Assistant Director & Visual Merchandising @ Indianapolis Zoo

Summary 

This position along with a Store Director (SD) leads a specific store.  In partnership with the Store Director, the Assistant Store Director & Visual Merchandising (ASD) is responsible for building and retaining a high performing and diverse workforce of Sales Leads and team members.  The Assistant Store Director & Visual Merchandising in collaboration with the Store Director is responsible for communicating, inspiring and leading e|n’s vision and strategy to the store team and partner’s management team.  In partnership with the SD, the ASD leads the store team to meet net income goals, sales goals, per caps and all Operating and People objectives through execution, coaching and accountability.  The ASD in partnership with the SD is responsible for overall guest service and merchandise presentation in their respective store. The ASD demonstrates a mastery of the register system and is authorized to handle special transactions to include returns, and price overrides.  The ASD is responsible for maintaining good relations with their respective partner and building a web of relationships throughout the partnership.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

                Visual Merchandising

• Identify product presentation opportunities to enhance the store appearance, extend the venue experience into the store, maximize space allocation and drive capture rate, average dollar sale that result in positive per caps year over year.
• Analyze store department performance information to determine areas to improve product productivity through merchandising to deliver positive per caps.
• Champions’ space planning and merchandising of all exhibit stores.

Leadership and Team Member Results

• Communicates clear expectations and holds team members and self-accountable to all e|n standards of performance and behavior.
• Identifies, develops and leverages existing talent to meet both short term and long-term business objectives.
• Drives the development of e|n talent through training and communication to cultivate an environment of high team member engagement, learning and commitment.  Primary focus is on team development in visual merchandising.
• Maximizes both the team and individual performance levels through effective utilization of Company’s performance management process.
• Motivates, retains and stabilizes a team through appropriate reward and recognition in partnership with the Store Leadership Team.
• Recognizes and rewards behaviors that are in alignment with e|n’s core values.
• Resolves HR/guest service issues in partnership with Store Leadership and HR.
• Builds strong relationships with e|n team members to align and support execution of store specific business results.
• Actively pursues opportunities to promote self-development.
• Creates a learning environment by modeling e|n core values.
• Fosters Partner and SSC team member relationships to support business initiatives and growth.

Business and Financial Results

• Achieves store’s sales, per cap and net income budget.
• Achieves store’s payroll rate, inventory goal and expense targets.
• Maintains initiatives that are implemented within budgeted guidelines.
• Consistently looks for methods to reduce expenses for maximum sales productivity.
• Collaborates with Store Leadership to identify trends, resolve issues and drive store strategies to meet e|n shrink goals. Passes all Loss Prevention audits.
• Collaborates with Store Leadership to optimize payroll utilization.
• Responsible for cash wrap functions and assisting Lead Cashier and Service Representatives with returns, price overrides and special transactions.
• Effectively utilizes reports to analyze business trends and opportunities to make effective business decisions.
• Works assigned schedule.

Management and Operating Results

• Executes short- and long-term business goals in partnership with Store Leadership.
• Communicates and drives e|n’s strategic direction. Utilizes planning pyramid to coordinate short- and long-term store goals with store team.
• Accountable for training and providing a consistent guest experience through friendly, knowledgeable and efficient service utilizing e|n guest service and partner guidelines.
• Responsible for maintaining visual presentation directives as communicated by SSC. Identifies, develops and trains existing talent to present visually compelling stores consistent with e|n standards and guidelines.
• Champions all e|n initiatives and ensures sustainability.
• Responds and reacts to all communication in a timely manner.
• Performs all non-revenue generating tasks as required such as, expense control, loss prevention training, etc.

Guest and Partner Results

• Accountable for overall guest service and ensures all team members exceed e|n Cares standards.

• Influences store and company growth strategies by sharing partner and market insights with Store Operations and Purchasing Teams.
• Develops and maintains a strong alliance with all partners with a goal to maintain long term relationships.
• Insures a clean, organized and safe environment for guests to shop in.
• Participates in regional philanthropic activities.

Physical Demands – The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the Assistant Store Director & Visual Merchandising is frequently required to stand; walk and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The Assistant Store Director must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.