Deputy Manager l Retail l PULL&BEAR Sunway Pyramid l Malaysia

Job Requisition ID: 177344 

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate. 

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day

Overview Of The Role:

• The Deputy Manager oversees operational excellence in retail settings, supporting the store manager to achieve sales targets while ensuring brand compliance. The role demands creating a work environment embracing brand values, teamwork, and exceptional customer service. The Deputy Manager collaborates closely with store management, commercial teams, HR, and operations to maximize profitability, manage inventory, oversee budgetary constraints, address customer feedback, and meet sales targets.

What You Will Do:

Sales

• Lead by example in customer service and ensure high standards are reflected in customer interactions to promote the brand image.
• Review and analyze sales figures to identify opportunities for improvement and drive performance.
• Challenge the team to enhance their performance using relevant retail metrics.
• Engage with colleagues from relevant departments to support opportunities that deliver sales growth.
• Understand competitive market dynamics and seek opportunities to exploit them at store level.
• Demonstrate knowledge of customer preferences and challenge the team to increase conversion rates, average basket size, UPT, and overall sales.
• Schedule monthly and daily store cover planning according to sales trends and peak hours.

Commercial & Visual Merchandising

• Deliver store standards and implement impactful events with commercial focus.
• Challenge team members on product presentation to ensure adherence to brand guidelines.
• Ensure visual merchandising highlights different product lines to promote customer awareness.
• Benchmark own store standards against peers and competitors to create an aspirational shopping environment.

Stock Management

• Follow SOPs for stock management, including shipment receiving, cycle counts, transfers, returns, and damaged items management.
• Ensure proper staffing of operations team for efficient replenishment of best-selling items and communicate with the commercial team for regular receipt of popular products.
• Review top and bottom selling lines with store manager to ensure optimal stock options for maximizing sales.
• Regularly assess stock management processes and storage areas to identify risks and take corrective actions.

Service Standards

• Actively role model and demonstrate commitment to superior customer service.
• Prioritize customer satisfaction and respond effectively to complaints.
• Ensure effective replenishment aligns with company standards.
• Collect customer feedback on service standards to guide improvements.
• Drive internal assessments to ensure consistent service quality daily.
• Ensure all employees complete required service training as per expectations.

Compliance and Health & Safety

• Ensure store is adequately resourced for compliance across all areas and employees are knowledgeable and trained.
• Implement internal audit reports and action plans with the management team to deliver results.
• Conduct weekly reviews with Health & Safety officer to identify risks and drive action plans.
• Manage store maintenance issues promptly and ensure they meet company standards.

Loss Prevention

• Ensure all employees adhere to cash management procedures with high integrity and security compliance.
• Routinely check stockrooms and shop floors for security risks such as loose alarms.
• Review items flagged during stock takes for potential theft and deploy staff strategically.
• Stay vigilant for shoplifting or unusual activities within the store.

People Management

• Implement company policies for managing absenteeism, leave, and disciplinary issues, supporting the management team.
• Understand HR policies to improve employee behavior and outcomes.
• Engage employees to build strong working partnerships that enhance communication and involvement.
• Partner with store manager and HRBP for staff training and performance reviews, ensuring training calendar adherence.

Cost Control

• Deliver efficient use of FTE in line with MPC to sales ratio and productivity.
• Challenge teams to meet shrinkage targets through accurate stock system and people process management.
• Create and implement a cost improvement action plan to drive store efficiency and cost reduction.

Required Skills To Be Successful:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organizational and management capabilities.
• Effective communication and sales skills.
• Ability to work towards set targets and KPI's with motivation and passion.

What Qualifies You For The Role:

• Graduate degree with a focus on business or retail management.
• Over 8 years of relevant retail experience, particularly in managing fashion brands.
• Demonstrates strong leadership and customer management capabilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, coupled with commercial acumen.

About Al-Futtaim Retail

Al-Futtaim Retail has established itself as one of the leaders in Retail across the Middle East, Africa & Asia over the past 30 years. We have developed partnerships with some of the biggest and most respected Brands in the world including IKEA, ACE and Toys R Us in the Middle East and the Inditex Group of Brands (Zara, Mango, Bershka and P&B) across Asia. We are also one of the largest Global partners of Marks and Spencer’s in both regions with over 75 stores offering both fashion & food options.
 
Most recently we have been responsible for bringing brands to the Middle East for the first time with the exciting launches of Watsons and B&Q and we aim to continue to be agile and adaptive to our markets with new launches and further development. For this to be possible we aim to recruit the best talent from all backgrounds who will continue to challenge and develop our diverse workforce which includes over 100 nationalities across 12 countries. Join us today and make a difference…