Area Manager VIC/TAS

Hempel (Wattyl) Australia; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Hempel (Wattyl) Australia is seeking an Area Manager to lead a portfolio of company-owned stores across the state, delivering strong sales, profitability and exceptional customer and team experiences. You will coach, develop and engage high-performing teams, ensuring a sustainable talent pipeline and long-term growth.

You will recruit and mentor store teams, manage performance, and drive state sales targets through effective P&L management and commercial decisions.

Qualifications

• Business degree or equivalent highly desirable.
• Proven retail leadership across multi-site environments.
• Strong coaching, performance management and succession planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop high-performing stores with full P&L responsibility.
• Drive sales, profitability and customer experience across the state.
• Recruit, mentor and manage store teams with succession planning.
• Monitor market trends and pricing to maximise profitability and market share.
• Champion safety and compliance with HSE and standards.

Skills

Leadership

Retail management

P&L management

People development

Education

Business degree or equivalent

Tools

POS systems

MS Excel

Job description

Do you want to build a career with responsible impact? If you are looking for a role Leading and developing high-performing store teams to deliver outstanding results across sales, profitability, operational excellence, and customer experience then this is the role for you

Are You Looking to Build a Career That Contributes to a Brighter Future?

Wattyl is a part of the Hempel group, a global company specialising in the development and manufacturing ofsustainable coating solutions for a wide variety of industries around the world, as a business we’re on a mission to double our impact.

As an Area Manager, you'll lead a portfolio of company-owned stores with full P&L responsibility, delivering strong commercial results while creating exceptional customer and team experiences. Your ability to coach, develop, and engage high-performing teams will be key to building a sustainable talent pipeline and supporting long-term business growth. The responsibilities will include:

Lead and develop a high-performing, inclusive sales culture across the state, driving accountability, employee engagement, coaching, and Sales Excellence.

Recruit, mentor, and manage store teams, overseeing performance, talent development, succession planning, and key people decisions.

Deliver state sales, territory, contribution, and profitability targets through effective P&L management and commercial decision-making.

Build strong customer relationships and identify growth opportunities in partnership with the Sales Manager to drive sustainable business performance.

Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and pricing strategies, providing insights and recommendations to maximise profitability and market share.

Champion a strong safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with HSE requirements, company policies, and all relevant legal and ethical standards.

Have You Got What We're Looking For?

Business degree or equivalent highly desirable

Relevant retail leadership experience, ideally across a multi-site environment, with a proven track record of delivering sales, profitability, and operational performance.

Strong people leadership capabilities, including coaching, performance management, succession planning, and developing high-performing teams.

Commercially astute with sound financial management skills and the ability to drive business growth through customer-focused sales initiatives.

Demonstrated experience in inventory management, merchandising, loss prevention, and operational excellence.

Strong planning, organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to lead change in a fast-paced environment.

Commitment to exceptional customer experiences, workplace safety, and the flexibility to travel regularly throughout the state

Do You Want to Be Part of a Global Team Where Collaboration Drives Success?

At Wattyl, we offer you the flexibility you need to thrive both professionally and personally. With trust, support, and autonomy, you'll have the tools you need to succeed. We believe in on-the-job learning, providing you withgreat opportunities for ongoing development and progression within a work culture that empowers you toachieve more and reach your goals.

Does This Sound Like a Match?

Please note you must have unrestricted valid rights to work in Australia - Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residency to apply.

Your application will include the following questions:

• Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
• What's your expected annual base salary?
• Do you have a current Australian driver's licence?

At Wattyl we've been making quality, high-performance paints and coatings for over a century and have built a broad portfolio of loved and trusted brands.

Our products have been used on many high-profile and iconic projects, a great testament to their quality.

Our products have been tailored to meet the specific needs of our residential, consumer, industrial and protective and marine market segments.

Our world-class plants, distribution and logistics, plus superior coating expertise and technologies, guarantee premium performance, durability and aesthetics.

We have a large network of over 100 Wattyl Paint Sites across ANZ. You can also find our products at selected retailers.

At Wattyl we've been making quality, high-performance paints and coatings for over a century and have built a broad portfolio of loved and trusted brands.

Our products have been used on many high-profile and iconic projects, a great testament to their quality.

Our products have been tailored to meet the specific needs of our residential, consumer, industrial and protective and marine market segments.

Our world-class plants, distribution and logistics, plus superior coating expertise and technologies, guarantee premium performance, durability and aesthetics.

We have a large network of over 100 Wattyl Paint Sites across ANZ. You can also find our products at selected retailers.