ASM_ Lifestyle_Qatar

Role Overview

Assistant Store Manager (ASM) – Lifestyle, Qatar at Landmark Group. This position is based in Qatar and supports store operations within the Lifestyle retail brand.

Company Overview

Landmark Group is a global retail and hospitality group founded in 1973, headquartered in the UAE. The group operates over 2,200 retail stores, leisure, and hospitality outlets across the GCC, Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Landmark owns 25+ value-led, own-built brands including Max, Splash, Babyshop, Centrepoint, Shoemart, Homecentre, Emax, Fitness First, and Funcity.

Lifestyle is a leading retail destination specialising in Beauty, Fashion, and Home products, established in 1998. The brand operates more than 160 retail stores across the GCC with a rapidly growing e-commerce platform, serving over 4 million customers annually. Lifestyle is positioned as an omnichannel destination for Beauty and Fashion, offering colour cosmetics, perfumes, personal care, fashion accessories, home essentials, home fragrance, and youth products.

Role Purpose

The Assistant Store Manager ensures seamless store operations by assuming all Shop Manager responsibilities during their absence and jointly controlling and directing store management in their presence. The role prioritises customer service and sales while maintaining operational excellence, staff development, and commercial performance aligned with company strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Store Operations & Management

• Assume all responsibilities of Shop Manager during their absence.
• Jointly control and direct store management in presence of Shop Manager.
• Ensure customer service and sales take priority over administrative tasks.
• Manage operating costs within budgetary guidelines.
• Operate an effective stock management and back store management system to maximise sales and profitability.
• Maintain strict levels of confidentiality regarding all areas of the business, particularly commercial information and personal details of employees.

Sales & Commercial Performance

• Optimise sales in line with company budgets, ensuring the right product is available at the right time.
• Maximise all sales opportunities through effective use of promotional and marketing opportunities.
• Monitor sales performance against prior year, prior week, and budget on a daily and weekly basis and communicate results to staff.
• Recommend price revisions to Concept Manager and Merchandise Manager.
• Interpret and act on operational profit and sales reports generated through finance, focusing on improving under-performing areas.
• Translate company strategy, objectives, and policies into relevant, realistic working targets and practices for the shop, including promotions and sales budgets.

Merchandising & Visual Standards

• Ensure effective merchandising layout is implemented in relation to sales targets and store objectives, utilising merchandising standards as established.
• Maintain high standards of visual appearance throughout the store, including all non-retail areas.
• Maintain window and in-store displays to a high standard in line with merchandising guidelines.
• Provide department reports on slow-moving, fast-moving, and non-moving items to Department Supervisors and Inventory Controller/Warehouse Manager.

Market & Environment Monitoring

• Monitor and continuously seek to understand the commercial environment, local trading patterns, competitor activity, and market trends in the retail sector and their store impact.
• Monitor handling of customer complaints in line with Company policy and seek regular feedback.

Staff Development & Performance Management

• Carry out regular and relevant in-store training, audits, and enrol staff on relevant Learning and Development courses.
• Ensure store expectations and priorities are communicated to staff.
• Regularly review and provide feedback on staff performance against expectations.
• Optimise the use of support resources, including Visual Merchandising Coordinators, Trainers, Department Supervisors, Cashiers, and Back store staff.
• Ensure regular showroom staff meetings are carried out to communicate business goals and deliver training.
• Ensure job rotation is implemented in the showroom, giving each staff member an opportunity to move to different sections within the division/showroom.

Customer Care & Internal Standards

• Exhibit and promote high standards of internal customer care.

Planning & Forecasting

• Ensure seasonal peaks and important trading and promotional events are taken into account when preparing forecasts and staff rosters.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduation in Business Management.
• Specialised courses on Retail Management.
• Large format retail management experience.
• Sound understanding of Business.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and store management ability.
• Sales and commercial acumen.
• Merchandising and visual standards expertise.
• Staff training, development, and performance management.
• Financial management and budget control.
• Customer service orientation.
• Analytical ability to interpret sales and profit reports.
• Communication and stakeholder management skills.