JOB TITLE:                 Franchise Business Consultant
FLSA STATUS:          Exempt    
REPORTS TO:           Dir. Franchise Development / Operations
LOCATION:                Florida Region
NOTICE NUMBER:   10-00113-00-01
OPENING DATE:       01/15/10
CLOSING DATE:       01/27/10

REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business or related field preferred. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.  Requires minimum of 5 years practical experience working in business; retail operations; merchandising and/or marketing.  Multi-unit retail experience in convenience stores and/or gasoline retailing preferred.  Experience with a Franchise Business System preferred.  Must possess demonstrated leadership ability, exceptional communication skills; be self-directed, self-motivated.  Must be proficient in Microsoft Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word.
Travel between sites may be significant.  Overnight travel estimated at 20%.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist franchisees in maximizing income opportunities by providing marketing/ merchandising tools and direction; verifying franchisees receive updated promotional and program information on negotiated programs, schematics and planograms..
• Ensure franchisees maximize discounts, rebates and placement allowances by reviewing compliance with contractual merchandise/display agreements.
• Maintain competitive pricing position by monitoring competitor’s pricing activities, evaluating trends and market conditions; recommending retail adjustments.
• Ensure financial integrity of franchisee by reviewing sales analysis or similar reports with franchisee; assist franchisee with investigation into irregularities in gross margin and/or profit contribution, correcting deficiencies and /or developing promotional plans, analyzing build-to activity on monthly promotions and discounted products..
• Assist franchisee in resolving difficulties with vendors by serving as liaison between franchisee and vendor.  This includes proper product mix (not allowing items that would cause a franchisee to lose rebate / placement monies).  Following up with cost issues, delivery issues, and out of stock problems.
• Make recommendations on promotional activities by providing franchisee feedback on display cleanliness, attractiveness, signage and positioning..
• Ensure store maintains operating standards for cleanliness by conducting store inspections; providing written findings and recommendations to franchisee and ensure revenue-producing equipment is operating and meets required sanitary conditions.
• Ensure store merchandise meets required agreement standards by inspecting for cleanliness, product rotation, product freshness, and product display, proper placement and authorized products..
• Ensure financial integrity of franchisee by providing assistance with labor planning; profit-loss analysis; inventory and cash control; operating expense control; monitoring sales activity; analyzing cash, inventory and shift variances.
• Encourage franchisee to maintain community relations by encouraging franchisee to participate with local associations and/or law enforcement agencies to resolve neighborhood problems and to support local/national company sponsored charitable organizations.
• Support Circle K Franchise development strategies by assisting development in performing site selection analysis, franchisee candidate evaluations, tradeshows and assisting in discovery days.
• Assist in the site opening process by providing franchisee guidance with the construction process and assisting in equipment, merchandise and vendor setup.
• Provide support to franchisee by supplying copies of the Human Resources and Loss Prevention Guide, computer based training materials; compliance posters; consultation on management issues; offering training and development.
• Perform a complete business review of the franchisee every six months to include image, sales, mystery shops, marketing compliance, promotional compliance, profitability, affidavit submissions, affidavit integrity, customer service, and operational compliance.
• Responsible for rolling out and implementing new marketing and operational programs efficiently and effectively.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills to develop trusting business relationships with franchisees.   The FBC is the liaison between corporate and the franchisees and is responsible for communicating corporate, marketing, and operational issues.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing persona networks; benchmarking best practices; participating in professional societies.
• Ensure compliance with requirements, policies and regulations by enforcing adherence to corporate systems, policies and governmental regulations; advising management on needed actions.
• Comply with federal, state and local legal requirements by studying and reviewing existing and new laws; auditing and enforcing adherence to requirements; rendering opinions; advising management on needed actions.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing Financial and Key Result Area targets pursuant to Company plan guidelines.

APPLY

Send resume with notice number to:

Dolly Heitz
WHeitz@circlek.com