Head of Retail, Hotel Chocolat at Mars, Incorporated in Chicago, Illinois

Job Description:

Job Description:

Title: Head of Retail, Hotel Chocolat

Location: Must be Local to Chicago, IL

All applicants must have permanent legal authorization to work in the United States. Mars does not sponsor employment visas for this role.

As Head of Retail, you'll be the lead and voice for Retail, driving sales & profitability, and focusing on operational excellence & consistency. You will build cross functional relationships with other departments and key stakeholders (Directors & Execs) to enhance best for business 'one-team' performance, drive proactive and continual improvement, and trouble shoot where necessary .

You will have responsibility for delivering the customer service proposition and standards to deliver the best brand experience in store.

You will lead and motivate a large group of people both through both the day-to-day detail and ongoing business changes.

What are we Looking for:

• Proven multi-site retail and café experience.


• Commercially astute with demonstrable experience delivering KPIs and profitability.


• Clear understanding of aspects of marketing to drive footfall, and design aesthetics to drive aspiration.


• Strong leadership and people management experience


• Formulate and implement the retail strategy, ensuring it's aligned and complimentary to the wider business & brand shapers.


• Actively drive and maximize commercial KPIs through your team, reviewing performance regularly and identifying improvement opportunities.


• Take full ownership and accountability for the retail P&L, reviewing regularly and taking actions to improve as necessary.


• Support District Managers, Central Operations and Store Managers with clear action plans as required, providing feedback and recommendations.


• Engage collaboratively and work cross functionally with all key stakeholders to deliver retail and business requirements & initiatives.


• Lead, coach and support the District Managers Operations team, Store teams and other teams who support Retail..


• Champion employee engagement through the effective creation and implementation of engagement plans.


• Lead and ensure the implementation & embedding of the customer service proposition for Retail.


• Maintain operational excellence consistently dealing with improvement areas, guiding the whole team to maintain high standards.

What will be your Responsibilities:

• Formulate and implement the retail strategy, ensuring it's aligned and complimentary to the wider business & brand shapers.


• Actively drive and maximise commercial KPIs through your team, reviewing performance regularly and identifying improvement opportunities.


• Take full ownership and accountability for the retail P&L, reviewing regularly and taking actions to improve as necessary.


• the store portfolio, identifying opportunities for new locations, refits, relocations, or closures.


• Lead retail teams through business change initiatives, winning hearts, and minds.


• Support District Managers, Central Operations and Store Managers with clear action plans as required, providing feedback and recommendations.


• Engage collaboratively and work cross functionally with all key stakeholders to deliver retail and business requirements & initiatives.


• Lead, coach and support the District Managers Operations team, Store teams and other teams who support Retail.


• Champion employee engagement through the effective creation and implementation of engagement plans.


• Lead and ensure the implementation & embedding of the customer service proposition for Retail.


• Maintain operational excellence consistently dealing with improvement areas, guiding the whole team to maintain high standards.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.