Operations Manager

SUMMARY:
Our client in the Wholesale/Retail industry is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to join their team at the Durban head office.

POSITION INFO:
Duties:

• Competitive shopping and market analysis.
• Understanding of retail pricing ladders and cost implications.
• Monitoring the stock quality and escalating discrepancies to buyers and management.
• Running and analysing reports on regular basis.
• Communicating and coordinating with the Operations team and Buyers.
• Assisting the Buying Team in planning promotional activities.
• Visit stores regularly and build a trust relationship with the Operators, and Ops Team.
• Controlling and giving direction to the Operations department.
• Ensure all processes and operational aspects are implemented and followed in order to achieve sales and operational targets performance by store, department, category, and item; and take steps to achieve budgeted sales.
• Monitors and attend to effective and efficient space utilisation for effective sales, including, but not limited to, space being allocated and planned in accordance to turnover contribution.
• To be aware of competitors marketing /merchandising processes and practices. Check daily with store responsible on the reports that they need to pull and follow up on any issues.
• Analyse weekly foot count reports per store. Analyse and report on same, with reasons and recommendations.
• Analyse against previous year and month
• Verify if there were/are promotions during these periods.
• Recommend ways to increase foot count.
• Factors that affected foot count.

• Analyse and report on the monthly ranking report by /department and by store – Monthly. Including reasons and recommendations.
• Department increase and decrease of sales (value and percentage)
• Change in position ranking compared to previous month.
• Suggested reasons why there is a change in ranking.
• Recommendations on how to increase sales on top ranking departments as well as recommendations and suggestions on how to improve the bottom ranking departments.
• Seasonal sales affecting ranking of departments.
• Promotional sales affecting ranking of departments.

• Weekly/monthly Analyse and report on why the KVI is dropping in sales and recommend solutions.
• View Kvi listing to check stock availability and levels.
• Run a comparison between different periods to monitor sales levels.
• Run a comparison between competitor store (eg. 002 vs 005) to monitor the sales levels and differences.
• Discuss and action changes to maximise sales.
• Manage Tester and counter supply stock levels at stores to ensure that there are no out of stocks or abuse of these items.
• Store Operational (controllable) costs such as:
• Planning and recommending staffing rosters/plans and limiting staff expenses
• Liaises with Sales Manager to recommend changes, layout, products and pricing, improvements in merchandise mix and
• Recommend to Sales Manager/ markdowns/discounts/promotions to clear stock with Buyers and sales manager.
• Control/replenishment and return of model stocks.
• Control promotional model stock and targets. Ensure correct model stocks are in place for each plu based on sales.
• Ensure availability of stock in all stores
• Report/Recommend and advise on trends and new market opportunities.
• Competitor information
• New products
• Promotional trends
• Advertising
• To have a good Product knowledge
• Optimise presentation of line selections per promotion and monitor and report on its effectiveness.
• Merchandising/displays of promotional lines.
• Review sales of promotional lines
• Share promotion display information between stores to increase sales at poorly performing stores.
• Monitor sales after actioning display changes.
• Recommend any layout changes / improvements to Sales Manager improve sales.
• Store display structures are installed and placed strategically to optimise sales in a safe manner and look presentable.
• Control of shelving and display material and quantities.
• Oversee merchandising and to maintain standardisation across all stores.
• Visit potential sites with the basis of providing input on possibility of success.
• Propose and recommend store designs and layouts.
• Analyse/recommend and plan staffing requirements.
• Analysing of product range to meet the demographics of the area.
• Installation of shelving as per agreed layout and design. Reporting weekly/monthly on the Effective merchandising of the new store to achieve optimal sales, including any recommendations.
• Induct and train new store staff’ on operations.
• Instil/ monitor/ motivate and report monthly on all staff at all times that Stores must give best possible service to all its customers.
• Understand and communicate Company operational strategy and tactics to align with point 2 above.
• Ensure and maintain a high level of staff motivation.
• Labour scheduling by day / week and by month
• Promote staff development (including appraisals) and training, by store.
• Reporting and referring to HR, where necessary resolving staff/employee issues /incidents.
• Nature of issue
• Who was the issue discussed with (Hr).
• Decision taken regarding the issue.
• Has the issue been resolved/outcome.
• Recommendations on how to avoid these issues in the future.
• Staff Time management-
• Check security report and assist with staff issues and disciplinary actions and provide monthly reports to HR/G Manager
• All disciplinary action to be sent to Hr as each issue is addressed.
• Summary of all issues to be sent to Hr/Gm on a weekly basis.

• Follow up and action daily security reports with regards to disciplinary action and training identified.
• Discuss with staff issues picked up on security reports.
• Identify training required for staff from issues reported.

• Matric.
• Relevant Diploma or Degree would be an added advantage.
• 3+ years’ experience in a Operations Manager role in a Retail / FMCG environment.
• Valid driver’s license and own reliable vehicle.