Retail Operations Manager (Trading, Merchandising, Buying)
Job Introduction
We are looking to recruit a senior retail professional to join our Defence business. This is a trading, buying and merchandising focussed role and will require an experienced individual to give subject matter expertise in the delivery of areas including product range, buying, promotions, merchandising and maximising profitable sales.
This is an excellent new opportunity for a talented, customer focussed individual to drive services that enhance our customers quality of life. The retail offer in our Defence business reflects high street tastes and trends with popular brands and services specifically tailored to meet the varied needs of Armed Forces personnel and their families.
Role Responsibility
- Strategically develop and operate a compelling retail business across c.65 stores nationally with a turnover of c. £25M
- Influence and implement the retail shop pricing, promotional, ranging and merchandising strategy
- Drive innovation in product delivery and customer service, anticipating and leading market trends
- Optimise sales through developing planograms to improve product positioning and maximise the use of retail space across all shops through effective deployment of range plans and product mix
- Drive optimal trading margin through detailed analysis of category performance on a unit by unit basis and ensure shop layouts are reviewed regularly to reflect sales mix changes
- Responsible for all operational activity relating to retail operations and the successful implementation and on-going management of by operational account manager teams
- Implement all strategic activity as directed and developed by the Head of Retail
The Ideal Candidate
- Significant senior leadership experience within the retail industry, preferably trading or buying within FMCG or the convienience market
- Highly customer focused
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Stakeholder management at the most senior levels
- Strong commercial and analytical skills
- Degree level educated or equivalent professional experience
Package Description
Plus car, bonus and flexible benefits
About the Company
In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 35,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business.
