Retail Operations

Location

1-2 days spent at our Support Centre in Coleshill. 

 

Why The Works? We don’t just sell products.
We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.

The Works . It literally means everything. And whatever your story or background, we’re all about unlocking imagination and making creativity accessible to everyone. Whether you’re engaging with customers on the frontline or supporting our colleagues behind the scenes, your impact can be profound and far-reaching.

This is more than toys and books and art supplies. This is about inspiring people to read, learn, create and play. So, with the right passion, it all starts with you.

Become a Retail Operations & Planning Manager

As our Retail Operations & Planning Manager, you will be responsible for driving operational excellence across our extensive network of over 500+ stores. Acting as the vital link between our retail and support teams, you will collaborate closely with various departments to stay informed about ongoing and upcoming activities. Your role involves coordinating and integrating these activities into a cohesive calendar plan, with strategies aimed at optimising store performance and surpassing sales targets.

Through meticulous operational planning, you will ensure that our retail colleagues receive the right information, through the appropriate channels, at the right time. Your dedication to enhancing sales performance, improving customer satisfaction, and consistently implementing best practices and company standards will contribute to creating the best possible environments and experiences for both our colleagues and customers.

Your Mission

• Develop and Implement Plans : Create and execute a central operational plan that aligns with our business strategy.
• Project Co-ordination : Oversee and review projects and activities that impact our stores.
• Cross-Functional Solutions: Identify opportunities and solutions to streamline retail operations across different functions.
• Communication Bridge : Act as the link between our retail and support teams, championing customer experience and ensuring clear, consistent communication.
• Collaborative Planning : Work with commercial and marketing teams to refine activity plans, ensuring top-level ideas are translated into actionable execution plans.
• Activity Pipeline Management : Maintain a clear understanding of the activity pipeline to ensure flawless execution.
• Execution Excellence : Define what good looks like for store execution, asking the right questions at the right time to set a consistent framework for successful campaigns and product launches.
• Effective Communication : Lead communication efforts across retail teams to share information in a timely, clear, and engaging manner, setting teams up for success.
• Balancing Demands : Seamlessly juggle short-term trading demands with long-term planning, managing the retail workload planner to balance strategic and tactical activities.
• Feedback Network : Build strong connections with retail teams to foster open and honest feedback, promoting a culture of continuous improvement in planning, execution, and refinement of trading activities.
• Sales Support : Provide sales support across business projects and priorities, from organising team events to supporting stock takes and scheduling display audits.
• Operational Efficiency : Develop and implement operational policies and procedures to ensure stores operate as efficiently as possible.
• Deputise : Act as the deputy in the absence of the Head of Central Operations.

Skills/Behaviours That Will Set You Apart

• Attention to Detail : You have a forensic attention to detail to help us get things right the first time.
• Colleague-Focused Approach : You prioritise making things easier for our colleagues, clearly explaining the why, how, what, and when.
• Influence and Challenge : You can influence and constructively challenge when necessary to ensure we do the right thing.
• Initiative and Passionate : You use your initiative and have the energy and passion to make things happen.
• Teamwork and Collaboration : You believe in the power of teamwork and collaboration as the best way to achieve results.
• Networking and Relationships : You understand the importance of networking and building strong relationships.
• Self-Starter : You are a self-starter committed to driving your own development.

Being a great leader 

As a great leader with wonderful people skills, you'll create an environment that's more than just co-workers — it's a team.
• Align Goals with Values : Ensure that your team’s goals are clearly connected to the company’s values and purpose. This helps colleagues see the bigger picture and understand how their work contributes to the overall mission.
• Clear Communication : Ensure that your team understands the goals, expectations, and their roles. Regularly share updates, encourage open dialogue and have regular check-ins.
• Role Model : Lead by example. Demonstrate the behaviours and attitudes you expect from your team, such as punctuality, responsibility, and being a brand ambassador.
• Provide Feedback : Offer constructive feedback regularly. Recognise achievements and address areas for improvement in a supportive and continuous growth manner.
• Empower Your Team : Delegate tasks and trust your team to handle them. This builds confidence and promotes professional growth.
• Conflict Resolution : Address conflicts promptly and fairly. Foster an environment where issues can be discussed openly and resolved amicably.
• Empathy : Understand and consider the feelings and perspectives of your team members. This helps in building strong, supportive relationships
And let's not forget about the most important part… your team's well-being and aspirations. You'll be their biggest supporter, cheering them on. You'll have amazing everyday conversations with your team, discussing everything from their performance to their wildest career aspirations.

Our PERKS really are ‘The Works’

•   Car Allowance - Payable Monthly 
•  Single Private Medical Cover - Family cover available at additional cost
• 25% Colleague Discount - Plus, exclusive Double Discount days
• MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more
• Holiday – 33 days including bank holidays.
• Holiday Purchase - Purchase an additional 5 days
• Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development in areas that interest you.
• Wagestream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them – for when ‘life’ happens
• Share Scheme - Unleash your inner Monopoly mogul and own a piece of The Works
• 24/7 support for you and your family - Through our partnership with the Retail Trust who provide an Employee Assistance Programme and so much more
• Healthcare Cash Plan – To support your everyday healthcare costs
• And loads more – Long Service Awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work and optional charity giving.

Our Purpose

To inspire reading. learning, creativity and play - making lives more fulfilled.

Our Values

We are Crafty | We are Caring | We are Can-do

We Listen. We Care

Each year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey. This is so important for us to hear your feedback and suggestions. We want to know what’s going great, and what needs a couple of tweaks to help make The Works the best place you’ve ever worked You’ll have opportunity to help give us that direction.

Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Applying Reasonable Adjustments

At The Works, we are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, carers & members of the LGBTQ+ community (including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, non-binary, or use another term).

We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working. And, where possible, we'll try to support this . If you need reasonable adjustments to apply for this role, please contact and we’ll be happy to help

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