Retail Area Manager - Boston Retail Stores

Boston, MA, United States

Retail Stores Multiple locations **Retail Area Manager - Boston**

We usually respond within **a week**

**Area Manager- Retail Job Description**

The objective of the Area Manager position is to oversee the overall operations of multiple stores within the (Select Region). This position ensures the success of the markets retail doors achieving their metrics within the Five Peaks of Focus; Team, Operations, Community, Product, and Sustainability. This Area Manager will be tasked with ensuring that the retail stores are supported in managing their key sales metrics, operational needs, marketing and events. The position is also responsible for all staff training, code of conduct, policies and procedures. They ensure that the store principles are followed and that each store provides exceptional guest experience through quality education, relationship building and by delivering a best -in-class Fjallraven brand experience.

**Top Traits and Values**

They lead their teams in proficiency of the 5 Peaks (Team, Operations, Community, Product, and Sustainability) and brand store Vision and Mission statements.

They are passionate about people, product, being in nature, and sustainability.

They are accountable for their actions and take responsibility in any situation. They do not blame, deny, make excuses, or become a victim to circumstance.

They grow through their successes and failures by being vulnerable, humble and by having a willingness to ask for help.

They consider what their team and brand need by being open to all feedback and coaching and receive it in a way that benefits all parties.

They demonstrate a persistence and lead others to drive for results through consistency and stability.

**The 5 Peaks of Focus**

**Team**

Assess the effectiveness of Store Managers and the store leadership team by providing the appropriate level of performance feedback. Create development and training plans for Store Managers and as needed, other store leadership team members. Develop and strategizes succession plans for store leadership positions. They are responsible for ensuring that the 5 Peaks of Focus are living within their regions doors.

Responsible for recruiting, building, developing and managing strong and successful retail staffs.

Responsible for a clear communication with Store Managers and their teams; the Area Manager will be available and accessible to their teams and maintain a constant communication cadence (weekly 1:1's, quarterly store visits, etc.)

Motivates, leads, and hold Store Managers accountable to deliver and grow sales along with other metrics and KPIs and leads by example with the results of their own home store.

**Operations**

Conducts store visits to complete documented audits and ensures consistency in sales, visual merchandising standards and marketing needs. Monitors and measures financial, operational, and human resource needs through ongoing store visits.

Oversees all labor by auditing store schedules to maximize guest experience while minimizing waste of hours.

Evaluates employee performance and proactively addresses any issues to their Regional Manager. They are responsible for delivering bi-annual performance appraisals alongside their RM and are ultimately responsible for evaluating their staff.

**Community**

Encourages community development and serves as the community partner for stores, assisting Store Managers in the creation of events, relationship building, and running the Local Guide Program. We connect our local relationships and our stores to the brand, creating the stories that define the brand, in a relevant and hyper-local voice.

Educates staff about the Brand while maintaining the highest standards of guest experience.

Partners with Director of Brand Stores to create strategies for all store events. They are also responsible for managing event compliance and safety (waivers and insurance), as well as making sure the event falls within all guidelines of brand standards. They are to ensure that all events promote a brand appropriate and premium environment.

Oversees and coaches the Area/Store Manager around the growth of the Local Guide Program and advises to future pipeline, store events and all community relationship building.

**Product**

Responsible for the product sell through strategy within your region including assortment, allocation, visual merchandising and ensuring that the stores and outlets have the right product at the right time.

Supports the direction of the brand through merchandise assortments appropriate to regional markets and promotes the use of product knowledge as a tool to enhance employee productivity, sales, and guest brand experience.

Oversees that the stores are effectively merchandised in order to uphold brand standards, prevent product shrink and strategically control stock levels.

Serve as a conduit of information between the Product/Design and Buying teams and consumer feedback. Responsible for ensuring that quarterly Design Meetings are being scheduled with Local Guides in relationship to new product allocations.

Partners with Inventory Controller on scheduling bi-annual inventories (stock-takes) and review overall reconciliation process to identify shrink or overages. Individual store shrink should be less than 1% on an annual basis.

**Sustainability**

Builds a strong internal culture around sustainability and finds ways to better overall in-store operations that would continue to reduce the footprint of the retail company.

Leads by example and demonstrates a respect for our brands sustainable initiatives: The Fjallraven Way, The Fjallraven Down Promise, Arctic Fox Initiative and Sustainable wool.

Ensure that stores community events have a tie back to sustainability and or have a focus that features one of our 5 Peaks. They should encourage all in-store events to promote relationship and education into our sustainable initiatives.

**Distribution of Energy:** Location #1 (Home Store) =60%, Location #2 =20% and Location #3 =20%

**Mandatory Skills, Education and/or Competencies**

BA degree preferred.

3 years experience in a leadership role preferred.

2 years experience in retail market for an outdoor or lifestyle brand, preferred.

Excellent organizational and time management skills with proven aptitude to prioritize and manage workload and to instill a sense of urgency in others as necessary to meet deadlines and goals.

Outstanding customer service, relationship management, and business development skills.

Ability to analyze trends, processes and procedures and develop innovative and effective solutions for improved performance.

Strong overall business acumen with an ability to understand the direction, priorities, and goals of the organization.

Excellent problem solving, decision making, critical and strategic thinking skills.

Strong leadership and interpersonal skills; presents a positive and professional image, effectively collaborates with diverse teams, and is successful at achieving results through the effort of others.

Flexibility to engage in overnight and regional travel up to 40% of the time.

Robust technology skills, including intermediate proficiency with Microsoft office.

Exceptional presentation and communication skills, both written and verbal.

Department Retail Stores Role Retail Area Manager Locations Newbury, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Seaport, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

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