Looking for a career, not just a job?
Your business studies have given you great insights into what is needed to be successful in this industry. The Warehouse can help you build on those skills and apply them to a real world situation as a Manager in one of our stores through our Store Manager Development Programme (SMDP).
SMDP is a structured, three-phase training programme designed to coach and support you to the top. You’re viewed as a manager from day one and your business acumen is continually developed as you help to lead and build on an already profitable New Zealand business.
You develop at your own pace and in just 3 years you could be managing your own big red shed with…
- up to 100 staff
- a yearly turnover of up to $50 million+
- P&L reporting and analysis
But that’s not all! On SMDP you also get…
- Personalised coaching, training and support from our Management Development Specialist as well as working with some of the best retail minds in NZ
- Placement in a store in a main centre with an experienced Store Manager you can learn from
- Relocation assistance*
- A very competitive starting salary and potential to earn company bonus
- 6 months off to take a break…maybe do your OE?
- Study Assistance* if you’re still at Uni or Tech or thinking about further study
- Your own company credit card for SMDP expenses, like travel
- The chance to make a real difference, add value and be respected
- To be challenged, have fun, and NEVER be bored at work again!
Applications for SMDP close on 21 August so make sure you get your application in now! To apply go to www.thewarehousecareers.co.nz and enter job code 24882.
You must be a NZ citizen or Permanent Resident to apply for this programme
Don’t leave your retail management career to chance. Register now to be part of the one of the best graduate programmes in NZ, and start your management career today with The Warehouse!
What the Programme Involves
The programme is broken into three phases, each one aimed at building your skill set so you are in a position to take control of your own store as soon as possible!
Phase One
This involves an initial orientation to the Warehouse, gaining an overall basic understanding of the company's operations and support functions through being assigned to a store for a period of approximately 5-7 months.
Phase Two
This phase will commence with a leadership development workshop followed by work experience in up to three Team Leader roles. During this time you will hone your ability to drive sales, grow profit and lead and develop a team. You will also be provided with the opportunity to learn more advanced leadership skills and to work on a designated, relevant project, aimed at show casing your abilities.
"I'm using the skills I've learnt to develop and coach my own team"
Phase Three
In this final phase you will gain work experience as an Assistant Store Manager. You will start by taking responsibility for part of the store and, as your skills develop, progress to take over more and more responsibility for the store.
Progressing through this phase you will move onto another store in a Assistant Store Manager role. During this phase, your competency will be assessed against those needed for a Store Manager role and further learning opportunities will be provided to help grow your skills.
Once you have achieved the competencies required to be a successful Store Manager, you will be ready to apply for a store of your own.
Graduate Profile - ‘A Day in the Life'
Sam Stewart is a name to remember. At only 22 years of age, Sam is already an Assistant Store Manager, sharing responsibility for a $10 million dollar store, with a team of 45+ at The Warehouse.
Sam started working part-time at the local Riccarton Warehouse while studying at Canterbury University. At the end of 2008 Sam graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce with First Class Honours, already showing he was a cut above the rest. Sam loved working in retail and initially never expected to get a career out of it until he found out about the Store Manager Graduate Programme and liked the fact that The Warehouse Grad Programme treated you like a Leader from day one.
Sam started on the Store Manager Grad Programme in February 2009. He spent the initial six months getting an in-depth understanding of the operations side of our business and what it takes to be a successful Leader. Next, he moved in to Team Leader roles before becoming an Assistant Store Manager. The ability to move through the programme so quickly has been a testament to Sam's drive and determination to succeed.
As the Assistant Store Manager Sam is responsible for driving sales and profit, while leading and developing high performing teams. A typical day for Sam is to walk the floor, check in with the team, see how they are progressing against sales reviews, conduct team meetings and coach
and develop the team. When asked what Sam loved about the programme he said: "The buzz from developing team members is fantastic and the role is always challenging and varied, there is no chance of getting bored!"
Why would Sam recommend the programme to other grads, "Where else can you get paid solely to train for the first six months, meet the CEO in your first week, have so many opportunities for career advancement and end up sharing the running a multi-million dollar business?!"
Sam's next short term goal is "to move on to a bigger store as an Assistant Manager, and then secure his own store in a Store Manager role. Who knows what the future holds, maybe I'll become an Executive on The Warehouse board", he says smiling.
The Warehouse - 'A Bit About Us'
- We are NZ's biggest general merchandise (GM) retailer, known and loved by Kiwis for its wide range of products from clothing, entertainment, technology and music to sporting, gardening, grocery and many more.
- We have been providing Kiwis with "a bargain" since 1982.
- With 86 stores throughout New Zealand we remain a New Zealand owned and operated company employing over 8,500 team members from Kaitaia in the north to Invercargill in the south.
Retail may not been seen as "sexy" but it does have its perks! No day is ever the same, you may work hard, but you also play hard. We know how to have a good time!
What makes us unique?
- We're home grown and we're a stable Kiwi company that is continually growing
- We care - We raise over $2m every year for local NZ charities
- We reward - You get your birthday day off plus numerous other benefits
- We invest - we offer a huge range of career opportunities
Do you have what it takes?
- Are you a University student/graduate looking to progress your career into Retail Management?
- Are you full of energy, drive, motivation and a real determination to succeed?
- Are you a proactive person with a real ‘can-do' attitude?
- Are you passionate about continuously improving and learning new skills?
- Do you have a real strength in communicating clearly in a professional and personable manner?
- Can you adapt to change with high personal integrity, initiative and team spirit?
- Are you enthusiastic, confident and not afraid to question traditional ways of thinking?
If you think you have what it takes, then apply now!
