Country manager (cm) is key business leader for club demonstration services (cds) and responsible for operational direction and management of the in‑house demonstration program for their designated country. This role has overall responsibility for the execution of strategic plans, business plans, budgeting, hiring, training, developing and managing all members of the cds team. The cm oversees annual budgets and business operating plans and will be responsible for meeting financial targets.
In addition, the cm will leverage the resources of operations, sales, marketing, human resources, finance, information technology and costco to achieve strategic and financial objectives. The country manager is the key contact between the senior leadership team and the client and will develop and enhance the customer relationship with senior level management at costco and its vendors.
Essential job duties and responsibilities (describe the major duties of the job. List the essential duties and responsibilities in order of most time spent to least. To the right under the % column, include the % for each item or group of items that are to total 100%)
business/functional results
creates, administers and measures budget and budgeted goals for country of accountability; if deviation from financial targets, implement solutions to get back on track
structure cds successfully in designated country
support cds team in the development of sales plans
increase cds business connectivity with new potential customers
effectively negotiate supplier commission rates to grow category or team revenue.
Pitch and close new business opportunities for cds in designated country
accountable for all store operations, sales and finances in designated country and other back‑office support functions.
Manage cds brand marketing in the local country; deliver quality products at efficient price points
managing execution
identify the most critical initiatives and work with the team to lay out short‑ and long‑term plans to achieve goals; allocate resources effectively
develop strong supplier relationships by obtaining alignment and delivering on mutually established goals.
Monitor effectiveness of operating procedures, space utilization and quality of demonstrations by conducting routine store visits
evaluate various demo performance metrics including execution rates, sales performance, labor hours and operational costs, and make adjustments as necessary
conduct routine meetings with key customer leadership, including buying, marketing and operations
routinely attend all high‑profile customer events / interact with key customer leadership and vendor representatives
generating talent
attract, develop and retain key talent to enable the execution of the collective goals of the customer and the enterprise
assure succession plans are in place for critical roles
strategically focus development of direct reports, including preparation for increased responsibility through mentoring, counseling, constructive feedback and interest in their long‑term growth
provide operational direction, training, coaching and development to subordinate managers to ensure their success and success of the business.
Motivate, direct and inspire team members to deliver on the agreed‑upon metrics of the customer and suppliers in conjunction with the needed resources/teams across the enterprise
strategic leadership
lead the expansion of new business in designated country
set and execute new strategic initiatives for the marketplace, account or the assigned categories
elevate the conversation with customer to the strategy level, within assigned categories
manage the cds value equation with appropriate stakeholders and ensure it is understood and advanced
support, provide guidance with customer issues relating to cost/value
foster thought leadership within the cds team
managing relationships
create, establish and maintain solid top‑to‑top relationship with the client throughout buying, marketing and store operations
develop and enhance the customer relationship with costco and its vendors
exemplify high standards as the key contact between the senior leadership team and the client
own director‑level relationships with assigned and potential new customer and suppliers
direct, delegate and empower effectively
minimum qualifications the following are the minimum job‑related qualifications which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job
education level: (required): bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
preferred: mba degree
field of study/area of experience: sales & marketing
10 years of professional work experience required; 12 years preferred
experience in fmcg and/or retail and/or operations is preferred.
Trading and store services experience is desired.
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams; 6 to 8 years of experience managing, supervising and training staff. Managing international teams, a plus.
Skills, knowledge and abilities
ability to contribute to setting and achieving budgets
proven track record of developing talent, and ability/willingness to mentor associates
good grasp of product development, marketing, retail services, category management, and logistics
highly effective in building and maintaining customer and associate relationships
ability to work effectively with constantly changing priorities and deadlines. Strong strategic background and commercial mind to drive and grow the business and be able to function well under stress. Ability to prioritize in a challenging and demanding environment with strong organizational and time‑management skills. Attention to detail and time follow up pro‑actively.
Must have excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy with a wide variety of individuals
should have a good track record of building and leading a strong team and organization, possessing a pro‑active management style and an entrepreneurial mind to look for new growth opportunities.
Solid understanding of accounting practices, budget planning and analyzing business performance. A candidate who has responsibility for local p/l is preferred.
Excellent computer skills including working knowledge of word, excel and a web based system.
Must be able to travel frequently.
Environmental & physical requirements
office / sedentary requirements
incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear the telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may also require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds.
Additional information regarding asm job duties and job descriptions
job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. Asm reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. Asm shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.
Supervisory responsibilities
direct reports
hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company‑wide processes, tools and resources
indirect reports
may delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports
travel and/or driving requirements
travel and driving are not essential duties or functions of this job but some is required
seniority level
mid‑senior level
employment type
full-time
job function
business consulting and services
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