Assistant Business Manager
Location: St Pancras Boutique
Contract: Permanent, 37.5 hours/weekly, any 5 out of 7 days
CHANEL is an independent company that believes in the freedom of creation, cultivates human potential, and acts to have a positive impact in the world.
“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different” stated company founder, Gabrielle Chanel. At CHANEL, we strive to identify what is unique in each person and support them through their journey with the brand.
Our mission at CHANEL Beauty is to underline what is most unique in every person and give our clients the confidence to become the true expression of themselves through exceptional fragrance, makeup and skincare creations.
JOB PURPOSE
In line with the Fragrance & Beauty vision and mission, the Assistant Business Manager works in synergy with the Business Manager to lead an energetic and passionate team of people who are dedicated to creating experiences with our clients. Through a keen sense of business acumen, the Assistant Business Manager is responsible for supporting the Business Manager in all retail activities that contribute to the brand’s image and leadership in the market by liaising with field and head office functions. In the absence of the Business Manager, they will step up and support with the day to day running of the counter and continue to coach and mentor the team. They are able to think 'outside the four walls' and take into account the entire client pathway, including the omni-channel context.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leading the team: the Assistant Business Manager guides their team towards achieving results and developing individual talents
- Alongside the Business Manager, they will create an environment rich with ethics, integrity and diversity, which leads to positive team collaboration
- Partners with the Business Manager to proactively identify, address and manage any employee relations issues in accordance with the local CHANEL policies and procedures and shares feedback on performance
- Help facilitates frequent team and individual communication in order to ensure collective knowledge to all members of the team
- Shares the brand vision and the boutique challenges, gives meaning and empowerment to the team while holding them accountable
Business developer: the Assistant Business Manager embodies an entrepreneurial spirit
- Works in harmony with the Business Manager in building CHANEL’s portfolio of clients through data capture in line with the brands expectations
- Develops business initiatives in line with the brand vision and strategy
- Defines, tracks and coaches the team to achieve set KPIs
- In the absence of a Business Manager, takes responsibility for staff rotas, including day-to-day operational zoning to ensure floor coverage and optimal client experience
- Supports the Business Manager in communicating retail and collateral stock needs to all necessary parties as well as facilitates smooth operations of incoming deliveries
- Networks with the community to elevate the presence and awareness of the brand in the local marketplace
- Assumes responsibility for all loss prevention activities, such as in-store security and inventory management
- Has a solid understanding of the business environment
- Works with the Business Manager to provide feedback and reporting to line manager in order to influence strategies and recommendations
Experience creator: the Assistant Business Manager creates conditions for a consistent and memorable experience
- Leads by example on the selling floor by creating tailor-made client experiences, personalised for each visit and each client, using the CHANEL experience ritual and build long-lasting relationships
- Considers the omni-channel journey as a whole and helps the team embrace digital shopping trends
- Facilitates the resolution of client service complaints with a holistic approach so that each client leaves satisfied, regardless of which channel they chose to shop
- Ensures team has tools/training to provide a CHANEL client experience
- Provides flexibility to allow the team to create their own experience
- Ensures visual merchandising guidelines are adhered to throughout the boutique and guarantees that the boutique remains clean, tidy and welcoming at all times
CHANEL ambassador: the Assistant Business Manager embodies the values of the brand
- CHANEL Insider: has a solid knowledge of the brand, its heritage and know-how, and shares it with clients as well as the team
- Implements all training received, is curious to learn more in order to nourish a global and beauty culture, being pro-active in self-learning
- Implements and ensures respect of the uniform and grooming guidelines at all times
Boutique operations: the Assistant Business Manager delivers strong operational excellence
- Supports the Business Manager in managing all areas of counter operations, ensuring compliance across all areas and implementing clear and transparent procedures
- Ensures the smooth running of the counter at all times, including responsibility for day to day operations such as opening/closing, security and cleaning
- Supports the Business Manager in managing the stock, tester and sample inventory, keeping stocks of each to a minimum to ensure quick turnover
- Works in harmony with the Business Manager to ensure stock levels meet the needs of the business, managing planned seasonal increases in a timely manner
- Responsible for stock accuracy (stock audits), working to minimise stock loss at all times
- Ensures meticulous stock handling and storage procedures are established and followed
- Ensures all team members are fully trained on till and cash handling procedures, and that these are adhered to at all times
- Ensures returns procedures are clear and adhered to
- Working with the Visual Merchandising Team, ensures that the CHANEL merchandising guidelines are followed at all times
- Responsible for ensuring clarity of Health & Safety and Fire Safety training and procedures
SKILL SETS
Leadership and Management skills
- Strategic thinker: Analytical and systemic, challenge the status quo, communicate the vision to inspire and engage
- Relationships-focused: Collaborative, partnering and influencing skills
- Ability to develop and empower people: Listening and empathy, feedback and coaching skills, performance management, delegation
- Performance minded and decisive, strive for continuous improvement
Managing Business skills
- Strong client experience mindset
- Able to understand and synthesize business and market intelligence
- Able to write reports and proposals
- Planning, organization and change management skills
- Problem solving and dispute resolution skills
- Technology competent and digital trend awareness
Soft skills
- Posture and communication skills : Verbal and written communication, story telling
- Curious, personal agility, continuous learner
- Self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-control/stress management
- Enthusiasm, energy and motivation
- Trustworthy with integrity/ethics
Benefits at CHANEL:
Our employee benefits have been created to support you across your professional and personal life by offering you:
- Physical Wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance covering pre-existing medical conditions and ability to add family members, Online GP App with 24/7 appointments available within 24 hours and Cycle Scheme participation for a tax-exempt bike and/or accessories
- Financial Wellbeing: Pension, Life Assurance and Retail Discounts across multiple retailers including Supermarkets, Gyms, Days Out and 100’s more
- Mental Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programmes and Other Support Lines
- Lifestyle: Arts & Culture Ticket Discounts across major London attractions, CHANEL Product Discounts and Employee Only Sales
- Employee Recognition: Service Awards Programme offering CHANEL Products, Retail Vouchers and Additional Holidays across milestones
*Benefits are eligibility dependant and subject to change at any time
At CHANEL, we are focused on creating an inclusive culture that nurtures personal growth, contributing to collective progress. We believe the uniqueness of each individual increases the diversity, complementarity and effectiveness of our teams. We strongly encourage your application, as we value the perspective, experience and potential you could bring to CHANEL.
What We Do
CHANEL is a private company and a world leader in creating, developing, manufacturing and distributing luxury products.
Founded by Gabrielle Chanel at the beginning of the last century, CHANEL offers a broad range of high-end creations, including Ready-to-Wear, Leather Goods, Fashion Accessories, Eyewear, Fragrances, Makeup, Skincare, Jewelry and Watches. CHANEL is also renowned for its Haute Couture collections, presented twice yearly in Paris, and for having acquired a large number of specialized suppliers, collectively known as the Métiers d’Art. CHANEL is dedicated to ultimate luxury and to the highest level of craftsmanship.
It is a brand whose core values remain historically grounded on exceptional creation. As such, CHANEL promotes culture, art, creativity and “savoir-faire” throughout the world, and invests significantly in people, R&D and innovation.
At the end of 2019, CHANEL employed more than 28,000 people across the world.
