Skills & Competencies for Retail Store Department Manager

Retail Store Department Manager job profile

JOB SUMMARY for Retail Store Department Manager

Oversees merchandising and staff in a department.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES for Retail Store Department Manager

May have keyholder responsibilities. Responsible for department retail sales staff training, assignments, and scheduling.

Retail Store Department Manager SALARY RANGE

BASE 50%
$49,060
TOTAL 50%
$50,180
Job Level
M00
Job Code
SM15000239
Education/Degree
High School Diploma or Technical Certificate
Reports To
Manager or Head of a Unit/Department

Retail Store Department Manager Skills and Competencies List

Proficiency Levels and Behavioural Indicators
Salary.com identifies five increasing levels of proficiency for each skill/competency. Some jobs require only a relatively low level of proficiency in each skill/competency, while other jobs will require a more advanced level of proficiency in the same skill/competency. These levels rate the degree of proficiency (skill level, expertise) we expect the incumbent to perform in the given skill/competency for the given job. Note that we intentionally do not associate timeframes or years of experience in performing the skill/competency because that can be misleading. Proficiency levels identify what the incumbent knows and can do rather than how long they have been doing it. Also, note that the proficiency levels are cumulative, e.g., a level 4 proficiency implies the ability to perform all the behaviors at the lower levels.
Check each Retail Store Department Manager skill and competencie below to view definitions.

8 hard skills or competencies (industry competencies) for Retail Store Department Manager

1 Industry Competency – Retail Industry
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Applying comprehensive knowledge of retail principles, inventory management, pricing strategies, and consumer behavior to effectively manage and operate retail businesses.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists diverse activities and functions of retailing including buying, advertising, and data processing.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Records and reports customer feedback to assist in optimizing retail offerings and improving service quality.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Utilizes advanced software and technology to automate and optimize retail operations.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Oversees inventory control and supply chain processes to ensure optimal stock levels and minimize costs.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Leads omnichannel optimization initiatives to ensure a seamless and integrated customer journey.
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2 Industry Competency – Merchandising
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Strategically planning, executing, and managing product merchandising, pricing, and promotions to increase customer engagement and maximize revenue.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains how effective merchandising can increase sales, generate revenue, and improve brand awareness.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Helps in arranging merchandise displays adhering to a planogram and precise brand guidelines.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Utilizes analytics and sales data to optimize and improve online and offline merchandising performance.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Monitors and controls inventory levels to estimate purchase reorders of merchandise accurately.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Establishes and implements SOPs to optimize organizational merchandising operations.
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3 Retail Store Department Manager - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Retail Store Department Manager
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Retail Store Department Manager
Proficiency Level - 5

3 general skills or competencies (Job family competencies) for Retail Store Department Manager

1 Job Family Competencies – Training and Development
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-The process of improving the job performance of an individual or group through structured and planned training sessions.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains the importance and benefits of the training and development process.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supports employees in learning course accessibility through various delivery channels.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Designs engaging and media-rich instructional to support training and continued learning and development.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Oversees the training sessions for employee skill enhancement.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Keeps abreast of new developments and innovations related to training and development.
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2 Job Family Competencies – Promotion
Proficiency Level -2
Skill definition-Developing and implementing promotional activities to attract and increase the awareness of customers in buying products.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists the basic techniques used in executing promotion in the marketing sector.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Shows potential customers how a product or service works.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Implements promotional activities in accordance with the set budget.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Manages various promotional initiatives such as direct marketing and sales promotion.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Establishes a metric system to evaluate the effectiveness of major promotional efforts.
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3 Retail Store Department Manager - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Retail Store Department Manager
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Retail Store Department Manager
Proficiency Level - 5

11 soft skills or competencies (core competencies) for Retail Store Department Manager

1 Core Competencies – Financial Acumen
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-Obtaining financial information and applying financial understanding to foster sound judgment and correct business decisions.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Lists and explains the roles of major financial reports.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Communicates financial information and movements effectively to senior management.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Reconciles figures during budgeting period and identifies variances that require immediate action.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Oversees all aspects of our business's monetary transactions and economic value to promote financial stability.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Monitors our business's overall performance and adjusts the allocation of finances based on progress against goals.
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2 Core Competencies – Budgeting
Proficiency Level -1
Skill definition-Applying specific policies, tools and practices to plan and prepare projected revenues, expenses, cash flows, and capital expenditures.
Level 1 Behaviors
(General Familiarity)
Explains the importance of budget reporting and forecasting in our workplace.
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Level 2 Behaviors
(Light Experience)
Supplies supporting information and justification for major line items.
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Level 3 Behaviors
(Moderate Experience)
Utilizes software tools and applications to forecast our annual budget accurately.
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Level 4 Behaviors
(Extensive Experience)
Provides in-depth training to our entire organization about the zero based budgeting methodology.
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Level 5 Behaviors
(Mastery)
Forecasts asset needs to leverage available inventory and data compilation for annual budgeting.
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3 Retail Store Department Manager - Skill and Competency
Proficiency Level - 3
4 Skill and Competency - Retail Store Department Manager
Proficiency Level - 4
5 Competency for - Retail Store Department Manager
Proficiency Level - 5

Summary of Retail Store Department Manager skills and competencies

There are 8 hard skills for Retail Store Department Manager, Retail Industry, Merchandising, Retail Operations, etc.
3 general skills for Retail Store Department Manager, Training and Development, Promotion, Inventory Management.
11 soft skills for Retail Store Department Manager, Financial Acumen, Budgeting, Planning and Organizing, etc.
While the list totals 22 distinct skills, it's important to note that not all are required to be mastered to the same degree. Some skills may only need a basic understanding, whereas others demand a higher level of expertise.
For instance, as a Retail Store Department Manager, he or she needs to be proficient in Financial Acumen, be proficient in Budgeting, and be proficient in Planning and Organizing.

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