General Manager - Run Retail

General Manager Run Retail  

Job Description:

This is an awesome opportunity to make a difference in an innovative business on a mission to shape the future of retail.  

The Outform Group is an award-winning global innovation agency. Outform partners with some of the best-known brands and retailers worldwide to transform customer experience through insight, technology, and creativity. Its employees believe in retail and understand that expectations are being reset with every visit & every click. Outform’s teams bring insight, technology and creativity to each project as they design, code, engineer, produce and manufacture products across three continents: all in an effort to deliver for brands and retailers in stores all over the world. 

Run Retail is a world leader in custom kitting and distribution of in-store marketing materials and display programs.  From customized website designs to worldwide shipping and distribution services, Run Retail delivers a seamless link to help clients produce, pack, ship and track a wide range of in-store marketing materials, premiums and displays remaining on-time and on budget, every time.   

This opportunity is in Chicago, and we are seeking a local candidate with global ambition. 
 
What Our Company Needs:

• A senior executive to lead growth in an important segment of our business.  

• A person with proven general management experience with both strong commercial acumen and good operational knowledge. 

• A person with demonstrated client facing skills, who understands Enterprise clients, and has experience in winning client partnerships through the RFP process. 

• A person who understands marketing, the importance of lead generation, and the retail marketing industry in general.  A person with experience and knowledge in retail sampling is ideal. 

• A person who has full P&L responsibility experience. 

This Is What You Will Be Responsible For:

The General Manager of Run Retail drives commercial activity, overall business strategy, the operations, and leads the process of driving additional retail related offerings for the business moving forward.   

Success for this role translates into profitable growth for Run Retail activities in the US and later on overseas. 

The main areas of responsibilities are:  

• Drives the operations, commercial activity and overall business strategy for Run Retail with 100% ownership of the P&L, 

• Takes an active role with existing major commercial relationships that drive the Run Retail business (Blackhawk Network, Floor & Décor, Facebook, Samsung and LG),  

• Develops and leads strategic growth plan for expansion of Run Retail, 

• Leads the integration of Run Retail related services to acquisition targets that become a part of the Group platform, and 

• Leads the process of driving additional retail related offerings for Outform Group, Inc. moving forward. 

The position reports to the COO.  The role will serve as a key part of the Senior Leadership team moving forward, contributing in all major strategic initiatives and decisions regarding the direction of the overall company. 

Outcomes:

• Develops an assessment and corresponding plan to make the Run Retail offerings market competitive across all touch points (fulfillment, kitting, distribution, backend support and reporting), 

• Promotes the Run Retail offerings in a sustainable manner across the larger commercial base in Rapid and Outform, 

• Assesses the current technology platform and technology related talent driving the business to insure a market leading position for the business moving forward, 

• Develops a digital print offering via internal capabilities or collaborating with an external supply partner, 

• Leads the development of a Run Retail owned software platform that documents the retail footprints of all the clients that we serve, and 

• Leads the exploration and development of B to C distribution and fulfillment, delivering product direct to consumers. 

Work Experience and Qualifications: 

• 15 years of extensive experience within the distribution/sales/retail marketing industries, with at least five of those years spent in a senior management role. 

• Minimum educational requirement is a bachelor's degree in business or a related subject, an MBA is preferred. 
   

Competencies: 

• Leadership: Must have excellent servant-leadership skills, business acumen and ability to effectively manage a multidisciplinary team. Not afraid to roll up the sleeves and lead by example. This is no place for a transactional leader, must be transformational. People follow you because they trust and respect you.  You have a vision and the WHY is clear to all. 

• Strategy: Must be open to new perspectives and better ways to do things, and be creative, a visionary, and manage innovation well. Think 3 to 5 years ahead, not just the moment. 

• Entrepreneurial: Must be opportunity seeking, passionate about the vision for the business, willing to take risks, sets goals, and drives for results to achieve the visions.  Brings others on board and aligns them with the vision. 

• Growth and Commercial Orientation:  Must have a proven and consistent track record of achieving significant growth.   Must be comfortable being in front of enterprise customers to generate new business. 

• Results driven and impeccable follow-up: You are a change agent who will drive innovation through insight, determination, and servant-leadership. 

• Understands finance: Must have a track record of successful financial management. You have proven experience with budgeting, planning, P&L responsibilities, and contract negotiations.  

• Data driven decision-making skills: Must be able to think through multiple scenarios, pros and cons and keep the operation flowing. 

• Delegation: Must have the ability to duplicate effort. The organization must be faster than any one person. 

• Communication: Must possess executive-level strategic communication and influencing skills with the ability to resolve issues, build consensus among groups of diverse internal/external stakeholders, and have proven skill in negotiating and mediating conflict. 

• Command presence: Everyone is keenly aware of your presence and ready to hear you because you engage with everyone and are approachable. You don't just listen; you seek to understand and hear the message. 

Outform Group, Inc.  offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) and matching contributions, HSA and FSA, leave programs, paid time off including holidays, and  we continually review to align and update our benefit offerings.