Area Director- Southwest USA

Region: United States of America

State: Texas

City: Dallas

Business Unit: Store Support Centre (SSC)

Description & Requirements

Location: Texas, Dallas or Houston


Reporting to the VP of USA the Area Director is responsible for developing the team of Regional Managers, overseeing all retail operations of a geographic location and driving all aspects of store performance. You will be responsible for developing, introducing and implementing business processes to ensure a consistent level of performance in lululemon stores. In addition, you'll contribute to the annual business plan and initiatives for the market or region and develop the area budget, in alignment with market/region parameters, to effectively allocate resources to meet financial and business objectives. 


A day in the Life:

• Responsible for growing, monitoring & driving area store & OMNI performance

• Responsible for key financial metrics in store by driving top-line and bottom-line performance across the area

• Monitor key store financial metrics, recognize shortfall and growth opportunities, and create and implement solutions to address to ensure financial goals are met

• Responsible for ensuring all retail, brand, people and financial operating principles are executed in all stores through effective day-to-day operations and communication.

• Provide retail leadership and direction to all retail stores in your area and responsible for maintaining the sales and guest experience

• Individual metrics: retail sales, customer satisfaction, shrink, inventory accuracy, labor turnover and store expanses

• Hire, Supervise and develop Regional Managers

• Cultivate people performance, development & succession planning (RMs)

• Create & drive area growth strategy (including seasonal locations, market assessment, community innovation & strategy) 

• Promote inclusive store culture to elevate employee experience

• Business pillar ownership + AOP planning, including developing and implementing retail long range plans and new and innovative retail venues

• Provide input to balance the Market Portfolio (store portfolio mgmt. + growth & new site identification & viability)

• Adapt community strategy to local needs (as appropriate) and drive execution: Tier 3 events, store campaign execution

• Oversee Retail Operations initiative execution

• Serve as a member of the Regional Leadership Team 

• Investigate and suggest store process improvement measures and present suggestions to SVP and Retail Operations

• Deliver effective people management for both direct reports and wider teams to support professional development and ensure the cultivation of lululemon's culture in your teams across the geographic area

• Execute local community marketing campaigns in partnership with regional Brand & Community leaders

• Work with regional / cross functional partners to drive for new store openings on time. 

• Shared metrics (with appropriate regional leaders): market sales, profitability, inventory turns

• Ensure top notch guest experience execution, including store staffing, visual merchandising, and store staff sales training

• Under the direction of the SVP, performs and completes other additional project, duties, and assignments as required and/or by request.

• Interact regularly with the Senior Leadership Team and individual department heads to ensure the area’s operational priorities are aligned with total company direction.

• Partner with Real Estate team in development of real estate plan within geographic area

• Stay abreast of industry trends in retail through industry partners, leaders and strategic group memberships


JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's Degree required, MBA or equivalent post graduate degree preferred

• 10+ years strong retail store and store operation experience with 4+ years in a leadership role for a group of stores and/or retail operations leadership role

• Strong financial literacy around store management and with ability to analyze store financial results and assess performance and improvement areas

• Proven ability to develop and motivate both regional and store leaders.  Demonstrated success of moving individuals into greater levels of responsibility.

• Experience and resilience for working in a fast paced, dynamic, high change environment


Must haves:

• Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovates to achieve great results. 

• Communicates with honesty and kindness and creates the space for others to do the same. 

• Leads with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure. 

• Fosters connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships. 

• Integrates fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka you don't take yourself too seriously. 

• Excellent communication skills in a highly collaborative environment

• Proven ability to lead from a distance 

• Enrollment and ability to influence

• Proven ability to work with and lead a cross functional team


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