General Merchandise Manager

Summary:

To manage General Merchandise in store effectively and efficiently. Ensuring the achievement of sales targets, budgets, shrinkage management, customer service and staff management.

FUNCTIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES:

Finance

Achieve Turnover Budget:

• Ensure the achievement of the sales budget by supplier involvement – in store deals/weekend specials, killer deals on ends at all times, ensure 100% in stock promotion lines - KVI through formal communication between stores and head office to ensure 100% in stock, 95% in stock on secondary lines, encourage staff to sell up, 100% correct pricing and ticketing by consulting price adjustment advice report
• Control Expenses – FTE Control, better scheduling of external contractors, controlling of paying salesman commission, no free deliveries, ensure that actual expenses matches budgeted expenses and last year achievement
• Control shrinkage by ensuring, improvement on last year shrinkage, discretionary adherent to returns policy and follow through the entire process, adherence to national count roster, better handling of stock, top 20 shrinkage lines to be counted regularly, better sharing of information between customer and staff, high value register kept in place where applicable, accurate stock counts, reduction of damages and stock management
• Gross margin - Ensure accurate stockholding as per Target - To achieve the 60 days forward cover – do not order more than 60 days’ worth of stock
• Control of lower selling prices by managing the following:
• Deals
• Markdowns
• Job lots
• Aged stock
• Damage to stock
• Incorrect ticketing
• Discounts
• Ensure the achievement of actual vs. budgeted Gross Margin %

Ensure effective execution of markdown plans as given by head office

Make sure article is correctly ticketed at markdown price

• Highlight merchandise, ensure that it is correctly displayed
• Proper management of reverse logistics for example returns to vendor for store controlled articles
• Dispo maintenance – timeously auctioning of request, be it buyers or suppliers
• Ensure correct ticketing through weekly audits
• Ensure that there are no tickets older than 2 months on the floor through audits Shrinkage Reduction:
• Ensure the shrinkage target is achieved
• Monitor control of damaged processes and procedures
• Ensure effective investigations
• Know and monitor high shrinkage lines
• Monitor job lot procedures
• Monitor staff purchase reports
• Ensure high risk stock process adherence
• Swell allowances being allocated to stores income statement, responsibility of head office finance department, imported lines shown as imported for correct reporting of code 8’s
• Discretionary adherent to returns policy and follow through of entire process • Monitor internal stock management processes

Stock Management

• Assist in effective and efficient stock control.
• Maintain 100% KVI in-stock across all article groups.
• Achieve budgeted stockholdings and maintain in all article groups.
• Maintain price competitiveness and reaction.
• Reduction of Aged stock below Targets.
• Management of Stock replenishment.
• Management of Slow Selling Stock
• Ensure reduction of Mark-downs, quickly and efficiently.
• Ensure management of Stock.
• Identify slow moving stock
• Identify fast moving stock • Manage promotion stock.
• Handle all stock queries.

People Management

Induction of new employees:

• Ensure new starters have completed the induction and orientation process within 12 weeks of starting date
• Line manager to assist HR in induction of staff and facilitate orientation of staff Employment equity targets:
• Ensure achievement of initiatives in support of store equity plan when recruiting for the department
• Recruitment plan in line with EE
• Identify EE candidates with potential for development
• Identify EE candidates for learnership program Performance Management:
• Signed role clarity in place for each staff member
• Performance contract in place for all leveled managers
• Signed PDD’s in place for all staff members
• Conduct performance and development discussions on a bi – annual basis
• Maintain appropriate level of discipline
• Take appropriate disciplinary action
• Manage staff adherence to working schedule
• Weekly PDR’s to improve staff morale
• Ensure staff is cross –skilled to ensure continuity of all functions
• Energy level improvement
• Manage time keeping and working hours
• Effective planning for weekends and festive season trading
• Manage Team Delivery based on performance plans Staff development and succession:
• Ensure that the % is achieved for training and development plans
• Ensure that a succession plan is in place for individual departments
• Ensure Development plan is in place for all individuals
• Ensure % staff that have completed mandatory CBTs are recorded
• Ensure % staff that have completed functional CBTs are recorded

Requirements:

Minimum Academic, Professional Qualifications & Experience required for this position

• Marketing / Sales Degree

• 10 – 12 years’ experience

Competencies & Skills:

• Live the values

• Judgment

• Customer/Member Cantered

• Planning & Improvement

• Influence and Communicate

• Adaptability

• Culture, Diversity & Inclusion

Functional

• Communication Skills

• Strong Administration Skills

• Planning, Organising and Control

• Knowledge of Store process

• Manage and Motivate staff member

• The position requires trust and honesty and that entails the handling of cash and/or

finances, which includes but is not limited to, the handling, administering, processing and

distribution of the Company’s monetary resources such as its stock in trade or merchandise

“Employment Equity Policy Requirements may be applicable”

At Massmart, we are committed to fostering a workplace culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and a true sense of belonging. We believe that every employee deserves a safe environment—free from discrimination, harassment, and inappropriate behaviour—where they can thrive and perform at their best.

Our policies promote equal opportunity and a culture of accountability. If you ever feel unsafe or witness behaviours that do not align with Massmart’s values, we encourage you to speak up.

Email: ethics@walmart.com

Phone: 0800 20 32 46

Your voice matters, and we are here to support you

If you don`t hear from us within 14 days please consider your application unsuccessful.

Contact person for further information about this vacancy/forwarding of application:

Massmart is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all people including people with disabilities to apply for the role. Due to the volume of applications we receive, should you not hear from us within 14 days of your application, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.

"Please note that only the following information is required in your CV:

Contact details (email and contact number); Full name; Date of birth; Race; Gender; Disability status; Location (Current city/town of residence); Qualifications and training; Work experience; Memberships (if any); Personal and technical skills, including computer literacy."

Note that by responding to this application and providing your personal information, you confirm your express and informed consent for Massmart Holdings Limited and all its subsidiaries and all affiliated companies (“Massmart”), to process your personal information in order for Massmart to consider your application for this position. All Personal Information that you provide to the Company will be used and/or retained only for the purposes for which it is collected, whereafter it will be permanently de