Retail Operations Manager

At Bath & Body Works, everyone belongs. We are committed to creating a culture of belonging focused on delivering exceptional fragrances and experiences to our customers. We focus on recruiting, retaining, and advancing top talent. In addition, we work to improve our communities and our planet to help the world live more fully.

The Retail Operations Manager – International Franchise role at Bath & Body Works offers a special chance to serve as the in-market Brand Expert, working with field leadership to enhance our international franchise business. You will report to the Regional Commercial Manager and be responsible for advancing, driving sales growth, ensuring flawless store execution, and supporting franchise partners.

Responsibilities

Grow & Drive the Business: Deliver consistent sales growth

• Achieve sales, profit, and benchmark performance in assigned markets in alignment with regional and global goals.
• Engage with franchise partner field leaders to assess store-level performance, discovering chances for improvement in critical metrics to inform partner leaders and the regional commercial manager.
• Collaborate with the Regional Commercial Manager and franchise partners on action plans from Weekly Business Reviews to address found opportunities, integrating weekly sales results.
• Provide weekly observations and seasonal hindsight/learning back to the International and Regional Commercial teams regarding marketing and promotional cadence.
• Build customer intimacy by spending time in stores, reinforcing the use of company-provided training tools, and personally demonstrating how to foster a customer-centric culture. Drive consistent execution of selling strategies.
• Translate brand standards for each market, considering cultural nuances; send and assess daily store photos, coordinate with franchise partners for next steps.
• Build a disciplined culture passionate about flawless execution of processes, procedures, and initiatives, while identifying and communicating opportunities for improvement to leadership.

Capability: Drive operational excellence, and demonstrate inspiring leadership

• Support partners in new store opening execution, ensuring consistency with brand standards.
• Address urgent concerns affecting performance, collaborating with the Regional Commercial Manager and global teams to overcome challenges, speed up problem-solving, and meet operational and financial objectives.
• Construct strong store leadership teams that embody what we value. Engage in talent acquisition, field compliments, and retention strategies to aid in succession planning.
• Assess partner Field Leadership Team (FLT) and Store Leadership Team (SLT) strengths and gaps; influence partner actions to address capability gaps.
• Mentor partner FLT and SLT for consistent customer experience across all stores, including selling techniques and role modeling behaviors. Follow up with leadership teams.
• Encourage a shared vision by communicating clear goals and encouraging a positive, rewarding work environment.
• Conduct regular store visits to include in-store activities, behavior modeling, and mentoring on execution of the customer experience, selling model, and visual merchandising.

Partnerships: Develop positive relationships with franchise partners

• Provide timely and effective communication, including participation in relevant weekly and monthly business reviews and cross-functional meetings.
• Cascade information appropriately and keep franchise partners informed and updated on customer-facing brand activities, initiatives, and strategies.

Qualifications & Experience

The job requires a background of 3 to 7 years in Retail Operations/Field Management, with a preference for experience in Franchise (partner) operations or managing multiple store locations.

• Previous experience in fashion/beauty highly desired
• Proven record in talent development and influence
• Ability to quickly analyze key business metrics and results to identify performance improvement opportunities and recommend meaningful solutions
• Capable of fostering customer closeness through a keen understanding of brand and customer awareness
• Proficient communication abilities and the skill to cultivate successful business relationships
• Proficiency in engaging with diverse levels, functions, and cultures to develop positive relationships
• Capability to collaborate with Senior level management
• Ability to recognize when to be hands-on and when to step back and take a mentoring role
• Ability to communicate, influence, and negotiate effectively
• Established track record of strong organizational abilities, skilled at handling diverse responsibilities with conflicting priorities, and effectively managing time
• Should possess the skill to identify possibilities and promptly translate them into suggestions
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• Ability to travel up to 50%

Education

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience required

Core Competencies

• Lead with Curiosity & Humility
• Build High Performing Teams for Today & Tomorrow
• Influence & Inspire with Vision & Purpose
• Observe, Engage & Connect
• Strive to Achieve Operational Excellence
• Deliver Business Results