Area Manager

**Area Manager - JHB**

Are you proactive and results-driven with a keen eye for detail? We are looking for an experienced Area Manager to join our Retail division to oversee our JHB region.

As an Area Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring optimal staffing and operational excellence across the region.

**Purpose**:
As an Area Manager responsible for operations and compliance, you play a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless functioning of multiple retail stores within your designated area. Your comprehensive skill set covers various aspects, from overseeing sales performance to upholding compliance standards and optimizing operational efficiency. Here's a closer look at your essential duties and responsibilities:
**Essential duties and responsibilities**:

- **Sales Strategy and Performance Monitoring**:

- Strategically monitor the sales performance of all stores within your area.
- Analyse weekly and monthly sales reports to identify trends and opportunities.
- Collaborate with store managers to develop action plans for achieving targets.
- Implement effective sales strategies to enhance revenue and meet objectives.
- **Workforce Planning and HR Support**:

- Develop staffing schedules that align with budgetary considerations and demand fluctuations.
- Provide support to store managers in HR-related matters, including recruitment, scheduling and discipline.
- Foster a positive work environment by promoting employee development and engagement.
- **Operational Excellence**:

- Act as a point of contact for store managers in handling operational challenges and resolving issues promptly.
- Ensure that stores operate in compliance with company policies, protocols, and guidelines.
- Oversee store maintenance activities, escalating critical issues for timely resolution.
- **Compliance and Auditing**:

- Conduct compliance assessments of stores, particularly focusing on banking, cash management, and cash-based activities.
- Collaborate with Human Resources to ensure thorough and clear DOL (Department of Labour) store audits.
- Uphold Health & Safety protocols to ensure the well-being of both employees and customers.
- **Brand Consistency**:

- Maintain a consistent and distinctive Brand look and feel across all stores.
- Collaborate with Visual Managers to ensure that the brand's visual merchandising guidelines are adhered to.
- **Industry Awareness and Adaptation**:

- Stay up to date with industry trends, best practices, and technological advancements in retail management.
- Adapt strategies to align with changing market conditions and consumer preferences.

**Skills and Qualifications**:
To excel in this role, you should possess:
Experience: 3-5 years’ experience in Retail, including store process improvement, project management, handling Industrial Relations matters, workforce scheduling, health and safety at store level, and compliance audits.

Education: National Diploma in Retail Management or Business Management.

Skills and Traits:

- Computer literacy: Moderate level proficiency in effectively utilizing computers for daily tasks.
- Excel: Moderate level proficiency in creating and maintaining schedules.
- Problem-solving: Moderate level ability to identify and resolve challenges aligned with task requirements.
- Organizational and time management skills: Moderate level ability to thrive in a dynamic environment, meeting results and deadline-driven targets.
- Verbal and written communication: Advanced level attention to detail with strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Retail management: Moderate level of understanding of inventory management.
- Analytical thinking: Advanced level skills in analysing and interpreting data.
- Project management: Advanced level experience in improving existing systems and exploring new store opportunities.
- Health and Safety: Moderate level comprehension of H&S requirements within the retail sector.
- Workforce scheduling: Advanced level proficiency in effectively scheduling staff to ensure labour costs remain within budget.
- Problem-solving: Moderate level ability to solve problems effectively.
- People Management and Industrial Relations: Moderate level capability to differentiate between store-level issues and matters that need to be escalated to HR.
- Proactive in identifying, resolving, and communicating challenges.
- Meticulous and diligent with strong attention to detail.
- Able to show initiative and work independently, as well as part of a team.
- Results-focused, strives for excellence in performance.
- Demonstrates personal integrity, business ethics, and values.
- An analytical thinker, able to approach tasks with critical thinking skills.