Overview
Coach, communicate, escalate and resolve all opportunities related to opening, renovating and closing new stores. Coordinate and lead on-time RE activity completion with minimal impacts to the associates and business results. Collaborate with cross functional partners to provide visibility to the physical requirements and related timing needed to open stores while acting as a liaison to partner, in-Market field leader and design & construction teams to coordinate timing of execution. Build store opening capability with partner organization through communication, coaching and on-site demonstration of store set-up.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
o Own coordination of calendarization of all aspects of new/relo/renovating/closing stores in partnership with SD&C, Allocation, Store Operations, Creative Services and in-Market partners/LBI associates. This includes development, evaluation and implementation of holistic store opening/renovating/closing processes (with a focus on continuous financial, operational and technical improvement).
– Maximize impact of store openings in terms of sales volume and expense reduction through timely escalation of potential risk factors and accurate communication of changing details.
– Liaise between the partner field and home-office functional departments and VSBA functions to ensure timely talent acquisition and training, task execution and issue resolution.
– Maintain all processes and procedures as they relate to company programs while identifying opportunities for financial, operational and technical improvements within said programs.
– Demonstrate understanding of store related fixtures, equipment, talent needs (hiring & training) and Visual presentation.
– Develop relationships with vendors to ensure VS standards of quality, timeliness and service are continually met.
– Support store opening processes by acting as the on-site expert during stockouts to ensure on-time, seamless store opening and to build partner capability.
– Conduct store visits to Real Estate store pre, during, and post Real Estate activity for partner training, issue resolution, and follow-up.
– Administration and ownership of total company programs such as asset management, and equipment, etc., as assigned.
– Maintain and update Real Estate databases to track Real Estate progress and ensure task timely completion.
– Gathering feedback to identify processes improvement opportunities and suggest solutions
– Create and promote a team environment that allows partner and VSBA associates to perform at an optimum level.
AUTHORITY:
Prioritize workload for VSBA in-market associate(s)/team(s) in partnership with VSBA leadership.
Advise and direct partners and in-market Field leaders on key operational, procedural and talent issues relative to new store activities.
Support Managers, Directors, and VPs in development, communication, approval, implementation, validation, and monitoring of new store processes as well as related improvement initiatives
QUALIFICATIONS:
– Bachelors degree in Business or Architecture or related field preferred
– Three to five years- experience in retail or service related field
– Project Management experience preferred
– Must be able to work under minimal supervision
– Strong written and oral communications with the ability to communicate upwardly within the organization. Ability to work cross-functionally and influence business partners.
– Requires strong project management skills with the ability to suggest amendments to processes and procedures to ensure targeted deadlines are met
– Ability to multi-task projects of various size and scope with a high degree of attention to detail
– Strong organizational, planning, time management, emotional intelligence and multi-cultural sensitivity skills required
– Proficient in Microsoft applications including Excel, Word, Out Look, Power Point, TRIRIGA (Access preferred)
– Customer Service orientation
– Ability to travel up to 75% based on store opening cadence.
– Multilingual preferred
L Brands, through its high-emotion brands Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works, Pink, La Senza and Henri Bendel, is an international specialty retailer delivering lingerie, personal care and beauty products, apparel and accessories to customers worldwide. Our brands are available in more than 2,600 retail stores in the United States, more than 680 international locations, and through our award-winning internet and catalogue channels. L Brands, which recorded sales of $10.5 billion in 2012 and employs more than 90,000 associates, was Fortune’s 2011 World’s Most Admired specialty retailer.