Wellness Manager

This position is directly responsible for the success of the Wellness Department. Along with the store leadership, you will be responsible for department hiring, staff development, termination and holding your staff accountable. You will have complete accountability for all aspects of the department’s operations and be able to perform all duties and responsibilities of staff members. This is accomplished by performing the following duties personally and or through staff.

This position is directly responsible for the maintenance of the Wellness Department. Along with the store leadership, you will be responsible for department hiring, staff development, termination and holding your staff accountable. You will have complete accountability for all aspects of the department’s operations and be able to perform all duties and responsibilities of staff members. This is accomplished by performing the following duties personally and or through staff.

PURCHASING

• When needed, purchase specific product lines (vitamins, supplements, herbs, and natural body care products) to maintain appropriate in-stock levels and inventory turns, to ensure a steady supply of products customers want and to adequately accommodate specials.
• Oversee buyers in ordering to minimize out-of-stocks and overstocks and maximize sales and turnover.
• Participate in setting sales and margin goals for department.
• Review financial reports of department performance with department buyers and take corrective action.

PROMOTION MANAGEMENT

• Manage complete promotional sales process to increase brand and product awareness and stimulate sales.
• Analyze movement reports to reduce fluctuations in supply and demand.
• Create strategies to increase brand usage and customer loyalty.
• Disseminate product and promotional information to customers/staff.
• Oversee admin personnel to assure accuracy in obtaining correct discount amounts and follow through on anticipated credits.

MERCHANDISING

• Maintain attractive displays and ensure wellness displays and shelves are fully stocked and rotated.
• Set prices to meet margin goals. Mark down items as needed to reduce losses.
• Ensure shelf tags are in place; responsible for accurate labeling for products with price tags and/or signs as needed.
• Participate in planning promotions, cross-merchandising, and advertising by consulting with buyers and Marketing Team.
• Attend trade shows, conferences and workshops as assigned.
• Visit other stores for price comparisons, product, and merchandising ideas.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE & MANAGEMENT

• Review reports including profit and loss, sales goals, item movement reports, and inventory counts.
• Responsible for maintaining positive sales growth, positive gross margin, and high inventory turns.
• Responsible for vendor cost negotiations, timely invoice processing, and up-to-date product pricing.
• Drive continuous improvements with a focus on cost savings, developing/improving systems and procedures, financial negotiations, and supplier relationship development.
• Schedule department staff to accommodate customer flow while remaining within established labor budget goals.

DEPARTMENT MAINTENANCE

• Ensure that unsellable items are returned or otherwise properly disposed of, following established procedures. Keep accurate shrinkage records.
• Ensure that department areas (aisles, shelves, bins, and storage areas) are in clean, orderly condition, meeting health department standards.
• Participate in inventory counts.
• Maintain department equipment in working order. Monitor cooler and freezer temperatures (where applicable) and follow established procedures for handling breakdowns.
• Follow security procedures. Alert MOD to potential shoplifters, disorderly customers, and other emergencies.

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

• Recruit and hire qualified applicants following established policy.
• Ensure on-the-job training and development of department staff.
• Develop and maintain training system; maintain and update training manual for your department.
• Conduct and performance evaluations using established employee objectives and goals in line with department and store objectives.
• Document performance issues and take corrective action as needed following established policy.
• Recommend pay increases within department budget and store pay scale.
• Address complaints and resolve problems within the department; issues that cannot be resolved should be referred to your supervisor.
• Create and publish Wellness staff schedules to achieve proper coverage within the department’s payroll allocation. Review time clock records to assure compliance with set schedules.
• Organize Wellness Department meetings.
• Ensure wellness staff are informed of policy changes.
• Establish and maintain a positive work environment that supports high department morale.
• Set an example as a mature and productive team leader.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Familiarity with vitamins, supplements, herbs, natural cosmetics, and body care products.
• Knowledge of trends in natural foods industry.
• Supervision experience--hiring, training, evaluating.
• Experience serving the public.
• Ability to handle multiple demands.
• Concrete ideas of how to market Wellness products at the store.
• Communication skills: be a good listener, with the ability to give clear instructions.
• Demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments and handle multiple demands.
• Willingness to work one weekend day.
• Regular, predictable attendance.
• Willingness and ability to learn to meet the changing requirements of the job.