Area Manager

Area Manager

Experience a place of energy, passion, and excitement. A place where the joy of discovery and uncommon artistry blend to create exhilarating buying experiencesfor true beauty enthusiasts. At Ulta Beauty, we're transforming the world one shade, one lash, one cut at a time. Because beauty is powerful.

If you seek greater purpose a place of vision, mission, and lived valueswhere voices are heard, contributions valued and recognized and growth opportunities abound, consider Ulta Beauty. Nowhere else are the possibilities quite this beautiful.

The Area Manager (AM) is responsible for leading through Ulta Beauty's mission, vision, and values in order to develop high performing teams that consistently deliver top-line sales growth for the AM's stores. This transitional position provides multi-unit developmental experience for leaders who demonstrate potential to do more. As an experienced General Manager (GM), the AM leads on average a team of 2-3 stores, in addition to fulfilling the role as the GM of their own store. This leader drives their business through a focus on performance (sales, service, and expense control), people (talent acquisition, training, and development) and process (standard operating procedures). This position requires a passion for process excellence, a drive for results, and the ability to lead, influence and develop their team.

The AM is a champion of Ulta Beauty's mission, vision, and values, and should demonstrate them skillfully and consistently by performing the following duties and responsibilities of the position (as well as all other projects/duties as assigned):

Performance

• Promote a culture of accountability to meet or exceed Ulta Beauty's goals related to retail and service sales, guest loyalty (including credit), payroll, omni-channel, and retail shrink as set by Ulta Beauty for the AM's stores.
• Drive company profitability through operational excellence, top-line sales growth, and expense control for the AM's stores.
• Meets and exceeds goals related to total store sales, profitability, and operational excellence.
• Forecasts and adjusts their store's payroll to maximize productivity, achieve sales and payroll goals, and complete workload on time, and within the payroll budget.
• Review and analyze Ulta Beauty's financial and/or operational reports regularly for the AM's Stores, and provide timely responses as needed.
• Address underperforming metrics of the AM's stores to drive profitability and to achieve Ulta Beauty's goals set for those stores.
• Take the initiative to stay informed regarding new and existing beauty industry trends, products, and services during work time, and be knowledgeable about the ingredients and benefits of these trends, products, and services to better serve guests.
• Maintain prompt, regular attendance as the AM and ensure all of their stores' associates are held accountable to the Ulta Beauty attendance policy.

People

• Attract, hire, and retain a diverse team of top talent, and efficiently address any staffing needs and open positions for the store.
• In partnership with the District Manager (DM) and People Success, address policy violations with appropriate corrective action up to and including separation of employment fairly and in accordance with Ulta Beauty's policies and procedures.
• Build a highly engaged team that embodies the Ulta Beauty brand by delivering exceptional service and driving guest loyalty.
• Train, coach, and develop direct reports using company programs, tools, and resources.
• Create an inclusive environment that inspires and encourages the growth and engagement of all associates.
• Lead all aspects of manager and associate development for their own store as well as support the GM's in the AM's other stores, including training, providing individualized, competency-based feedback and coaching, performance reviews, succession planning, and individual development plans to enable continuous development and drive sales performance.
• Regularly participate in ongoing training, including brand and category education, to enable continuous professional development and drive sales performance.
• Ensure direct reports regularly participate in ongoing training, including brand and category education, to enable continuous professional development and drive sales performance.
• Model a culture of open communication by sharing enterprise strategy with direct reports and creating goals in alignment with Ulta Beauty's goals for their stores.
• Promote a culture of teamwork by working alongside the management team, establishing priorities, and providing clear direction for all of the AM's stores.
• Execute the Guest Engagement Leader program flawlessly through business ownership, associate coaching and leading the guest experience in the AM's home store and manage/follow up on the program for the AM's other stores.

Process

• Be knowledgeable of and ensure compliance with Ulta Beauty's policies, procedures, and standards.
• Provide directional leadership to support the adoption of new initiatives and technology, communicate expectations for the AM's stores.
• Ensure the execution of all store tasks and communicate expectations for the AM's stores.
• Continuously analyze performance relative to stores' operational compliance, including shrink and audits; develop strategies leveraging company tools to improve and meet Ulta Beauty's expectations for the stores.
• Adhere to and enforce Ulta Beauty's dress code.
• Use the company's scheduling tool as directed to schedule the right associates, in the right places, at the right times in order to provide an exceptional guest experience, reduce loss, and execute company directives.
• Use the company's task management tool as directed to prioritize the execution of store workload, ensuring full leadership adoption and compliance with company policy.
• Protect company assets and minimize loss by ensuring all store standards and operating procedures are met, including workplace safety, inventory control, cash management, and loss prevention for their own store.
• Execute day-to-day inventory control processes (e.g., known theft, damages, hazardous waste, inventory adjustments, product returns) and complete theft reporting as necessary.
• Support continuous improvement by implementing company programs and influencing end-user adoption.
• Swiftly react to the changing needs of the business with an entrepreneurial spirit and inspire the team to do the same.
• Regularly communicate with and provide feedback to field and corporate leadership on business trends and opportunities, operational challenges, merchandise needs, and competitive landscape for the AM's stores.

Job Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree is preferred

Experience

• 3-5+ years of fast-paced, retail management experience
  Prior experience as a General Manager is preferred
• Financial management: success with driving top-line sales, interpreting reporting data, managing payroll budgets, and controlling expense
• Retail management: proven ability with monitoring inventory levels, achieving operational excellence, driving a service culture, and executing merchandising directives
• Leadership management: experience with attracting, developing, and motivating top talent, swiftly adapting to change and leading others through the change-curve, developing collaborative relationships with others, and leading and influencing others.

Skills

• Proficient with basic technology (e.g., Point of Sale systems, Microsoft Office programs, and Apple devices)
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects
• Ability to react under pressure, apply good judgment in ambiguous situations, and be flexible/adaptable

Special Position Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 25% of your time, including overnight stays and to visit stores within their district(s), attend corporate business meetings and conferences
• Means of mobility for travel within district to visit individual stores
• Maintain valid identification for airline travel
• Work a flexible, full-time schedule to include days, evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Ability to relocate within a geographic area for future growth is preferred

Working Conditions

• Frequent use of a computer, telephonic devices, writing, and related office supplies Continuous mobility throughout the store during shift
• Frequent bending, pushing, reaching, and twisting during shift
• Frequent lifting, carrying, and/or moving up to 25 lbs. during shift
• Continuous walking, coordination, and manipulation of objects during shift
• Continuous eye, hand, and foot coordination

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