Store Manager- Hotel Chocolat

Job Description:

Store Manager- Hotel Chocolat

Chicago, IL (Armitage)

Hotel Chocolat has built a strong position as the UK’s favorite premium chocolate brand and is now expanding in Chicago. New store opening!

On-Site – (Stores are open seven days a week including weekends and evenings)

The Store Manager- Hotel Chocolat is to lead a high performing multi-skilled retail and café team to accomplish Hotel Chocolat’s mission of ‘Making People Happy Through Chocolate’ through the delivery of the Business, Brand and People Shapers.

The Store Manager is responsible for leading and managing our Food, Beverage & Retail operation so that it is commercially successful, delivering profitable sales growth and increasing the profile of the Hotel Chocolate brand by continuously and consistently exceeding our customer experiences. You’ll be a people focused and confident leader with spirit and passion in line with our products, people and values, to drive the team both operationally and commercially to achieve sales and deliver 100% happiness through chocolate to every customer.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. High school diploma or equivalent work experience

• 5+ years of previous management expereince in a retail environment or within a premium retailing or food and beverage operator.

• Experience in a seasonally busy and bespoke selling environment, ideally within a luxury brand or retailer preferred

• Leadership skills experience which includes coaching, team development, motivation and communication.

• Previous experience of leading a team of direct reports (10+)

• Able to sell and lead by example by giving great customer experience.

• Able to drive high performance through the beating of sales forecasts and achievement of KPI’s

• Previous knowledge of Food Hygiene, Allergens and Health & Safety compliance a plus

• Strong understanding of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.

• A confident communicator, with the ability to recognize when you need to flex your communication style.

• Previous stakeholder management expereince is a plus

What would be your key responsibilities?

People

• Recruiting talented and enthusiastic people who enjoy talking to and serving customers develop and coach them to deliver profitable sales growth through a great customer experience.

• You will drive high performance through setting clear objectives and giving regular feedback and reviews.

• Motivate your store teams to achieve their full potential and to seek continuous improvement from yourself and your team.

• You will create a culture that has a can-do spirit and is constantly striving to do better and you will influence your team to work and think in this positive spirit.

• Take responsibility to drive your own development and maintain a personal growth mindset.

• Assist in developing a culture of recognition, incentive and reward within the district and wider business.

• You will nurture and develop your team to achieve our goals and their personal goals so that everyone can share in the success that we create.

Brand

• You and your team are our Brand Ambassadors, and you will share and develop your retail and cocoa knowledge to give all our customers consistent customer experience.

• You will uphold the highest operational standards within your store as per our Retail Excellence standards.

Business

• Understand Hotel Chocolat’s Mission and Business, Brand and People Shapers and ensure that all activity within your role is aligned to this.

• Know your store, your team, and your customers to allow you to create a store specific plan which makes your business profitable,

• You will seek out opportunities to drive sales and innovation, harnessing ideas from your team and customer feedback.

• Consistently monitor your results and take action to achieve targets and deliver budgets.

• Plan effective schedules to manage payroll costs.

• Identify and manage risk to the business and take responsibility for ensuring the actions of you and your team are safe, secure and complaint with all relevant legislation, Hotel Chocolat policies and procedures.

• Identify and share best practice within your store teams and with the wider Retail Management team.

• Attend and contribute at District Meetings and company events.

• At the direction of the District Manager and as reasonably required by the needs of the business, travel to and support stores within other Districts and travel to company offices and sites around the United Sates

• Collaborate effectively with stakeholders across your District and the wider business to achieve your aims and objectives.

• Support and drive company initiatives and in store experiences.

• At the direction of the District Manager, lead and deliver assigned projects.

• Complete other reasonable, ad-hoc duties and take on additional responsibilities as requested by the District Manager.

What can you expect from Hotel Chocolat?

• We offer a range extending from luxury giftable chocolates to alcohol and our pioneering drinking chocolate system; the Velvetiser™. Our mission is to make people and nature happy through chocolate. Customers, colleagues, cacao farmers and suppliers can all benefit from the success we make together.

• A competitive salary and Incentives based on performance

• 50% unlimited staff discount to treat yourself and your friends and family

• 70% discount off a stay in our Hotel in St Lucia

• We recognize that our employees may wish to balance their work and family/home life and therefore we are open to discussions around flexible working

• A chance to work in an exciting, innovative and expanding company

All applicants must have permanent legal authorization to work in the United States. Mars does not sponsor employment visas for this role.

This position is not eligible for relocation benefits.

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The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range listed is applicable to IL:USD 54,042.00 - USD 81,063.00