Retail Area Manager

Specialising in premium pet foods and accessories, Absolute Pets is the leading pet retailer in South Africa with over 200 stores across the country.

Our team of experts is looking for a passionate and driven Area Manager to join the Absolute Pets Gauteng Operations team and oversee branches in Gauteng and surrounds.

If you want to join our team, these are a few of the key areas that you will need to be responsible for as an Area Manager:

• Ensuring all customers in all stores experience the highest level or service at all times
• Responding to customer complaints referred by store managers and ensuring timeous resolving.
• Ensuring individual and overall sales targets are met and exceeded. Fortnightly meetings with store managers to review and drive team performance. Ensuring that the team maintains a high level of up-to-date product knowledge at all times via in store and supplier training.
• Coaching, development and motivation of team. Ensure succession plan is in place for all stores, as well as for own role.
• Conducting performance appraisals/reviews on Store Managers twice a year, managing poor performance and dealing with staff issues that store manager has escalated.
• Scheduling of staff across all stores ensuring optimum customer service and coverage.
• Ensuring that the team uses product knowledge to give expert advice to customers on all our products.
• Ensuring compliance across all stores to company policies and procedures.
• Ensuring high level of cleanliness and housekeeping in stores and back areas.
• Ensuring optimum stock management and stock rotation
• Maintaining Visual management – ensuring merchandise is kept neat and orderly in appearance, and merchandising goods according to guideline principles.
• Ensuring that promotions and windows are set up according to guidelines and visually appealing.
• Ensuring that the team follow through on any Marketing requirements.
• Cash pickups from stores as required.
• Ensuring that all stores manage admin accurately and timeously including stocktakes, ordering, goods receiving, inter branch transfers, credits and all other necessary transactions.
• Ensuring the team maintains a high standard of appearance
• Monitoring what local competitors are doing. Recommending and implementing changes to improve store experience (products, opening hours, promotions etc.)

QUALIFICATIONS, PERSONAL TRAITS AND EXPERIENCE

Criteria	Essential	Desirable
Attainments/Educational Level/Qualifications	Matric Valid SA driver’s license	Retail related qualification
Experience	At least 2 years Leadership/Management experience in managing multiple area managers Proven ability to lead and influence a team. Knowledge of HR procedures	Experience of selling in veterinary shop/pet care shop.
Intelligence/Aptitude	Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to plan and prioritise. Ability to lead and manage a team – delegation, follow up, daily/weekly sales targets. Ability to multi – task and work under pressure. Ability to motivate and drive performance as well as manage poor performance and disciplinary procedures. Customer Centric. Computer literacy. Ability to interpret financial data and make key decisions	To have completed retail courses on leadership, performance management, understanding of current labour laws
Interests	Passion for people and customer service. Passionate about animals	Knowledge of the brands and products we stock
Disposition/Personality/Motivation	Good team player, high energy, highly motivated. Approachable, persuasive, trustworthy and reliable. Strong leadership skills, shows initiative
Appearance/Physical Characteristics	Smart and presentable appearance