Retail Area Manager

Strategically manages and promotes sales culture within a district of stores to achieve or exceed sales, KPIs and profitability goals, positioning PUMA as the Fastest Sports Brand in the world. It leads retail operations standards, inventory management, loss prevention, visual merchandising and training across stores. The role works cross-functionally with retail support functions and coaches country operations teams and store management teams.

• Deliver on set retail P&L and KPI targets, identify opportunities and initiate plans to improve and grow the business by increasing store productivity metrics such as conversion rate, UPT, ATV, sales per hour and sales per square metre.
• Increase comparative sales across PUMA stores by setting and driving SMART targets, implementing local operating plans, closely monitoring business performance and taking necessary action.
• Proactively manage store-related OPEX with particular emphasis on personnel expenses.
• Adopt and implement global/regional operational tools and standards, and execute country-specific operational policies and procedures in line with the Global Retail Operation Manual and international/global retail standards.
• Deliver operational standards for store openings (with Daily Game Plan), closings, relocations, upgrades, stock replenishment, inventory management and staff rostering, ensuring smooth implementation within budgets and timelines.
• Coach and lead local retail operations teams to develop Area and Store Managers' capabilities and competencies and ensure compliance with international/global standards.
• Manage all operational aspects of store inventories, including defining in-store shipment processes, coordinating stock takes and ensuring data integrity, and work with Merchandise and Planning to manage store inventory levels for optimal stock to support sales targets.
• Manage country loss prevention standards, ensure shrink goals are met and security is to PUMA standard, and execute visual merchandising guidelines in accordance with the Global VM Survival Guide and RESEC Guide.
• Coach and train retail staff in all aspects of retail operations and retail training, working in close cooperation with the SEA Retail Trainer, and support retail field training programmes and roll-out of training initiatives.
• Tailor regional and international operational initiatives to meet country needs, including translation of material, and execute them according to designated timelines and budgets.
• Manage and monitor stores' personal Bolt Index achievements and strengthen stores to achieve personal KPIs and sales targets.
• Build collaborative and effective relationships with retail support functions and stakeholders such as the Country Retail Operations Manager, Retail Training, Retail Marketing, Merchandising Manager and E-Commerce Director for country-specific projects and needs.
• Set and implement best practices in operations management through cross-functional and cross-channel collaboration, and drive process improvements and strategic priorities in the country.
• Drive and coach country operations teams to keep them motivated and capable of managing the business effectively, work closely with SEA Retail Training teams to identify store team development needs, and collaborate with country support functions and wholesale teams.
• Identify talent within the staff pool and develop it as part of succession planning, and develop a strong store management team through effective hiring, development, training and staff retention programmes.

• Graduate of a bachelor's degree.
• Minimum 5 years retail operations experience and 2-3 years from a similar position with a global brand in a customer service-oriented environment.
• Minimum 2 years of managerial experience, with experience in managing multiple stores required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including English at business level.
• Must be knowledgeable in MS Office.

• Experience in apparel, footwear, sports or outdoor industry preferred.