Trainee Manager - East London - Pipeline

Dis-Chem Pharmacies; East London; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail pharmacy chain is looking for a Trainee Manager for their East London stores in South Africa. The role involves managing inventory, supporting sales targets, and delivering excellent customer service. Candidates should have a Grade 12 / Matric, 1-2 years of retail management experience, and be able to work retail hours. This position offers market-related salary, medical aid, and other benefits. Apply by January 31, 2026.

Benefits

Market related salary

Medical aid

Provident fund

Staff account

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1–2 years’ experience in retail management.
• Willing and able to work retail hours.
• Valid driver’s licence and own reliable transport.

Responsibilities

• Ensure efficient stock flow to the sales floor.
• Assist with achieving store sales targets.
• Help with addressing customer complaints promptly.

Skills

Retail management

Customer service

Inventory management

Cash handling

Effective communication

Analytical skills

Education

Grade 12 / Matric

Diploma in Financial / Admin or relevant 3-year Diploma

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Trainee Manager - East London - Pipeline

Job Location: Eastern Cape, East London

Deadline: January 31, 2026

Job Description

• Dis-Chem Pharmacies is continuously looking for Trainee Managers to build a talent pool for their various East London stores.
• The aim of a strategic talent pool is to have a readily available and pre‑screened group of individuals with specific skills, qualifications, or attributes that make them suitable for future job opportunities within Dis‑Chem Pharmacies.

Minimum Requirements

Essential:

• Grade 12 / Matric
• Minimum of 1–2 years’ experience in store retail management disciplines including but limited to stock management, cash, reporting, expense control and customer service
• Computer literate – MS Office
• Willing and able to work retail hours
• Valid driver’s licence
• Own reliable transport

Advantageous:

• Diploma in Financial / Admin or a relevant 3‑year Diploma

Job Specification

Inventory Management

• Ensures the processing of items including but not limited to goods in transit, cycle counts and physical stock to system matches, stock takes, addressing of shrinkage and overall stock levels.
• Ensures efficient stock flow to the sales floor.
• Participate, assist, and support in the management of shrinkage. Participate, assist and support in the ordering of stock to maintain correct stock levels FMCG, Health and Beauty, when required.

Sales Floor & Receiving

• Assist with the planning, implementation, and maintenance of promotional stock displays in FMCG, Health and Beauty.
• Assist with the adherence, implementation and maintenance of labeling, pricing and layout standards in FMCG, Health and Beauty.
• Assist with goods receiving duties guided by the standard operating procedures.
• Participates in the delivery of transaction integrity for incoming goods receipts and outgoing returns guided by the company internal control procedures.
• Assist with reconciliation of daily ZMove Packs in accordance with Receiving policies and procedures.

Sales Targets

• Assists with achieving set store sales targets, including but not limited to FMCG, Health and Beauty.
• Partner with all head of departments to ensure targets are met.
• Support management to ensure promotions are effectively executed.
• Assist management to coordinate with other stores to share knowledge, plan promotional activities, or achieve goals.
• Maintain awareness of market trends in the retail industry, understanding forthcoming customer initiatives and monitoring what local competitors are doing.
• Support management to determine all profit and sales objectives and propose strategies to maintain inventory levels and manage all work guided by the store policies and procedures.
• Propose innovative ideas to senior management to increase market share.
• Assist in the development of regional retail strategies to raise customers’ pool, expand store traffic, and optimise profitability in FMCG, Health and Beauty.

Point of Sale Operations and Finance

• Assist with daily cash‑ups and review of the reconciliation’s packs and paperwork.
• Assist with the efficient scheduling of the point‑of‑sale area to maintain efficient service standards.
• Assist with the monitoring of the store expenses as well as stock adjustments to the correct GL accounts.
• Support in analysing and interpreting Financial Income statements.
• Assist in ensuring all expense related items are controlled and managed within budget.
• Support management with transaction integrity throughout the store guided by company internal control procedures.
• Support in ensuring the accuracy and completeness of branch transactions.
• Support management to improve cashier service levels and cashier productivity rates.
• Assist with controlling overtime and casual spend.
• Assist with sign off and investigation of run ends daily.
• Support management to disseminate, collate, and report all relevant information between store and department managers.
• Assist in any internal or external audits conducted in store.

Customer Service

• Assist with addressing customer complaints promptly and regulate both complaints and compliments.
• Assist with ensuring that the customer request system is operational and actioned daily.
• Encourage and report on new loyalty sign‑ups continuously.
• Assist with ensuring accurate manual processing of points to customer accounts.
• Assist with providing customers with feedback regarding queries and complaints.

HR Process Support

• Assist with people administration duties, including but not limited to leave management, scheduling, and staff file management.
• Facilitate human resource processes, submissions and documentation for the store in compliance with standard operating procedures.
• Account for the execution and transaction on the workforce management system within the store. This includes but not limited to master data and transactional management.
• Assist the store with the delivery of HR policies and system implementations.
• Support management to ensure employees receive training where necessary and collate feedback from employees on training sessions attended.

Trainee Programme Adherence

• Participate and engage in meetings, workshops, and other learning opportunities.
• Assist managers and completing assigned tasks for on the job learning purposes.
• Completion of all required learning programs and assessments to be deemed competent.
• Ensure Portfolio of Evidence is filed and kept up to date and ensure sign off with Regional Admin Manager.

Competencies

Essential:

• Sound knowledge and understanding of retail store management disciplines with retail admin experience.
• Analyse simple to semi‑complex situations, evaluate multiple options, and make informed decisions to achieve.
• Follow guidelines, regulations, principles, and standards. Understand business complexities.
• Communicates effectively with all types of people, explaining concepts to first‑time users. Attentive and active listening.
• Able to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. Conflict management, counselling skills and networking skills. Emotional Intelligence.
• Detail‑oriented and organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Special Conditions of Employment

• Willing and able to work retail hours.
• Local travelling – valid driver’s licence and own reliable transport.
• South African citizen.
• Clear credit and criminal records.

Remuneration and Benefits

• Market related salary.
• Medical aid.
• Provident fund.
• Staff account.

Closing Date: 31 January 2026