Retail Manager

POPULAR Bookstore (Retail)

Celebrating 100 years of "A Century of Wisdom," POPULAR is a household heritage brand and a cornerstone of Singapore’s educational and cultural landscape. From our origins in 1924, we have evolved into a premier bilingual retailer of books, stationery, and lifestyle products. As we look toward the next century, we continue to innovate through digital transformation and diverse store formats, remaining deeply committed to fostering a culture of reading and learning for generations to come.

Job Description

- **Location**: Singapore (Onsite / Floating Pool)
- **Company Overview**:
- Celebrating 100 years of "A Century of Wisdom," POPULAR is a household heritage brand and a cornerstone of Singapore’s educational and cultural landscape. From our origins in 1924, we have evolved into a premier bilingual retailer of books, stationery, and lifestyle products.
- As we look toward the next century, we continue to innovate through digital transformation and diverse store formats, remaining deeply committed to fostering a culture of reading and learning for generations to come.
- **Role Overview**:
- As part of our 100th-anniversary leadership succession initiative, we are seeking versatile Retail Leaders to join our floating leadership pool. You will play a pivotal role in maintaining high operational standards and fostering a positive team culture across various branches. This is a high-impact role where your ability to adapt to different store environments and drive team retention will directly contribute to our legacy’s continued success.
- **Key Responsibilities**:
- **Drive Operational Excellence**: Oversee daily store operations including opening/closing procedures, cash management, banking, and meticulous inventory control to ensure high stock accuracy and minimal shrinkage.
- **Empower and Retain Talent**: Lead and mentor store teams, focusing on professional development and creating a supportive environment that prioritizes long-term staff retention.
- **Deliver Customer-Centric Service**: Ensure the highest standards of service and visual merchandising. You will manage customer feedback with professionalism and expertise, ensuring every visitor has a positive experience.
- **Achieve Commercial Goals**: Collaborate with marketing and operations teams to implement store strategies, monitor sales KPIs, and optimize merchandise mix to meet and exceed revenue targets.
- **Manage Change and Growth**: Support store reconfiguration or renovation projects and adapt quickly to different branch assignments within our floating pool model to meet business needs.
- **Requirements**:
- **Minimum/Core Requirements**:
- Demonstrated experience in a retail supervisory or managerial role, with a proven track record of leading teams in fast-paced environments.
- **Bilingual Proficiency (English & Mandarin)**: Required to effectively manage specialized product categories and facilitate seamless communication within our operational environment.
- Proven ability to manage complex retail operations, including cash handling, inventory management, and staff scheduling.
- Strong people management skills with a focus on building team morale and improving staff retention.
- Availability to work retail hours, including weekends and Public Holidays, to support the team during peak periods.
- **Preferred/Bonus Requirements**:
- Experience in high-volume or high-SKU environments such as bookstores, stationery, FMCG, or department stores.
- Familiarity with POS systems and basic proficiency in office software (Excel, Word) for reporting and scheduling.
- A proactive, adaptable mindset comfortable with transitioning between different store locations and sizes.
- **Why you should be interested**:
- **Legacy and Stability**: Join a 100-year-old brand that is a mainstay in Singapore, offering high career stability and a deep sense of purpose.
- **Versatile Leadership Growth**: The "floating pool" model offers unique exposure to diverse store formats and demographics, rapidly accelerating your professional versatility.
- **Clear Career Progression**: We are committed to internal talent development. High performers can expect clear pathways to take on greater leadership responsibilities and broaden their professional scope across various facets of the business.
- **Impactful Work**: Influence the learning journey of thousands of families by managing a brand synonymous with education and wisdom.

Ready to lead a heritage brand into its next century? We’d love to hear from you.