Assistant Manager of Store Communications
Job Description
We invite you to be part of our team of trailblazers dedicated to helping people discover and enjoy the outside. Come join us. Because on the inside we’re all outsiders. And if it’s outside, we’re all in.
We invite you to be part of our team of trailblazers dedicated to helping people discover and enjoy the outside. Come join us. Because on the inside we’re all outsiders. And if it’s outside, we’re all in.
Position Purpose
This Assistant Manager of Store Communications is responsible for being the liaison between the stores in the field and the corporate office. Serves as the primary leader, voice, and point of contact between the field and all departments within the company to ensure consistent, efficient, and compelling communication while also leading assigned projects on behalf of the retail channel. This role will sit in our Corporate Headquarters located in Freeport, Maine and is not a remote role.
Lead, manage, and develop/maintain all communications, task/workload, and delivery portals for Retail. Accountable to deliver an efficient, consistent, and accurate communication platform that includes policy, procedures, process documentation, training, education, task management and workload planning resources for the entire retail and outlet division. Ensures that all communications for all initiatives impacting the stores are scalable and able to be effectively executed. This individual will not only act as the gatekeeper for home office communications distributed to stores but will also be responsible for projects working with project teams to deliver strategic company and retail initiatives while also drafting communications for senior leadership.
Responsibilities
Leadership:
Translate business goals, results and strategy into engaging, motivational messages for stores and Home Office.
Lead and develop Store Coordinator(s) to create, edit and deploy store / HO communications.
Responsible to facilitate alignment across multiple departments to gain consensus on communications, learning and task/workload strategies.
A leader and subject matter expert of the business in all stakeholder / cross functional settings acting in a leadership role to represent Store Operations and Retail.
Maintain task management vendor relationship. Meeting regularly to discuss any issues, upcoming changes, and future road mapping opportunities.
Communication:
Develop and manage an annual communication plan for stores focused on service and support of division profitability goals.
Owner of the communication content and platform for the Retail division. Maintains an accurate repository of all communication, reporting, policies and procedures.
Responsible for ensuring that all content presented to the division is on time, accurate and easily navigated by the end user.
Responsible for updating all communication resources to include but not limited to: the stores task management system, the stores intranet site, and store resource site such as SharePoint, and internal store social platforms.
Oversees all store related document development to ensure end user efficiency, consistency of presentation and accuracy. Conducts ongoing communications needs assessment to ensure desired outcomes.
Secures all resource needs with L.L.Bean information services, as well as the corporate Learning and Communication department to deliver efficient communication tools.
Serves as communication consultant to leaders to ensure effective planning, developing and dissemination of key business information.
Designs and maintains the functionality of all performance management and evaluation tools for the Retail division.
Identify gaps in communication and develop key content for all levels in stores (Guides to Store Managers). Developing a content plan for each tailored to each audience.
Develops strategies to increase the efficiency and consistency of Store communication and education delivery at L.L.Bean by monitoring industry trends, communication methods and tools for remote locations.
Deliver & Enhance editorial content infusing the brand look, feel, & messaging through all communication. Ensuring the voice, tone, and message is appropriate for the audience it is being directed to.
Drafts monthly, quarterly, and annual messages on behalf of retail senior leadership.
On-call as needed to draft and deploy time sensitive information and communication to field teams.
Workload Planning:
Owner of workload balance and volume released to stores. Identifies areas of workload management contention and facilitates solutions for maximum efficiency while meeting financial budget targets.
Creates and maintains an accurate activity calendar for stores and all related task planning tools.
Maintains an accurate workload tracking tool that utilizes current labor standards and delivers clear reporting showing the impact of workload.
Ensures corporate partners are knowledgeable about field priorities and challenges.
Responsible for the timeline, templates and collection of data for all workload driving initiatives. Maintains formal documentation related to the expectations and timelines for all store workload.
Project Planning:
Act as a liaison with internal partners, ensuring adequate information is readily available and coordinates / leads project teams in line with the project plan.
Develop project timelines, milestones, and role clarification for all people involved in the project. Review with project team as well as Store Operations leadership
Ensure continuous communication around the project occurs as required to Store Operations leadership.
Make recommendations to project sponsors and ensure an action plan is established that will lead to the successful implementation of project recommendations.
Training and Education:
Manages the deployment of effective learning solutions and/or programs of varying complexity across all learning content platforms that stores utilize.
Works collaboratively with Store Operations Leadership and Corporate Learning and Communications to ensure alignment of strategy, consistency of content and ease of delivery vehicle.
Health and Safety Requirement
Every employee is responsible for contributing to a safe and healthy workplace. Employees are expected to be active participants in health and safety by following all safety policies and procedures, reporting unsafe conditions or at-risk behaviors to leadership, and conducting work in a safe manner. Those in a leadership role are also expected to model safe behaviors, evaluate risk, and ensure that risks are reduced to acceptable levels.
Education Level- 4-Year Bachelors Degree
Experience Level- 3-5 years minimum communications experience required
Skills and Qualifications
Exceptional communication skills, excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize / manage significant multiple tasks & projects
Strong track record developing & implementing strategies & tactics in a cross functional environment, focused on balancing store needs/desires with corporate business strategy objectives.
3+ years of field leadership experience in a retail environment required
High sense of urgency with demonstrated ability to work independently and make effective decisions in a timely manner
Experience with the use of technology and other non traditional communication/education vehicles to reach a decentralized retail store environment.
Exceptional technical aptitude and experience with various technical communication platforms to include Microsoft Office Suite and O365 sites/site management.
Exceptional written communication skills, project management and organizational skills with the ability to translate technical information into simple language.
Ability to interact and negotiate frequently with senior management.
Proven track record of driving results in sales, service and people development.
Strong attention to detail and innovative problem solving skills.
Being outside brings out the best in us, no matter where we come from or what we believe. At L.L.Bean, we value individual differences and encourage our co-workers to be themselves – because the uniqueness of each individual makes L.L.Bean better.
If you care about the outdoors, joining L.L.Bean is a great way to feel good about what you do. Our benefits package makes a good thing even better, with programs and perks designed to support your health and financial goals. Plus, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and re-charging outside are all part of the plan. Because, when it comes to the outside—we’re all in. Visit llbeancareers.com to learn more.
Being outside brings out the best in us, no matter where we come from or what we believe. At L.L.Bean, we value individual differences and encourage our co-workers to be themselves – because the uniqueness of each individual makes L.L.Bean better.
