Area Manager - Western MO/Iowa/SD

About the Role

As an Area Manager (AM), you will inspire a team of Store Managers (SM) and Cluster Leaders (CL) with your excitement, passion, and deep understanding of bookselling. You will leverage your expertise to ensure SMs deliver a first-class customer experience through commercially relevant, clean, and well-merchandised stores that operate smoothly and profitably. Your role involves communicating initiatives and ensuring consistent execution across all stores to exceed sales goals, deliver profitability, maximize operational efficiency, and protect company assets.

You will identify area-level issues, collaborate with support partners, and recommend solutions to the Regional Director (RD) for the betterment of the company. By working through CLs and business partners, you will remove obstacles and resolve situations while motivating and empowering your teams through consistent feedback and accountability. You will also ensure the development of your direct reports and their teams, preparing them for future assignments. Managing change effectively and providing clear communication will encourage your team to adopt new solutions and directions to achieve expected results.

Responsibilities

• Monitor performance levels of the area and stores against agreed goals, providing direction, support, and coaching to positively influence performance.
• Assess stores from a customer’s perspective and partner with SMs and commercial support teams.
• Ensure the bookselling team delivers a first-class customer experience through handselling in each store to consistently achieve sales and margin results.
• Leverage cluster and team strengths to manage efficiencies through continuous improvement and communicate findings to the RD to enhance company operations.
• Drive sales across the area by effectively implementing operating standards.
• Deliver an excellent bookselling culture where commercial opportunities are exploited, merchandising aligns with company best practices, and stores remain profitable.
• Ensure all stores in the area have an efficient logistical operation for goods in place.
• Embrace and utilize the cluster support structure to impact your area and provide regular feedback on improvements and opportunities for growth.
• Work with Loss Prevention to consistently achieve company-required standards.
• Own the development and succession plans for SMs and CLs in the area.
• Ensure employee reviews are regular, consistent, and rigorous to support a fair and effective pay and rewards process.
• Develop and support key supporting roles, including café operations in the area.
• Use remote working technology (Teams, Outlook 365, etc.) to support area stores while working in your home store, with selective in-person travel.

Requirements

• Strong commercial acumen with a proven track record of achieving performance and profit results.
• Demonstrated ability to run an excellent bookstore, ensuring all elements of bookstore basics are consistently delivered.
• Experience leveraging and working through a cluster support structure with proven results.
• Experience coaching teams to deliver performance.
• Proven ability to manage performance issues respectfully and timely.
• Adept at planning and prioritizing in the short and medium term while maintaining flexibility.
• Ability to build effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Empathy for and understanding of the qualities of a good bookstore.

Expected Behaviors

• Commercially astute and customer service-focused.
• Results-driven, providing direct and actionable feedback to motivate through coaching and develop people to deliver profitable and excellent bookstores.
• A decisive, solution-based problem solver.
• Adaptable, positive, and proactive in all situations.
• Fosters open dialogue and collaboration among the team.
• Creates strong team morale and empathizes with and understands people.
• Recognizes team contributions and accomplishes objectives despite obstacles and setbacks.
• Shows personal commitment and acts to continuously improve.
• Maintains a balanced approach when reacting and remains discreet and unbiased.

Benefits

• For employees scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week:
  • Employee Discount
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Sick Pay
• For employees scheduled to work between 20 and 29.99 hours per week:
  • Employee Discount
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Sick Pay
  • Paid Time Off (including paid Maternity and Parental Leave)
  • Company Paid Holidays
  • Transit Benefits
  • 401(k) with Company Match
• For employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week:
  • Employee Discount
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Sick Pay
  • Paid Time Off (including paid Maternity and Parental Leave)
  • Company Paid Holidays
  • 401(k) with Company Match
  • Comprehensive Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Accounts
  • Healthcare Spending Account
  • Disability Benefits
  • Life Insurance
  • Transit Benefits
  • Tuition Reimbursement

All benefits are provided in accordance with the terms of the current plan and may be subject to future change. Benefits may vary depending on location and state regulations.