Job Description

Job Title: Regional Commercial Manager | Retail | Marks & Spencer

Company Overview Initially trading under the St. Michael name, the first store operated in a John Little store. The St. Michael name was officially changed to Marks & Spencer in 1994. Marks & Spencer offers a range of Men\'s and Women\'s fashion, lingerie, frozen ready meals, confectionaries, fine wines, beauty products and toiletries. With over 450 stores throughout the UK and over 200 franchise business operating in 30 countries, Marks & Spencer remains the most high profile brand on the UK high street and the leading clothing retailer in UK. Al-Futtaim has held the regional franchise rights for Marks & Spencer since 1997 and the franchise partnership boasts 30 stores in Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore. There are currently nine Marks & Spencer stores in Singapore located at Wheelock Place , Paragon , Plaza Singapura , Parkway Parade , Raffles City , VivoCity , One Raffles Place and Jewel .

Overview of the role The Regional Commercial Manager is responsible for consistent operational excellence across stores and have full P&L accountability and brand compliance for stores in the region. The job holder develops and proposes a regional strategy for business development to expand the brand and run profitable retail operations. The job holder is responsible for the customer experience within the stores to reflect brand values and customer promise. Leading passionate and dedicated teams ensuring every decision we make has our customer at the core. Has a passion to deliver excellent standards with continuously driving growth and profitability through planning and successful implementation of strategies

What you will do Retail Operations

• Deliver inspirational, improved, and consistent standards in stores, which inspire our customers to shop more often.
• Execution of operational standards for the stores in terms of visual merchandising, availability, customer service, stock maintenance, safety and security while maintaining brand integrity in our stores.
• Establish a routine in the stores to ensure focus on different aspects of operation via Working Week Framework, constant communication flow between stores and retail office as well as continuity of the plans in all stores, and ensure all duty managers are trained in relevant procedures
• Monitor service levels personally, through observation and Mystery shopper research and work with store managers /retail office to drive excellence in service to be visible through NPS
• Enforce procedures and KPIS to maintain stocks, system accuracy and profit protection across all stores.
• Review and ensure a robust control of tills/ cash in stores, ensures all till/ cash control audits are completed as per store procedures.
• Provide regular weekly/seasonal/promotion feedback to ensure the buying strategy maximizes sales thorough procurement of an appropriate assortment, pricing and execution of promotions aligned with the market at store and regional level.
• Work in partnership with Visual Merchandising, Marketing, Logistics, Merchandising & Buying to deliver the Commercial Plan/Calendar to the agreed key targets.
• Follow up and work with relevant parties to ensure relevant permits /legislation in place to conduct promotions/events.
• Ensure all stores have an emergency plan and employees are aware of the emergency action plan.

Financial and Business Planning

• Work with General Manager - SEA to build and deliver an annual & long-term business plan using internal data and external research.
• Develop a strategy for the region to drive profitable growth of the brand.
• Work with Store Manager to develop an annual business plan for each store. This plan will cascade down the business targets down to BUs which will make the regional targets achievable and alert relevant stakeholder of any gaps /issues.
• Monitor and control the budget and operational costs of all stores.
• Drive cost saving and efficiency throughout the stores by challenging existing standards and existing processes.
• Work with HRBP to budget manpower costs, closely monitor staff costs and set productivity targets

People

• Ensure clear goals and accountabilities are set and communicated for subordinates and their teams.
• Work with HRBP to deliver people solutions to create employee engagement, compliance to HR Policies and local legislation
• Coach Store Managers and SMDs and ensure succession plans and training plans are in place in each store in coordination with HRBP.
• Role model Al-Futtaim Way behaviours and M&S Values as a senior manager.
• Corporate and Brand
• Promote Brand and Corporate Values, throughout the operations team and the ways of working with M&S, stores, warehouses and depending functions within Al-Futtaim.
• Ensure stores comply with all relevant legislation, regulation and corporate governance practices.
• Works in partnership M&S UK to develop best practices and maintain a good working relationship.

Business Growth / New Markets

• Managing store opening projects with corporate and principal provided resources. Ensuring compliance to legislation and brand requirements prior to operations start.
• Work with the Merchandising & Buying to have the correct range and price in the small new format stores.

Required Skills to be successful

• Job holder will be exposed to senior management of principal, retail division, corporate as well as government officials. This exposure will require diplomacy to maintain positive relations with different stakeholders.

• Job holder will require to be mobile due to nature of the job and working flexibly through visits and travel to store sites.

• Job holder will need to act with a sense of urgency and alertness to developments in the market to ensure opportunities are addressed and risks are minimized.

• Job holder needs to understand the core subjects of Health & Safety, Age Restricted Sales, GM Pricing and ticketing policies.

• Job holder provides operational /financial direction to the stores through analyzing key financial/operational performance reports, identifying risks and managing action to resolve.
  

What equips you for the role Minimum Qualifications and Knowledge: Graduate Degree

• Experience in a multichannel retail environment
• Experience in managing and driving multiple teams in different locations
• Motivated and can deliver Financial Budget and Key Performance Indicators
• Experience with and passion for premium fashion brands and food
• Understanding of customer research and the ability to amend the range to reflect customer requirements and feedback.
• Understanding of fashion, consumer trends and competition

Minimum Experience: + 15 years of experience of which 5 years should be at senior management level

Behavioral Competencies:

• Delighting Our Customers

• Collaboration

• Managing Complexity

• Influencing Others

• Taking Initiative

• Drive for Results

• Engaging Leadership

• Developing Talent