POSITION –COMMISSIONED CONTRACT OWNER OPERATOR
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Hickory Farms, Inc. is a mission and values driven enterprise and is one of North America’s leading specialty food and gift purveyors. The Company was founded in 1951 in the pastoral farm country of Northwest Ohio. Hickory Farms products are a hallmark gift for those who appreciate rich and savory foods. Based in Chicago, Hickory Farms brings the best of Midwest values to consumers in North America and the U.S. Armed Forces all over the world. Customers can find Hickory Farms’ savoury sausages, favorite cheeses and other gourmet foods online, in catalouges, in leading mass merchants, supermarkets and approximately 70 retail shopping centers throughout the holiday season.
POSITION SUMMARY
Hickory Farms is recruiting for a Contract Owner Operator. This position will start in late June and end in January.
Reporting to the GM of Canada and Regional Retail Manager, the Contract Owner Operator is a key role within the Retail Team in Canada and will be responsible for all aspects of building retail sales, managing operations and working through the administrative tasks to gear up for the season. This will entail both strategic and tactical activities which maximize short and long-range objectives for the region’s sales growth; evaluating, managing and motivating a sales organization.
Importantly, the Contract Owner Operator will have a proactive approach to sales development. He/ she will be directly involved in selecting, managing and motivating a dedicated independent kiosk/store sales force. Key areas of focus will be to achieve key performance indicators, participate in recruitment, training and sales development within their region, enabling Hickory Farms to enjoy higher customer satisfaction and improved sales conversion rates.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: GM of Canada and Regional Retail Manager
Direct Reports: Seasonal Area Manager and Store Managers
Indirect Reports: Seasonal Associates
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Execute administrative tasks that aid in the execution of the season and help ensure the season will end in outstanding results. Identify, build and maintain a strong performance based organization through effective hiring, training and evaluation that will develop a strong sales team which includes directing the contract operators. Create an operating culture where individuals are motivated, provided constructive feedback and rewarded for achievement.
Licensing and Sales
· Responsible for aiding in the meeting and exceeding sales budgets from all locations
· Help secure potential leasing spaces, with site inspections and feedback
· Work with permitting to ensure all proper permits and licenses are in place
· Leverage product knowledge to enhance associate average order value (AOV)
· Drive sampling and suggestive selling to increase transactions
· Motivate teams to be sales and customer focused
· Ensure open dates are confirmed and communicated to malls and operators
Recruiting, Payroll, Relationship/Team Building
· Hire all leads and associates
· Ensure proper labour hours are being utilized to hit sales plans
· Build and maintain relationships with mall admins and operations team
· Ensure all pre season paperwork and checklists have been received and completed
Training and Store Setups
· Plan and execute the site setups and tear downs
· Ensure online training is completed by all staff, including yourself
· Ensure consistent team training throughout the duration of project by monitoring online readiness report, communication with leads and impactful store visits
Merchandising/ Signage/ Planograms / Reference Guides
· Develop and Execute Planograms specific to locations and ensure consistent planogram integrity throughout the season
· Instill importance of product knowledge utilization
· Ensure signage is approved for the season
· Ensure display and signing are impactful and compliant
Warehouse/Inventory:
· Manage the return of any kits and equipment sent out to the stores
· Ordering of supplies for kiosks and storefronts if necessary
· Ensure execution of product movement for all stores
· Enforce company policies, procedure and controls around cash and inventory management
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES (con’t)
Operations:
· Execute pre-season deliverables, which includes product knowledge training
· Facilitate opening schedules, kiosk set-ups and merchandising
· Facilitate end of season closing and tear-downs, following standard operating procedures
· Maintain payroll
· Follow all company safety guidelines
IDEAL EXPERIENCE
· Experience in managing premium, branded products
· Effective in an autonomous work environment
· Successful experience in building and managing a national brand and relationships in a retail environment.
· 5 - 10 years of successful sales, marketing and operating multi-unit experience
CRITICAL COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS
Focus on sales growth and results oriented. The successful candidate has demonstrated personal accountability for delivering aggressive sales goals while executing strategic initiatives and building efficient, “best-of-class” sales organizations.
Deep functional sales and marketing expertise. The successful candidate will have proven hands-on leadership expertise in all facets of sales and marketing.
Outstanding communications skills. The successful candidate will interact with both frequent and focused dialogue with all members of the team, and be open and candid with peers, subordinates and partners.
A high-energy, team-oriented leader. The successful candidate will have a passion for leading a highly professional team and will instill a strong sense of team spirit with peers and subordinates. This person will lead by example and instill confidence in his/ her staff. We aspire to find a leader with a “fire in the belly” who enjoys rolling up his/ her sleeves, leading from the frontlines, while working in a team-centric environment.
Ability to lift up to 50lbs. infrequently and 25lbs. frequently Ability to work 45-60 hours/week including nights, weekends, holidays.
Overnight travel as necessary. Background checks will be completed.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.
Pay: $50,000.00-$80,000.00 per year
Experience:
- retail: 5 years (required)
Location:
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: On the road
