Head of Retail- Hotel Chocolat

Head of Retail- Hotel Chocolat

Chicago IL

Hybrid (on-site 3 days a week)

Hotel Chocolat has built a strong position as the UKs favorite premium chocolate brand

As Head of Retail youll be the lead and voice for Retail driving sales & profitability and focusing on operational excellence & consistency. You will build cross functional relationships with other departments and key stakeholders (Directors & Execs) to enhance best for business one-team performance drive proactive and continual improvement and trouble shoot where necessary.

You will have responsibility for delivering the customer service proposition and standards to deliver the best brand experience in store. You will also lead and motivate a large group of people both through both the day-to-day detail and ongoing business changes.

What are we looking for

• Bachelors degree preferred High School diploma required

• Provenmulti-siteretailand café experience.

• Commercially astutewith demonstrable experience delivering KPIsandprofitability.

• Clear understanding of aspects of marketing to drive footfall and design aesthetics to driveaspiration.

• Strongleadership and people managementexperience

• Excellent communication and influencingskills.

• Excellent prioritizationorganizationand time management skills

• Ability to understand the wider business and the part you play to deliver thestrategy.

• Continuous improvement mindsetto make a difference and ownyourexpertise

• Ability to work independently and with autonomy when needed.

• Build strong working relationships with colleagues across other departments.

• Must be willing to travel.

What would be your key responsibilities

Commercial

• Formulate and implement the retail strategy ensuring its aligned and complimentary to the wider business & brand shapers.

• Actively drive and maximize sales and retail KPIs through your team reviewing performance regularly and identifying improvement opportunities.

• Take full ownership and accountability for the retail P&L reviewing regularly and taking actions to improve as necessary.

• Manage your team to deliver payroll to ensure the right hours are in the right stores at the right time of year to deliver the brand experience. Continuously review and remain agile to ensure that payroll budget reflects the commercial needs of the business.

• Work with the property team to successfully deliver new stores as well as regularly reviewing the store portfolio identifying opportunities for new locations refits relocations or closures.

• Lead retail teams through business change initiatives winning hearts and minds.

• Lead contribute towards and successfully deliver all promotions marketing campaigns NPD and ranging.

• Continuously stay up to date with market trends and activities ensuring we meet current and future customer needs.

• Support District Managers Central Operations and Store Managers with clear action plans as required providing feedback and recommendations.

• Engage collaboratively and work cross functionally with all key stakeholders to deliver retail and business requirements & initiatives.

People

• Leadcoachand supportthe District ManagersOperations teamStoreteamsand other teams who supportRetail.

• Takeaccountabilityfor all People related KPIs (recruitmentabsence holiday liability attrition payroll) ensuring they are embedded and regularly reviewed.

• Work in partnership with HR on people strategieschange and trends working collaboratively to mitigate future issues.

• Champion employee engagement through the effective creationand implementation of engagement plans.

• Celebrateteamsuccessbutequallyprovideconstructive feedback where improvement may berequired.

• Identifyand lead people training& developmentneeds.

• Ongoing review organizational design tohelp &improve payroll efficiency.

CustomerEngagement

• Leadand ensure theimplementation& embedding ofthe customer service propositionfor Retail.

• Championand drivethecustomerengagement programVIP Me.

• Keep abreast ofcustomercomments and feedback taking on board toproactivelyimprove the customerexperience.

• Keep awareof complaints/feedback through toresolution.

• Play a key role in the experiential development ofretail&thecafé to includesampling instore demonstrationsevents after hours and paired tastings.

Operational Excellence

• Maintainoperational excellenceconsistently dealingwithimprovement areas guiding the whole team tomaintainhighstandards.

• Promotebest practices across the estateensuring consistency acrossallstoresall ofthetime.

• Ensure that allHealth and Safetylegislation requirements are in place and consistentlyachieved.

• Commerciallydrive efficient stockmanagement andcontrols.

• Continuouslyreview &completeoperational auditsasrequiredto continuously improvestandards.

• Successfully plan and organize to support Seasonalpeaks.

• Ensureappropriate trainingmatrixis in placethrough multiple mediumsand teamsarecompetent and confident at adhering to all necessary standards&ways ofworking.

• Build cross functional relationships with other departments in the business toenhance one-team performance proactively make improvements trouble shoot and continually makeimprovements.

• Be seen as the expertfor Retail.

Success Measures

• Achieve and exceed salesbudgets& EBITDA.

• Plan and deliver improvedstock lossand marginperformance.

• Successfully openand managenew stores.

• Ensureclearcommunication&ways ofworkingacross all store teams.

• An engaged trained confidentand motivatedteam.

What can you expect from Hotel Chocolat

• We offer a range extending from luxury giftable chocolates to alcohol and our pioneering drinking chocolate system; the Velvetiser. Our mission is to make people and nature happy through chocolate. Customers colleagues cacao farmers and suppliers can all benefit from the success we make together.

• A competitive salary and Incentives based on performance

• 50% unlimited staff discount to treat yourself and your friends and family

• 70% discount off a stay in our Hotel in St Lucia

• We recognize that our employees may wish to balance their work and family/home life and therefore we are open to discussions around flexible working

• A chance to work in an exciting innovative and expanding company

Thebase pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between the below range however base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors including but not limited to market location job-related knowledge skills andexperience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements if eligible including variable pay & general allowances (depending on the positionand employees work schedule). Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicablepolicies andplans then in effect and depending on the position offered and the employees work schedule (i.e. part-time schedule) eligible employees are automatically enrolled in a 401(k) plan are eligible to participate in Company-sponsored medical dental vision and basic life insurance plans for the employee and the employees eligible dependents and may be eligible to take up to 18 weeks of paid parental will also receivethe following paid-time off (which may be prorated based on start date and the employees work schedule):120 hours of vacation per year paid sick time for eligible Associates of 100% pay continuation for a maximum of 40 hours per calendar yearand 12 paid holidays (equal to 96 paid holiday hours) throughout the calendar year that include both fixed and flexible holidays.

USD $00