District Manager

Reporting to the VP of Retail, the District Sales Manager is responsible for all activities and sales results in the district. The District Manager will hire, train, and develop their management teams to attain sales growth.

They will ensure district-wide customer satisfaction and product quality, while managing the territory's financial performance, and managing safety and security within the district of our teams and animals.

Essential Duties

Staffing and Training

• Ensures the district is fully staffed and maintains quality bench strength to support the needs of the business
• Hiring – Create a talent pipeline by developing and maintaining proactive staffing plans for the district; plan & coordinate hiring (pre-screening, interviewing, reference checks) through others for vacancies in stores within their district.
• Work with store managers to ensure that all employees are adequately training in procedures and product knowledge; Ensure that the training program is utilized within their district.
• Control payroll expenses by overseeing the store scheduling budgeted hours. Ensure store manager is scheduling based on business needs
• Complete an analysis of the labor reports each pay period.
• Performance Management and appraisal – Complete annual performance evaluations of all district’s Store

Managers and ensure that Store Managers complete evaluations of staff.

• Ensure performance issues are dealt with in a professional and timely manner; staff merit increases, and position changes follow HR guidelines.
• Motivate, coach, develop and performance manage teams focused on the expected customer experience and selling model.
• Ensure that company values are upheld and properly represented within the area.
• Health & Safety – ensure store managers enforce all health & safety requirements, i.e., utilizing protective devices, completion of accident reports, etc.
• Motivate, coach, counsel and develop teams focused on selling.
• Manage and approve vacation requests ensuring stores are always adequately scheduled.
• Arrange travel for self and managers to attend company meetings and training seminars securing the best rates possible.

Operational & Customer Excellence

• Complete monthly store visits
• Ensure store ambiance, merchandising execution, and operational standards are met in every store. Provide coaching and assess brand standards 2/per quarter.
• Validates consistency with use of tools and processes and ensures company directives are implemented by deadlines specified.
• Build relationships and drive ongoing customer satisfaction, track customer ratings and reviews and action as needed.
• Ensure all stores adhere to corporate standards by ensuring Store Managers audit and address any lapses.
• Monitor inventory levels in stores to ensure that company standards and tolerances are met; Where variances exist, develops and follows up on action plans developed with the store manager.
• Monitor freshness tracking in all stores with careful attention to reducing expiring food write-offs.
• Ensure the monthly Call to Action program is executed in all stores.
• Conducts regular loss prevention checks and coordinates with the Loss Prevention department to proactively address issues of shrinkage in stores within their region.
• Provide after-hours phone support to stores.

Business Insight

• Drive sales and create a team-oriented environment through role plays, communicating results, and the selling model.
• Regularly review and analyze sales results for their area; develop and implement individual business strategies for all stores in their area to improve business results (i.e., transferring “best practices” from one store to another within their region); sets targets, follows up regularly to monitor performance, suggest improvements, and remove obstacles where possible.
• Prepare expense reports, code expenses and submit receipts as directed by corporate.
• Analyze reports, communicate appropriate information to Senior Director Regional Store Operations to maximize business opportunities and improve district profit.
• Review profit and loss statements. Determine areas of opportunity to improve and maximize bottom line profit.
• Control and minimize expenses through POS discounts, store use of supplies, employee discounts, and damaged inventory.
• Drive sales and create a team-oriented environment through customer service role plays, communicating shop scores, and developing in store contests.
• Collect and analyze a variety of data sometimes creating, preparing and maintaining spreadsheets and workbooks.
• Participate in loss prevention awareness by overseeing ADT reports and following up on all exceptions. Perform random audits of petty cash; cash pickups, etc. in stores.
• Maintain vendor relations by submitting invoices and purchase orders in a timely manner.
• Ensure loss prevention directives are in place. Work directly with LP Manager in cases of employee theft.

Sales Leadership

• Regularly monitor customer service model within stores to ensure all staff interact with customers in a professional manner; Resolve serious customer complaints and/or where the manager requires assistance.
• Provide regular feedback and partnership to Senior Leadership on improvements needed to grow the business and improve processes.
• Conduct regular conference calls with district team to review results, provide direction on what is important to drive sales.
• Participate in regional conference calls, offering insight on business trends and plans.
• Complete quarterly district business plans of action.
• Complete annual business review.
• Foster a sales and profit focused positive environment in the district.

Store and Chain Growth

• Ensure Operation Department’s responsibilities in district store makeovers are completed on time
• Assist in the opening/closing/relocation/makeovers of stores as required.
• Ensure that all new stores are operational upon opening— i.e. open on time, with well-trained staff
• Monitor local competition and reports to the Real Estate department on relevant market activity, i.e., construction, anchor tenant changes, mall renovations, new home development

Inventory/Merchandising:

• Oversee inventory levels at stores and ensure store management is maintaining inventory levels ensuring stock does not deplete.
• Ensure stores are in compliance of organizational standards and stockroom/restroom standards are met.
• Ensure physical inventories are accurate and counts are taken.
• Eliminate loss and maintain store ambiance by ensuring 13-week cleaning rotations are implemented in every store.
• Control loss by destroying damaged goods at store level.
• Ensure aquarium systems are to standards and that water tests within proper range to minimize loss in fish.
• Ensure only corporate approved fixtures and advertisement promotional materials are used in stores.
• Ensure store ambiance and merchandising execution standards are met in every store.
• Prepare and perform physical inventories ensuring accurate counts are taken

Communication

• Shares best practices, successes and opportunities with the organization.
• Streamline all communication and ensure company directives are implemented by deadlines specified.
• Participate in special projects administered from corporate office.
• Participate in community events through planning, organizing and executing as needed.
• Works closely with store and corporate teams to bridge any communication and operational gaps to increase effectiveness and production.
• Ensure that store deficiencies are reported, and addressed
• Review memoranda, faxes, emails and distributes information to the region as required and ensure they are acted upon
• Complete and submit reports on operations – Brand Standards, Quarterly Business plans of action etc.

Experience, Education, Certifications

• College level graduate (preferably from a Business, Retail or Marketing program and/or extensive retail experience
• Minimum of 2 to 3 years retail chain experience at a District or multi-store management level leading 10+ stores in a large retail chain; ideally gained in a progressive operations roles
• Demonstrate strong retail visual merchandising skills
• Ability to travel, visit stores and attend meetings
• Proficiency with Word and Excel software programs
• Strong time management and prioritization skills

Competencies

• Developing Direct Reports: Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; holds frequent

development discussions; is aware of each direct report’s career goals; constructs compelling development plans and executes them; pushes direct reports to accept developmental moves; will take direct reports who need work; is a people builder.

• Decision Quality: Makes good decisions (without considering how much time it takes) based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; most of his/her solutions and suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time; sought out by others for advice and solutions.
• Business Acumen: Knows how businesses work; knowledgeable in current and possible future policies, practices, trends, and information affecting his/her business and organization; knows the competition; is aware of how strategies and tactics work in the marketplace.
• Drive For Results: Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
• Peer Relationships: Can quickly find common ground and solve problems for the good of all; can represent his/her own interests and yet be fair to other groups; can solve problems with peers with a minimum of noise; is seen as a team player and is cooperative; easily gains trust and support of peers; encourages collaboration; can be candid with peers.