Sales Manager - Designer

WHO WE ARE:

Saks Fifth Avenue is a leading destination for luxury fashion, driven by a mission to help customers express themselves through relevant and inspiring style. Since its inception in 1924, the company has delivered one-of-a-kind shopping experiences, featuring an expertly curated assortment of fashion and highly personalized customer service. Its unique approach combines an emphasis on the digital customer experience with a strong connection to a network of 33 extraordinary locations across North America for seamless, all-channel shopping. Saks Fifth Avenue is part of Saks Global’s portfolio of top luxury retail brands and real estate assets. 

YOU WILL BE: 

As the Sales Manager, you possess total ownership of the sales experience within your Saks Fifth Avenue store and occupy a critical role in the achievement of the company’s objectives. Within this role, you facilitate partnerships across functions and leverage team skills to build a customer-centric sales experience, all while being a steward of the Saks Fifth Avenue brand. You have an appetite for driving sales by developing the clienteling skills and selling behaviors of a team of high-performing direct reports. You maintain high visibility on the selling floor to coach and develop our selling force, while refining the art of connecting with clients to build sustainable relationships through exceptional service and regular outreach. With strong oversight of onboarding, training, ongoing education, and performance management of the selling team, you foster a powerful sense of teamwork and collaborative spirit to successfully achieve the store's goals. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

People

• Responsible for actively recruiting and seamlessly onboarding new hires. Acting with a sense of urgency, hiring quality talent to plan for and create talent bench

• Train and develop top talent by supporting team members in identifying career development goals and opportunities for growth and exposure; set clear goals and communicate to direct reports in alignment with department objectives and support in achievement strategy

• Foster an environment of accountability by leading team in appropriately enforcing policies and procedures, ensuring understanding from all associates

• Evaluate and calibrate performance and productivity fairly for direct reports, provide feedback with consistent follow-up, coach and mentor associates on opportunities for improvement

• Develop direct reports to build their personal brand as a fashion authority through proactive outreach, leveraging social media platforms to build fashion influencer presence, and broaden connections beyond client base

• Drive continued education initiatives for direct reports, with a focus on product knowledge training, client events and experiences, and targeted selling and clienteling

• Promote a positive environment of achievement, recognition, and celebration

• Resolve work-related concerns and conflicts as soon as they arise, finding common ground and settling disputes fairly and with minimal disruption

• Empower team to take ownership of internal and external customer problems and resolve them quickly

• Oversee scheduling of department associates with sensitivity to promotional calendar and business needs, while managing team’s daily prioritization of tasks

• Create and maintain an environment of trust and collaboration by encouraging team members to share feedback and make recommendations for improvement

• Speak with truth and candor, modeling how to challenge the status quo appropriately
   

Customer Experience

• Exhibit Saks Fifth Avenue’s culture and values, and create a friendly, upbeat atmosphere where customer service is consistent with Company standards

• Role model exceptional service and client relationship building skills by consistently delivering memorable client experiences, planning and supporting client appointments to maximize results, and informing clients of in-store events to enhance engagement and loyalty

• Execute all client development-specific initiatives in-store and collaborate with functional partners, including store leadership, marketing, vendors, and merchants, to identify top clients and seamlessly execute events/experiences

• Proactively build positive and productive relationships, seeking to help others by identifying and meeting the needs of the team, customers, partners, and the community

• Build a cohesive customer service-driven team, overseeing customer service efforts and escalations

• Use data-driven methods to identify patterns in client spend, identify opportunities to increase wallet share, and drive repeat business

• Increase new client acquisition and strengthen existing relationships by leveraging various marketing tools and channels of technology, such as social media platforms, referrals, and networking

• Exercise expertise in use of clienteling tools to deliver exceptional service, stay connected with the client, and make targeted recommendations based on shopping history and preferences

• Take initiative to stay informed on new merchandise deliveries in the store to maximize selling potential

Business Ownership

• Drive towards the achievement of maximum sales and growth through the development of client advisors and client relationships 

• Establish well-thought-out plans and manage team execution, anticipating and adjusting for risks and roadblocks to maintain operational excellence within department(s)

• Execute plans and strategies in store to build strong client relationships and meet overall client development goals

• Develop understanding of and analyze internal and external customer behaviors, trends, and preferences, adjusting processes and standards accordingly (e.g., focus programs)

• Support audit compliance to enforce department and stockroom controls, as applicable

• Stay informed of business drivers, industry trends, and competitors, applying knowledge to identify and pursue new opportunities

• Track progress against departmental strategies to execute properly and successfully

• Proactively share information, best practices, and new ideas with team to improve business and performance

• Demonstrate strong decision-making skills (e.g., problem definition, data analysis, hypothesis testing, asking for input)

• Use critical thinking skills to analyze problems and to recommend viable solutions

• Personally champion change initiatives, explaining benefits and challenges of change to team and others impacted

WHAT YOU WILL BRING: 

Required Qualifications (Minimum Requirements):

• Relevant experience and leading a team, with supervisory experience managing a team of direct reports

• A proven track record of success managing a selling and operations workforce and achieving business results

• Proficiency in utilizing available technology, including clienteling tools and social media (social selling), as well as Google Workspace programs, advanced proficiency preferred

• History of building, leading, motivating, and coaching teams to achieve objectives

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, structuring messages in a clear logical manner using the most appropriate communication medium

• Strong attention to detail

• May require standing, bending, climbing stairs, and lifting and carrying up to 10 pounds

• Willing to work a flexible schedule based on business need, which will include evenings, weekends, and holidays

Preferred Qualifications:

• Luxury retail fashion experience preferred

• 4-year degree preferred

• Continuously builds skills and knowledge through training, coaching, and career experiences

• Demonstrates a working knowledge and appreciation of the Saks Fifth Avenue business and the fashion industry

• Adapts personal approach in response to diverse situations and people

• Responds to unexpected changes in work environment with creativity and resilience

• Establishes and upholds high personal standards for individual work and environment

• Maintains a customer-centric mentality versus a solely store-centric one

• Comfortable working in a remote environment

YOUR LIFE AND  CAREER AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE:

• Opportunity to work in a dynamic fast paced environment at a company experiencing growth and transformation 

• Exposure to rewarding career advancement opportunities across the largest multi-brand luxury retailer from retail to distribution, to digital or corporate 

• Comprehensive benefits package for all eligible full-time employees (including medical, vision and dental)

• An amazing employee discount

SALARY AND OTHER BENEFITS:

The starting salary for this position is between $75,000 - 90,000 annually.  Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include market, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for bonus

Benefits:

We offer the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, disability insurance, and a variety of additional voluntary benefits (such as critical illness, hospital and accident insurance). 

Thank you for your interest with Saks Global. We look forward to reviewing your application. 

Saks Global is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Thank you for your interest in SFA. We look forward to reviewing your application.

 SFA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, SFA complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. SFA welcomes all applicants for this position. Should you be individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process, accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes to be used.