SAINT LAURENT Department Manager

ABOUT SAINT LAURENTFounded in 1961, Yves Saint Laurent was the first couture house to introduce the concept of luxury prêt-à-porter in a 1966 collection called ‘Rive Gauche’, synonymous with youth and freedom. This shift represented a first critical step in the modernization of fashion and revolutionized the socio-cultural landscape.In 1999, the luxury goods division of the Kering Group acquired Yves Saint Laurent and, under the creative direction of Anthony Vaccarello since April 2016, continues to position the house at the summit of the luxury universe.Today, Saint Laurent collections include women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, small leather goods, jewelry, scarves, ties and eyewear.

Job Summary/Purposes :

The Department Manager is a professional in the category they oversee and is responsible for promoting brand engagement to customers in order to guarantee the quantitative and qualitative goals assigned for the department involved. 

He/she represents the company and is a proactive sales professional who operates according to the policies fixed by the Store and Assistant Director. He/ She leads, motivates, coaches the team of the Department, is responsible of his/ her Department staff development and of their assigned target and tasks achievement.

Responsibilities:

A BUSINESS DEVELOPER:

Assure the recruitment, development and retainment of customers

• Ensure that your department is providing excellent customer service on the sales floor, in the fitting rooms and at the cash desk

• Supervise sales to ensure customer engagement and that the qualitative standards required by our brand are maintained

Implement action plans defined with the HQ and Store director and guarantee follow up at store level

• Assign targeted quantitative and qualitative goals and ensure they are achieved by analyzing the results, verifying daily, weekly, monthly activities and setting up yearly assessments

• Analyse sales based on corporate reports and verify warehouse stock for the department involved

• Ensure that the display of the Department involved is in order and supervise product rotation

Communicate high quality relevant feedback and reporting to the Assistant Director / Store Director or staff

• Communicate on a daily basis technical and stock information related to the product to the Staff in the Department

• Punctually submit all the quantitative and qualitative information to the Buying team at Headquarters in order to communicate any requirements and to predict any possible issues

• Keep relevant with market and fashion trends, know and monitor business environment including local competition and communicate this information to the Staff

A TALENT LEADER AND DEVELOPPER:

Create and maintain a positive and motivating work environment

• Reflect the corporate image in terms of standing and ensure that the Staff is also aligned

• Lead an example for your team

Motivate and challenge the team on a daily basis in your department

• Create and coordinate a motivated, competent team

• Recruit, train and develop your Sales team together with the Assistant Store Director and Store Director

• Achieve planning, organize and plan the activities providing available resources to provide the expected workload and maximize profitability

• Support the Store Director and Assistant Store Director in setting up and animate: Morning briefing, one to one meetings, etc.

• Keep the staff informed at all times regarding Store performance: KPIs

• Identify and develop the strengths of each staff member, supporting professional growth through training and coaching

• Provide staff training in order to engage customers: phoning, follow up activities, deployment of tools

A BRAND PROMOTER (CUSTOMERS):

Promote the culture of the brand internally and externally

• Inspire customers and inspire the staff by embodying the Saint Laurent Universe

• Ensure that the image of the Store is displayed according to company guidelines and that the Staff is aware of this standard

Build a network of people who have an impact on local and international luxury Business in order to promote customer loyalty, especially with Top Clients and VIPs.

• Guarantee excellent customer experience including welcome and treatments

• Ensure a qualitative and qualitative approach on managing the store customers’ book

• Promote customers engagement, follows the sales to Top clients as well as VIPs

• Personally manage all delicate situations regarding issues related to the product

Ensure store atmosphere upholds brand image

A PROCESS MANAGER:

Ensure that all the processes are in compliance with legal, safety, internal requirements, sustainability, HR and stock organization

• Take all the necessary measures to ensure loss prevention and safety in the store

• Ensure the correct rotation of the goods in the warehouse for the department involved

• Adhere, inform and follow-up on all Company Policies & Operational Procedures

Challenge current processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in your department

• Cooperate with the other Department Managers regarding all issues related to the product and internal processes

• Optimize warehouse management in order to make the stocking of goods as efficient as possible in terms of sales, in collaboration with the Back Office Operation

Profile :  

• Commitment to take part in an innovative project

• Product sensitivity and a strong market and fashion trends knowledge, a good general culture level

• Significant experience in the sale of luxury goods or retail: customer portfolio

• Managerial experience (Ability to provide constructive, straightforward feedback and coach your team to success)

• High sensitivity to customers experience and loyalty

• Precision, organizational skills, Being organized and able to prioritize tasks based on the needs of the business

• Adaptability, openness, listening abilities, curiosity

• High availability, responsiveness

• Product and Fashion sensitivity

• Excellent interpersonal skills and a passion for providing excellent customer service

• A positive attitude and a willingness to learn and improve

Saint Laurent is committed to building a diverse workforce. We believe diversity in all its forms – gender, age, nationality, culture, religious beliefs and sexual orientation – enriches the workplace. It opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to adapt to a changing world. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their background.