JOB TITLE          :              General Manager

Department        :              VANS

Reporting to       :              Managing Director of Brands

Direct reports     :              SMT Members, External Partners

Key customers    :              Key Wholesale Customers, Retail Stores and Strategic Partners

Roles & Responsibilities

Main purpose: To develop and deliver the company’s strategic plan in the most effective manner.  Accountable for the overall performance of VANS within the Ares Group and for the day-to-day running and management of the company’s business, under delegated authority from the Board.

PURPOSE, VALUES, CULTURE: the alignment of key stakeholders behind a clear purpose, congruent values, an inspiring vision and a challenging strategy (BHAG)

• Develop & inculcate a clear business Purpose & Values
• Provide an inspiring business Vision
• Drive a challenging, stretching BHAG

STRATEGY: Formulate and implement the strategic plan that guides the strategic direction of VANS within the Ares Group, ensuring alignment with Group objectives at all times.

• Development and delivery of a 5YP strategic plan, considering the groups objectives and goals.
• Ensure alignment of overall strategic objectives, overall business performance and meeting of Company targets.
• Achievement of the overall strategic goals as outlined in the strategic plan
• Together with the CEO, develop commercial strategies for managing the VANS Agreement.
• Grow the business by maintaining, developing and maximizing the profitability with a clear and conscious consideration to the cost of capital used.
• Communicate the strategy and contract execution goals with senior leadership

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: Ensuring that there is sound business/corporate governance in place and that risks to the sustainability of the Business are mitigated.

• Stay abreast of relevant legislative & governance developments
• Ensure that the disaster recovery plan is regularly refreshed and communicated as appropriate
• Ensure the Company is compliant with applicable legislative statutes, regulations, and all reporting requirements
• Ensure that the necessary occupational health & safety regulations are adhered to
• Ensure effective and efficient internal control systems are in place to identify, manage and mitigate risks

PEOPLE: Ensure that effective and efficient performance management systems are in place. Ensuring mentoring, training, development, and succession planning as required to enhance and maximize performance and employee engagement.

• Provide strong leadership support and guidance to the Senior Management team
• Foster optimal working relationships with relevant stakeholders in VANS
• Build a close working relationship with the Senior Management across the Group
• Work with HR to ensure the organizational structure of the Vans team is robust and adequate for achieving the individual business’ longer-term goals and objectives.
• Ensure role clarity and aligned goal-setting
• Talent management and succession planning
• Manage the remuneration strategy and model (including tctc structures, benefits, statutory requirements, etc)
• Monitor the application of the ‘HR Value Chain’

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: ensure that the key financial indicators reflect good business health, growth, balance & sustainability (facilitate appropriate corrective action where this is not the case).

• Closely monitor the operating and financial results against plans and budgets
• Identify and investigate where cost savings can be made
• Together with CFO:
• Overall responsibility for accurate business reporting to all key stakeholders
• Set financial performance parameters
• Manage DevEx & Capex requirements
• Ensure that the relevant regulatory / statutory requirements are adhered to e.g. VAT, Employee PAYE,etc

OPERATIONS: Implement and manage operational processes and procedures that ensures ideal operational results that reflects the Brand, values and standards consistently.

• Creation and maintaining a culture of performance and efficiency i.e. determining measurable indicators and incorporating project management methodologies and frameworks within the company
• Identify key operational performance issues and make improvement recommendations
• Manage outsourced consultant functions as necessary ensuring these agreements comply with Company policy
• Foster internal integration across business in the Ares Group, to ensure sharing of experiences and best practices
• Drives change within the business in a process driven, measured, positive and manner
• Ensure that facilities, equipment, tools, systems, security and physical environment is conducive to optimum performance

SALES & MARKETING: growing market share through the retention of existing customers, acquisition of new customers and the maximization of their spend.

• Embrace and continually search for opportunities for growth in the marketplace and direct sales force in this regard
• Oversee the marketing and sales functions of the business
• Drive increased customer confidence and expand range opportunities through effective account management and relationship management
• Ensure Customer Service teams are best in class to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction.
• Demonstrate and communicate and in-depth, and up to date, understanding of Retail industry operations, challenges and solutions
• Brand management
• Public relations
• ‘Ambassadorship’

Requirements

LEADERSHIP

• Believe in the team, trust and respect
• Committed to the wellbeing of team-members, work-life balance, holistic health & care
• Work with a positive attitude, solutions orientation, accountability, learning
• Business and commercial acumen
• Ability to inspire optimistic, positive energy
• Capacity to collaborate, integrate & facilitate teamwork
• Self-monitoring, personal management, self-discipline
• Learning agility & adaptability
• Patience, endurance & tenacity
• Sense of personal accountability & internal locus of control
• Assertive and warm (not aggressive)

TECHNICAL & FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Relevant Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration or Commerce
• At least 6 years’ experience in a senior retail leadership position
• Proven ability to motivate and develop employees in a diverse team
• Results orientated
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (verbal and written)
• Effective presentation skills
• Capacity to build and leverage extensive external networks
• Understanding and knowledge of corporate governance principles and legislation relation to the Company.
• Ability to network, build and sustain procurement, client, strategic alliance, supplier and peer relationships
• Ability to think analytically, act strategically and systemically, whilst managing operationally
• Ability to think and inspire creativity, innovation and solution thinking
• Operational management skills applied systematically, methodically and consistently
• Coaching and facilitation skills to enable learning, competence development and positive energy
• Resilient and conflict management competencies
• Negotiation skills
• Ability to travel locally and internationally