Job Description
Position : Shopfit Projects Manager
Department : Retail Services
Location : Johannesburg, Parktown OR Cape Town, Observatory
Reporting to : Retail Services Manager
Purpose of the Role
To provide efficient, effective and timebound shopfit project management services to the various clients of PDS for new brand builds (counters, back walls, gondolas and retail stores) and for the maintenance of existing brand builds within respective retail stores for various prestige and luxury cosmetics brands.
Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree/equivalent
• 3 – 5 years relevant working experience
• Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, MS Teams)
• Experience in retail and cosmetics is essential
Skills
• Self-motivated; good energy levels and ability to work independently
• Attention to detail and desire for accuracy
• Critical thinking, good listening and debating skills, excellent verbal and written command of the English language
• Exceptional communication skills, stakeholder management (at all levels) and customer service skills
• Negotiation skills
• Project Management skills
• Commercially astute – strong business acumen
• Ability to remain solution focused – excellent problem-solving ability
• Flexible – must be able to adapt easily to an environment with continuous change
• Excellent time management skills
• Must be willing to learn, adapt, and to receive continuous feedback to improve
• Ability to understand technical plans
• Experienced in supplier management
• Understanding of the luxury brand environment
• Creative flair and imagination
• Visual and spatial awareness
Duties and Responsibilities
• Management of all build projects as signed off by the Board of Directors.
• Ensure that all projects have been scoped and briefed in.
• Ensure that timelines are agreed upon and adhered to.
• Ensure that project objectives/dependencies are identified, reported on and managed at all times.
• Actively monitor project risks to foresee/identify potential problems and proactively identify solutions to address in advance.
• Complete post implementation reviews to ensure successful delivery has been achieved and ensure that improvements can be made for future projects.
• Ensure that effective handovers on all projects are conducted timeously and effectively.
• Build standard operating procedures for project management services; ensure buy-in from all key stakeholders.
• Obtain project build scope and objectives from the brand team (the client).
• Create a project plan and sign off with all relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure efficient and effective execution of approved project plans.
• Liaise with internal brand team (the client) to obtain design – liaise with all relevant stakeholders until approved.
• Obtain relevant quotes and samples from shop fitters and manage process to obtain final sign off.
• Work with selected shop fitter to obtain technical drawings.
• Sign off technical drawings with international brand team.
• Liaise with the retailer to sign off technical drawings.
• Ensure drawings are approved by all relevant parties.
• Post approval, manage the build process with either local shopfitters or international shopfitters.
• Ensure that all stakeholders are updated regularly to ensure timelines are met.
• Manage and highlight all risks and build mitigation plans.
• Once build is installed, take pictures, send to stakeholders, flag snags and manage accordingly.
• Using visual and spatial awareness principles, identify visual opportunities for brands in the trade.
• Communication of opportunities to the brand team to obtain feedback and approval.
• Project management for identified visual opportunities with all relevant stakeholders.
• Fulfilment of visual briefs from brand clients.
• Build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain relationships with customers to ensure PDS is integral to their business.
• Ensure customers and all key stakeholders receive timeous updates and feedback regarding project status.
• Escalate and/or flag all potential and current issues/risks with the PDS senior management team.
• Work in partnership with all other departments to ensure smooth day-to-day running of the business.
• Creation and maintenance of all detailed project plans.
• Ensure each project file is updated with required documentation.
• Provide reporting updates for EXCO and Clients timeously.
• Obtain sign-off on project budgets from the client.
• Obtain sign off for any ad hoc maintenance requirements for any new or existing builds.