Retail Manager, Operations - American Freight
Washington, IL 61571
About the Job
Great home furnishings—and great careers—start at American Freight. Founded in 1994, today we have more than 370 direct-to-consumer, warehouse-style stores. As one of the fastest-growing US retailers specializing in furniture, mattresses, and appliances, now is the perfect time to join our team of more than 3,500 employees. We foster an inclusive culture and work hard to retain top talent. Our focus on promoting from within has led to hundreds of internal advancements into management and leadership positions. In the past three years we’ve opened nearly 200 American Freight stores, with more to come in the days ahead. Our story is still unfolding, come grow with us!
Job Summary: The Operations Manager (OM) is responsible for managing the store warehouse, delivery organization, inventory processes, and other operational aspects of the store. He/she is also responsible for supporting the Store Director in the achievement of driving planned sales, margin, expense reduction, shrink reduction, and profit goals. In the absence of the Store Director, the OM will assume the Store Director’s duties.
Responsibilities & Duties:
Driving Sales & Operational Execution:
- Role models behaviors for all members of their assigned District Team. Owns and promotes our Code of Conduct, established standards, and responsible for developing and maintaining American Freight cultural values across all team members.
- Manages the warehouse team to ensure proper staffing, achievement of labor plan, execution of backroom standards, support for sales staff and efficiency of the warehouse operations.
- Manages the delivery team to ensure program operates per company process, proper staffing, compliance with all delivery regulations, certification of all vehicles and drivers, efficiency and optimization of delivery services, proper use of customer routing and notification software, achievement of labor plan, and other delivery metrics.
- Responsible for execution of all daily store operational activities and ensures all Activity Planner tasks are completed and signed-off by the due date.
- Full accountability for minimizing shrink & damage expense by maintaining strong operational processes and asset protection controls in the facility.
- Maintains inventory accuracy by ensuring that accurate cycle counts are performed, scan receiving, and fulfillment processes are completed, manages online order fulfillment process; reconciles store unavailable bins and reviews and acts on other inventory reports as warranted.
- Oversees the shipping and receiving process to include all Purchase Orders, Transfer Orders, Reverse Flow process, and other product movement is handled correctly within the facility.
- Trains and coaches team to minimize product damages and employee accidents; assesses damaged inventory to determine salability; ensures all confirmed damage is properly marked-out of inventory.
- Assists in leading the store to ensure achievement of business goals in revenue, expense reduction, customer satisfaction, inventory shrinkage, and profit.
- Assists in managing the overall customer experience, including online customer reviews; primary owner of the delivery, and customer pickup, experiences.
- Responsible for the process of staging Delivery/Customer Pickup merchandise, and for the systemic fulfillment of all delivered orders.
- Acts as the Manager on Duty.
Managerial:
- Takes ownership for implementation of corporate programs and initiatives on merchandising, cost management, productivity, cost recovery, and associate morale.
- Hires, trains, and coaches, a diverse, high-performing warehouse and delivery team
- Acts as a role model within the unit for abiding by and holding others accountable for the Code of Conduct and overall business practices
- Manages training for all delivery and warehouse personnel.
- Manages all in-store Human Resources processes including staffing, training, and reporting performance/behavioral issues; assists in action plans to improve performance in a timely manner. Partners with Corporate HR as needed.
- Manages warehouse and delivery labor expense to store financial plan.
- Manages building safety and security per company processes; primary store owner of facilities issues. Partners with Corporate Facilities Team and Corporate Asset Management as needed.
Administrative:
- Creates scheduling policies that keep the warehouse team staffed and delivery routes covered; assists with sales floor scheduling in the absence of the Store Director.
- Ensures store presentation standards are maintained to company expectations.
- Manages compliance for all warehouse and delivery personnel; ensures that all delivery drivers are fully compliant with all Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements.
- Provides a safe working environment for both associates and customers by adhering to company shrink and safety standards.
- Ensures that the store operates in full compliance with applicable laws, regulations,
and company ethic policies. - Completes paperwork, within established guidelines, related to entering trucks and confirming pickup/delivery dates.
- Performs other duties as assigned. Is proactive in assuming responsibility for needs of the store/store team.
Qualifications:
- Educational: High School Diploma or Equivalent required, bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Experience: Previous experience as a Warehouse Lead or Sales Lead; experience with retail sales, receiving, inventory management, shrink prevention, last-mile delivery, and model store standards, is preferred.
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and most weekends.
- Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs.
- Excellent customer service and communication skills.
- Desire and ability to move forward within the organization.
Preferred Skills:
- Strong leadership, coaching, and associate development skills.
- Action oriented, with strong skills in execution.
- Computer literacy, with Excel/Word/Handheld Unit experience preferred.
- Strong drive for results.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Knowledge of retail business and store operations.
- Experience with Physical Inventory Processes preferred.
American Freight is an equal opportunity employer. We respect diversity and accordingly are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, separation, recruitment, pay and other forms of compensation, access to facilities and programs, training and general treatment during employment.
Store Operations