to improve their personal development.

• Works closely with external business partners such as security, cleaning and a maintenance teams, providing feedback to senior store management team.

• Ensures health and safety checks and management for the entire store. Making sure everything is in line with UK law and reporting any issues to the relevant department and Retail Operations Health and Safety Team, not forgetting to keep senior store management in the loop.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Is able to consistently observes and analyses competitor movement, feeding back to their line manager on how they can potentially counteract.

• Can review department figures and results, and strategize on ways to improve the store and team’s personal performance and KPI feedback.

• Is able to steer and control store and personal spend to keep operational costs at a minimum.

• Has a clear understanding of how to drive sales on their department and how important management presence is and is also a constant leading example of this.

• Can confidently identify their department’s shortcomings, as well as their own, and is able to rectify and address concerns quickly.

• Is able to stress the importance of customer service through to the whole team and ensures that customer service is at a high level at all times.

• Is capable of conducting inspiring and informative team briefs daily leading the team to success, and encourages and develops the rest of management team to do the same.

• Is able to consistently lead by example driving sales and operational success in the store.

• Can make sure that their team is aware of the current trends and the brand’s overall seasonal approach.

• Is commercially aware of how their department is developing, for example knowing best sellers, slow sellers, missing products, customer profile, and is actively engaging with the team to drive the commerciality positively within the area.

• Can confidently ensure the operation of their department smoothly with and without their presence.

• Is able to control the payroll and productivity of their department by using the information they have gathered during their department analysis to ensure they have the right staff in at the right time to accommodate the trading pattern of the store/department.

• Is able to delegate tasks according to department needs, whilst not deviating away from their accountability to the store when acting as a senior manager when Store Manager or Assistant Store Manager is not present.

• Is able to make decisions quickly, not afraid to use initiative.

• Has a good understanding of and follows HR and Health and Safety policies consistently leading by example, and maintaining safe and harmonious working environment.

• Is able to support with the recruitment of a high calibre of staff to fill the needs of the business, and makes sure the induction and development of new recruits is of a high standard to retain low staff turnover.

• Can share best practise of the store level.

• Is able to work with the store operational team to make sure that the stockroom and back areas are run productively and in line with company procedures.

CRITICAL SKILLS

• Must have at least 12 months experience in a retail managerial role

• Must have good English literacy skills both verbal and written

• Must have basic mathematical skills

BENEFITS • Competitive salary + bonus scheme

• 25% employee discount

• Uniform entitlement

• Pension scheme

• Complementary staff room refreshments

• Refer a friend programme

• Sick Pay

• Up to 28 days of holiday (pro rata)

This job description is designed to help you understand your role better and to improve the effectiveness of our recruitment process. It is not an exhaustive list of all the things you may be required to do and maybe required to take on additional tasks.

Take your CV into store.