National Retail Operations Manager - SPAR Group

We are currently recruiting for a National Retail Operations Manager to join our dynamic team.

Job description

Responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive retail strategy focused on driving sales growth, enhancing customer satisfaction, and optimizing operational efficiency. Working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment between retail operations and overall business objectives. Analysing market trends to adapt and create strategies for maintaining a competitive edge and leading continuous improvement initiatives & innovation opportunities to streamline retail processes and systems. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Builds a comprehensive retail strategy incorporating critical priorities that focus on sales growth, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency (incl. format and concept strategies).
• Provides guidance on best operating practices and shares regional best practices.
• Identifies improvement opportunities across retail operations which impact retailer profitability and loyalty.
• Works closely with the Omnichannel and Retail Systems Product teams in managing retail software product life cycles and identifying digitisation opportunities for retail.
• Sets specific retail operations and format-specific benchmarks, driving execution and progress.
• Ensures format-specific criteria such as product offerings, technology and infrastructure set-up and customer experience are clearly documented and communicated to regions and retailers.
• Drives ‘only@SPAR’ concept strategies and plans as custodian of concept ambition and success indicators.
• Works closely with regional and national teams across Merchandising, Promotions and Omnichannel to ensure alignment and effective execution of plans.
• Compiles comprehensive plans and timelines that integrate, schedule and track effective execution on all agreed initiatives.
• Contributes to customer-centric strategies and supports the implementation of customer service standards at key touch points, enhancing the customer shopping experience.
• Champions skills development as the link between retail operations and training departments in ensuring the development of retail specific training content.

Minimum requirements

• Relevant Tertiary qualification or Business Bachelor’s Degree.
• 8 years’ experience in a Senior Management role in the grocery retail sector.

• 2 years’ experience working with and coordinating multi-business stakeholders across multiple geographies.
• Outstanding customer service orientation and very good stakeholder partnering skills.
• Strong financial analytical and business acumen capability within grocery retail.
• Comprehensive understanding of key retail processes and digitisation opportunities.
• Proven execution track record, results orientation and demonstrated adaptability in fast moving environment.
• Excellent planning, organising and problem-solving capabilities.
• A confident communicator and respected thought leader and practitioner in Retail Operations.
• A team player and leader who is at ease navigating a fast-paced environment with multiple, competing priorities.

This role is based in Durban, South Africa, with regular travel to the six Regional Divisions in South Rand (Johannesburg), North Rand (Johannesburg), Lowveld (Mbombela), Western Cape (Cape Town), Eastern Cape (Gqeberha) and KwaZulu-Natal (Durban).