Reports to: Retail Operations Manager
📍 Braintree Village, Braintree (Essex), UK
📑 Fixed-term contract, permanent after 1 year
📆 Start date: mid-August 2024
OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.
At Columbia Sportswear, we’re as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, we’re proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.
Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: “It’s perfect. Now make it better.” As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving
Discover a world of diversity within our team of 700+ across 13 European countries, united by the common goal of elevating Columbia to the pinnacle of outdoor brands in Europe. Our omnichannel approach seamlessly integrates Columbia and Sorel brands’ engaging in-store and online experiences.
Nestled at the heart of the Alps in Geneva, Switzerland, our European headquarters hosts the Executive Committee, go-to-market functions, and Planning and Logistics teams. In Schiltigheim, near Strasbourg, our shared services center thrives with over 100 professionals managing Finance and Operations/Customer Service. Our distribution center in Cambrai ensures swift delivery to customers, while our 30+ Columbia stores adorn major European outlet centers. Finally, the Sales and Trade Marketing teams are displayed in 3 regions across Europe, close to their customers and markets.
We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy. We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.
And we believe in you.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Our mission at Columbia is to unlock the outdoors for everyone. With almost 300 employees, our retail team is committed to achieving this goal thanks to our presence across more than 30 Columbia stores in France, Germany, Spain, the UK, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands and Austria.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Reinforcing our presence in the UK, we are looking for an inspiring, business-minded leader to lead the success of our new store at the Braintree Village Outlet. Your main mission will be to guarantee your store’s profitability and customer satisfaction, as well as lead, inspire and develop your staff.
HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
- Provide all customers with an excellent service giving advice on our products to elevate the consumer experience, using our Customer Service best practices.
- Lead, inspire and develop your store team. Staff management such as hiring, training, and performance evaluation (in collaboration with Retail Management and HR).
- Ensure goals are achieved thanks to your leadership and coaching skills. Hold daily meetings to inform staff on goals progression.
- Be responsible for the store operating budget and feedback the Retail Management team with all store reporting’s, data analysis, and sales results on a regular basis.
- Think outside the box to boost store traffic and hit financial targets.
- Ensure store is adequately staffed thanks to your planning and organizational skills.
- Ensure the store is looking great by displaying our products in accordance with corporate VM guidelines.
- Maintain positive work environment and communication with all level of management and staff.
- Ensure company’s policies & procedures are followed and suggest improvements.
WHAT MAKES YOU SUCCESSFUL?
- Graduated with a High school degree or equivalent
- At least 2 years’ store management experience.
- Good knowledge of country’s official language. Professional level of English is required.
- You love working with your team and bring excellent interpersonal skills
- Gifted at coaching, mentoring and training staff
- Strong analytical skills.
- Excellent problem-solving attitude.
- Able to build a high performing team willing to undertake challenges
- You are an outdoor enthusiastic and love to share your passion!
- Available to work on flexible schedule, including Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays
WHY JOINING US?
You will have the opportunity to work for a company that has a positive impact on the people we reach, the places we touch, and the products we make. Indeed, one of our core values is to do the right thing, not just for our company, but also for our consumers, customers, employees and their communities.
On top of that, you will have the chance to:
- Build new skills, develop your potential, and grow within our company.
- Join an inclusive employer where diversity and equity lead to creativity and empowerment.
- Be part of a company that focus on your wellbeing to ensure that you can be your best self.
- Travel around Europe for seminars or staff event and expend your professional network.
- Benefit from special staff discount on our all products.
PERKS & BENEFITS
🎁 Significant discounts on Columbia and Sorel products
📚 Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning
👩🏫 Unlock your potential: access to in-house training courses (feedback, leadership, Insights®...)
🌈DEI initiatives to exchange and strengthen our involvement around these themes
ABOUT THE CULTURE
- At Columbia Sportswear, we value an inclusive and open culture that emphasizes the absence of barriers between team members. We are committed to fostering a sense of belonging by encouraging personal connections at all levels, which creates a cohesive and supportive work environment.
- Team members serve as ambassadors for our brand, finding motivation in being part of an organization dedicated to activities they are passionate about. This dedication reflects our commitment to building a team that takes pride in our products and values.
- We offer the opportunity to work for a US-based company within a multicultural environment, where your job has an impact across different countries.
- Our "Always Be Learning" culture of continuous learning enables our employees to identify and develop skills that will enable them to continue to grow within the company.
- "Unlock Your Potential" is the spirit that characterizes our vision of employees’ development: to offer them opportunities to grow, in their job, in their team or even to change jobs completely. We grow our people to grow our business.
To learn more about us and our culture, visit our page on Welcome To The Jungle: https://bit.ly/49bl1i5
ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS
1️⃣ Ready to unlock your potential at Columbia Sportswear Company? Apply now to help us connect active people with their passion! The hiring team will review your application in the following weeks.
2️⃣ If your application is selected: a 30-45mn introductory interview with our Talent Acquisition Team to talk about yourself, your motivations and the role
3️⃣ Interview with the hiring manager (online or in-person interview)
4️⃣ Your unique strengths align perfectly with our team: we are thrilled to extend you an offer!
#LI-LA1
This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position’s scope and function in the company.
If you need an accommodation/adjustment to successfully complete and submit your application, please reach out to [email protected] with the Subject: Applicant Assistance Requested.
