District Specialist

The District Specialist is responsible for supervising all departments. Working closely with the district manager to ensure policies, procedures and daily operations within the store are being followed. Will be responsible for assisting, teaching and training store personnel in daily operations and merchandising to maximize sales. Coordinate activities of department managers engaged in buying, processing and selling. They will directly report to the district manager but will work closely with the directors on projects and merchandising initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Providing leadership by encouraging new ideas, developing pride in workmanship, being cognizant of morale within each department and demonstrating a high commitment to ethics and hard work.
• Greet customers in an ongoing effort to elevate the overall customer satisfaction level and deliver superior customer service.
• Apply learning from store observations, category management and competition to assist in developing weekly Ads, promotions, events, contest and new programs.
• Implement regionally competitive merchandising strategies and marketing plan through advertised specials, regular pricing and special promotions.
• Ensures the growth and development of future associates at all store levels to be expert merchants through training, one-on-one meetings, group settings, video conferencing, manuals, build books and diagrams.
• Coordinate with Wholesalers and/or district operation teams to execute projects.
• Creation and execution of store level training programs in whole or in parts. This would include simple tasks to complete trainee programs.
• Team with operations and provide solutions to elevate the general knowledge, experience and expertise of all associates.
• Analyze category performance across a variety of indicators sales, market share, store clusters, gross profit, mark up, mark downs, turns by category & item level, known shrink, shelf execution & other predetermined matrixs that drive organizational change and visibility in how we manage the shelf from item acceptance to implementation.
• Provide analysis and develop recommendations for category and consumer trends.
• Monitor and produce weekly category metrics reporting that guide decision process.
• Create ad hoc reports as requested.
• Identify and understand the competitions impact on the category and provide recommendations to increase category market share.
• Analyze item assortment and create recommendations for an efficient item assortment.
• Using optimal category information and providing store specific information for merchandising efficiencies to each store.
• Develop store specific schematics and/or plan-o-grams for all categories.
• Responsible for evaluating implementation, compliance and results of key Department initiatives.
• Assists in recruiting and retention of managerial positions and assists department managers in decision making (i.e., selection through career development).
• Implements regionally competitive merchandising strategies and marketing plan through advertised specials, regular pricing and special promotions.
• Communicates with VP of Operations to ensure consistency in quality standards, timely product flow of seasonal items and selection of new items.
• Conducts weekly price indexing and audits operations to establish and maintain advantage over competitors.
• Increasing gross profits by good shrink controls and buying the correct mix while following merchandising guidelines.
• Monitors departmental budgets for labor, supplies, sales, gross profits and annual budget for capital expenditures.
• May assist in the design and layout of new and remodeled facilities.
• Assists in training department managers in safe work practices to ensure safe working conditions for associates and customers alike.
• Other duties as assigned by the VP of Operations.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Indirectly manages 14 managers who supervise a varied number of associates in departments across all stores.

Education & Experience:

• High School diploma or GED.
• Minimum of 5 to 8 years of experience in managing a successful department.
• Preferably 3 to 5 years as a successful Merchandiser, Buyer and/or Supervisor.
• Experience in supervising multiple store operations preferred.
• Experience in buying, merchandising, marketing and budgeting of multiple store operations preferred.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.
• Teamwork - Contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests.
• Ethics - Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Interpersonal Skills - Maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Computer Literate - Must be proficient in MS Excel, MS Word, MS Power Point, MS One Note, MS Teams.

Work environment/physical demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer.
• Ability to sit for long periods of time.
• Lifting of items 10 25 lbs.
• This position may require up to 50% travel.