Area Manager, Cape Town

University of Fort Hare; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Fort Hare in Cape Town seeks an Area Manager to oversee 12 stores across the Western Cape. The role requires driving sales, merchandising, budgeting, and staff development across multiple sites.

You will travel extensively between stores, manage promotions, monitor KPIs, and ensure compliance with company policies. A strong retail background in clothing and proven leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 with retail operations qualification is an advantage.
• 3+ years’ experience as Area Manager in clothing retail.
• Extensive travel between stores and strong leadership.
• Verbal and written communication skills; capable of staff management.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of financials.

Responsibilities

• Oversee 12 Western Cape stores and drive sales targets.
• Implement promotions, follow business direction, monitor KPIs.
• Manage salaries/budgets and HR issues across stores.
• Ensure security, stock control, merchandising, and housekeeping standards.
• Provide leadership and training to store staff.

Skills

Retail operations

Store management

Staff leadership

Communication skills

Financial acumen

Travel readiness

MS Office

Weekend availability

Education

Grade 12

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

We are seeking an Area Manager for a permanent vacancy based in Cape Town, Western Cape

Applicants are required to meet the following criteria:

• Grade 12 with retail operations qualification will be an advantage
• Candidate will oversee and manage stores in Western Cape Area - Total number of stores is 12 [Paarl (2), Belville, Wynberg (2), Mitchell's Plein, Stellenbosch, Riversdale, Ceres, Worcester, George and Oudtshoorn]
• 3+ years’ experience in a similar capacity as an Area manager - clothing retail experience essential
• Travel - Extensive travel between stores –ensure that regular store visits are being conducted.
• Ability to work under pressure & use own initiative
• Verbal & Written communication Skills & proven ability to manage staff
• Strong business acumen and understanding of business financials
• Willingness to work long hours and over weekends
• Valid Drivers License – Code 8 unendorsed
• Computer literate: Microsoft Office suite

The successful applicant would be responsible for, but not limited to:

Sales & Marketing:

• Manage the implementation of all marketing promotions to ensure maximum sales opportunities are exploited.
• Make certain that business direction and strategies are followed.
• Achieve and exceed store sales targets
• Monitor and evaluate the daily sales targets of each store in your business unit.
• Drive sales in area through active participation in promotions & providing sales leadership to staff.
• Provide regular feedback on products, marketing and pricing of retailers with similar products / promotions and opportunities to the Buying & Marketing team.

Management of Staff:

• Manage the performance and development of staff to become a motivated sales force.
• Effectively manage the Salaries and Wages budget of each store in your business unit and ensure that salaries and wages expenditure is in line with the required sales ratio %.
• Manage & involve HR in all IR related matters within your business unit (Initiate disciplinary hearings and from time to time represent the company at the CCMA),
• Determine staffing needs, recruit, interview and place employees in line with the company recruitment policies and procedures.
• Ensure that the responsible persons in stores adhere to the standard operating procedures (Check and verify necessary documents when doing store visits).

Risk, Shrinkage & Security:

• Manage the security in all aspects within your respective business unit and ensure that security procedures are strictly adhered to.
• Monitor and provide regular feedback to the risk team on the performance of security staff in respective stores (make sure that they are alert and performing their duties as expected).
• Identify and report potential Risk area within your business unit involve the risk department
• Continuously monitor shrinkage and ensure that all stores implement preventative measures in place to minimise stock losses in your business unit.
• Should there be high shrinkage in one of the stores you will be required to investigate the reasons thereof and act on the stock losses in accordance with the shrinkage policy.
• Ensure that stores are prepped for stocktakes to reduce down time in stores as a result of stock takes

Stock & Asset Management:

• Responsible for each store as a whole, ensure that the outside of the stores is kept neat and tidy and that inside fixtures and fittings are accounted for and maintained throughout entire business unit.
• Manage controllable expenses.
• Ensure that stores control their inventory and that the process of receiving and capturing of stock at store level.
• Investigate and take active measures to prevent negative stock on hand (NSOH).
• Stock management (IBT’s) – move stock between stores to maximise sales opportunities
• Ensure that there is an equal standard throughout the stores in terms of merchandising and housekeeping standards.

Customer Service:

• Must possess strong customer service and communication skills and the ability to apply a friendly and enthusiastic manner on a daily basis.
• Train staff in customer service.
• Assist customers with enquiries and complaints.
• Continuously satisfy customer needs and attract clientele.

Salary: Market related + working tools