Retail Excellence Manager

Ethos Watch; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Ethos Watch is seeking a field-based Retail Excellence auditor to drive SOP compliance, audit store operations, and oversee brand guidelines across multiple stores in the assigned zone.

You will plan and execute audits, analyze findings, and coordinate with VM, Maintenance, Projects and IT to ensure timely closures with evidence-based corrective actions. Extensive travel is required to cover all stores.

Qualifications

• Graduate in any discipline is required.
• Strong audit, analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Experience in organized retail and multi-store operations.
• Ability to manage stakeholders and drive corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and drive adherence to Retail SOPs and the approved audit calendar.
• Conduct operational audits and plan visits through a Permanent Journey Plan (PJP).
• Verify SOP compliance, customer experience, maintenance, safety, and store presentation.
• Coordinate with Business, VM, Maintenance, Projects, IT and L&D to close observations.
• Analyze findings, prepare audit reports and track closure of corrective actions.
• Travel extensively to cover all stores within the assigned zone.

Skills

Audit

Stakeholder management

Excel

PowerPoint

Field-based

Store operations

Education

Graduate in any discipline

Job description

Role & responsibilities:

1. Retail Excellence

• Monitor and drive adherence to Retail SOPs.
• Execute the approved audit calendar and conduct operational audits.
• Plan and execute store visits through an approved Permanent Journey Plan (PJP).

2. Store Audit & Store Visit Responsibilities

• Verify compliance with SOPs, operational standards and Retail Excellence guidelines.
• Review customer experience, store readiness, housekeeping, safety, maintenance, statutory compliance and store presentation.
• Verify implementation of brand guidelines, VM standards and corporate initiatives.
• Review operational records and statutory documents.
• Assess operational readiness for new stores, relocations and renovations.
• Identify deviations and document observations with evidence.
• Discuss observations and agree corrective actions with Store Managers and Business Managers.
• Verify closure of previous observations.
• Escalate critical issues.
• Identify and share best practices.

3. Reporting & Analytics

• Analyse audit findings and identify trends.
• Prepare structured audit reports.
• Track corrective actions and report closure status.
• Recommend process improvements.

4. Stakeholder Coordination

• Coordinate with Business, VM, Maintenance, Projects, IT and L&D.
• Drive timely closure of observations through stakeholder engagement.

5. Travel Requirement

• Extensive travel (approximately 1520 days per month) through a Permanent Journey Plan (PJP) covering all stores within the assigned zone.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Graduate in any discipline.
• 6-10 years in organized retail.
• Minimum 3 years in a multi-store role.
• Luxury/premium retail experience preferred.
• Experience in conducting Retail Excellence audits covering SOP compliance, customer experience, store readiness, Visual Merchandising standards, maintenance, safety, statutory compliance, and overall retail execution will be preferred.

Critical Competencies

• Exceptional attention to detail with a keen eye for identifying deviations from Retail Excellence standards.
• Strong audit, analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Accuracy, consistency and follow-through.
• Strong stakeholder management.
• Excellent communication.
• Ability to analyse data and convert observations into recommendations.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint.
• Self-driven and comfortable in a field-based role.

Key Performance Indicators

• SOP Compliance
• Store Audit Scores
• Timely Closure of Audit Observations
• PJP Adherence & Store Coverage
• Retail Excellence Compliance Score
• Implementation of Corporate Initiatives
• Operational Readiness for New Stores
• Quality & Timeliness of Reporting