Head of Returns and Clearance

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The Clearance and Returns Team is responsible for bridging customer, operational and commercial factors to minimise returns and maximise margin from returned, recycled or clearance products.

Helping customer keep what they buy

Maximising margin from products we need to clear (returned product or end of range)

When you join us as Head Of Returns and Clearance and you’ll be considering the customer, commercial & operational implications of clearance & returns, looking to minimise the amount and impact of returns into the business & maximise the value from returned and clearance stock. In addition, this role is responsible for how we tailor the Argos proposition for how we sell in the Republic of Ireland, driving profitable growth in the end-to-end P&L.

This role will lead a large, complex & diverse team to work cross-functionally across the organisation and deliver significant commercial benefit, influencing internal and external stakeholders up to board level down.


As Head Of Returns And Clearance You’ll

• Lead a team to deliver improvement in the end-to-end P&L of our returns and clearance processes, including setting and delivering against budget targets (over £200m of cost) through:
• Routing clearance & returned stock through the most appropriate exit channels (Clearance stores, e-auction, eBay, return to supplier) to maximise the return we make on this stock
• Managing the pricing, ranging & propositions of these exit channels
• Repairing and refurbishing returned products to keep them with the customer, or maximise their re-sale value (including managing third party contracts)
• Provide aftersales content & support for customers (including digital content & working with the commercial teams to improve product quality to reduce the level of returns)
  
• Deliver profitable growth in Argos in the Republic of Ireland through tailoring the commercial proposition – including accountability for key commercial levers such as ranging, pricing, promotions & events
• Build and deliver a programme of change that reduces the impact of clearance & returns on the business, balancing customer, commercial & operational implications
• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders both internally and externally, supporting cross-functional working & the delivery of cross-functional opportunities – including DD level influence across retail, supply & logistics, digital and other areas of the business
• Negotiate effectively with third parties to deliver the most effective clearance & returns propositions for the business & customers, managing large (multi-million £) 3rd party contracts across repair, refurbishment and e-auctions (among others)
  
  

Our Clearance And Returns Team Would Love To See

• A strong understanding of the retail market and sales channels, ideally with specific expertise in returns, clearance, and international retail
• An understanding of the end-to-end Sainsbury’s & Argos business models and operations – allowing you to spot, develop & deliver cross-functional cost reduction & customer proposition improvement opportunities, delivering incremental profit
• Strong influencing skills, up to operating board level, to align cross-functional teams behind clearance & returns opportunities, particularly where there may be trade-offs between their objectives (e.g. the cost of handling a return in store vs. the commercial benefit from doing so)
• Completing complex negotiations both internally and externally
• A high degree of commercial acumen and decision making, relying on experiences and a track record of commercial successes
• Analysis of complex data from multiple sources to support strong and timely commercial decisions and strategies, role modelling similar behaviours across the broader team
• Excellent, proven leadership skills in a complex environment supported by substantial experience and know how
• Knowledge of systems and processes in a complex multi-channel environment, able to balance short and long-term objectives to deliver plans
  
  

Why Sainsbury’s?
Work-life balance is important to us, so we offer our colleagues as much flexibility as possible in line with the needs of their role. We trust them to decide how, where and when they work, combining remote and collaborative working with a flexible approach to hours, giving them plenty of time and space for life outside of work whilst delivering against our business goals.

As well as a great work-life balance, lots of on-the-job training and endless opportunities, click here for more detail on our benefits: https://sainsburys.jobs/working-for-us/benefits/


Primary Location
GB-GB-Milton Keynes


Work Locations
Argos - Avebury and Home


Job
Merchandising


Schedule
Full-time


Advertised Salary
Competitive plus benefits