POSITION –SEASONAL AREA MANAGER

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’ savory sausages, favorite cheeses and other gourmet foods online, in catalogs, in leading mass merchants, supermarkets and approximately 80 retail shopping centers throughout the holiday season.

POSITION SUMMARY

Hickory Farms is recruiting for a Seasonal Area Manager. This position will start in September and end in the beginning to mid-January.

Reporting to the Regional Manager, the Seasonal Area Manager is a key member of the Retail Team and will be responsible for all aspects of building retail sales, managing operations and improving customer satisfaction in their Region. 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 Seasonal Area Manager will have a proactive approach to sales development. He/ she will be directly involved in selecting, managing and motivating a dedicated independent kiosk 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: Regional Manager

Direct Reports: 3-9 Store Managers

Indirect Reports: Seasonal Retail Sales Associates

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Create sales teams that can execute with outstanding results. Identify, build and maintain a strong performance based organization through effective hiring, training and evaluation that will develop a strong sales team. Create an operating culture where individuals are motivated, provided constructive feedback and rewarded for achievement.

Sales

• Responsible for meeting and exceeding sales budgets
• 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

Recruiting, Payroll, Relationship/Team Building

• Insure all locations are fully staffed
• Control labor by achieving payroll plan both dollars and hours
• Build and maintain relationship with third party vendors
• Coach teams to success/manage turnover

Training:

• Plan and execute the store Manager pocket and on the job training programs
• Develop Store Manager and Store Team through company prescribed training programs
• Ensure consistent team training throughout the duration of project by monitoring online readiness report, communication with Area Managers and impactful store visits

Merchandising:

• Execute Planograms specific to locations and ensure consistent planogram integrity throughout the season
• Instill importance of product knowledge utilization
• Ensure display and signing are impactful and compliant

Inventory Control:

• Manage stockroom inventory per company guidelines
• Ensure execution of product movement
• Enforce company policies, procedure and controls around cash and inventory management

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES (con’t)

Operations:

• Execute pre-season deliverables
• Facilitate opening schedules, kiosk set-up and merchandising
• Facilitate end of season closing and tear-downs, following standard operating procedures
• Maintain all operating expenses at or below budget
• 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 42lbs. infrequently and 25lbs. frequently Ability to work 40-60 hours/week including nights, weekends, holidays.

Overnight travel as necessary. Driving record and background checks will be completed.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse and tobacco testing.