Valentino Store Manager

About Valentino

Founded in Rome in 1960 by Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino is an Italian luxury house distinguished by its couture heritage, expressive elegance and exceptional craftsmanship. Spanning haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather goods and accessories, the Maison unites artisanal expertise with contemporary creative ambition. As an employer, Valentino offers a professional setting where design, atelier craftsmanship, merchandising, retail and corporate functions contribute to a globally recognised identity. Its teams translate a rich Roman legacy into collections and client experiences, making the house a compelling environment for professionals drawn to the interplay of cultural heritage, meticulous execution and evolving expressions of luxury.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead the Palacio de Hierro Monterrey location as a brand ambassador, driving business performance, elevating the client experience, executing strategic initiatives, building lasting client relationships, and ensuring exceptional results aligned with Maison values.
• Maintain a strong front-of-house presence, deliver an excellent in-store experience, and foster a couture-service mindset.
• Implement company strategies by coaching, motivating, and supporting the Valentino Concession team, ensuring their understanding and adoption of those strategies.
• Liaise with department-store leadership to communicate key information and strategy.
• Build and maintain relationships with the Department Store Stylist Club to increase brand recognition and concession revenue.
• Partner with department-store HR and the Valentino Training Team to arrange appropriate training for Saks employees selling Valentino products.
• Maximize sales performance against overall targets while maintaining operational integrity and monthly profitability plans.
• Monitor and analyze store KPIs, developing and implementing action plans to meet and exceed targets.
• Create an annual store strategy and revisit it monthly or quarterly as needed to align with commercial targets and broader company objectives.
• Collaborate across functions to execute business plans seamlessly.
• Identify performance opportunities through strategic partnerships with corporate stakeholders.
• Manage personnel expenses within budget and comply with discounting policies to protect brand integrity.
• Partner with Merchandising and Buying to ensure the store carries relevant products that support revenue.
• Report weekly to Valentino leadership on sales trends and opportunities to increase sales.
• Foster a motivating, inclusive environment that values diversity, mutual respect, and teamwork.
• Address conflicts and sensitive personnel issues with tact and direct, actionable feedback, partnering with the Retail Director and HRBP.
• Support each team member's professional growth and prepare them for future advancement.
• Maintain high standards of professionalism among staff, including grooming and conduct.
• Set SMART goals and optimize staffing schedules to support team performance and compliance with labor regulations.
• Communicate company content promptly through morning briefings, product updates, and CRM training.
• Build a strong team through retention and recruitment, supporting career development and succession planning with HR.
• Lead all store recruiting activities in partnership with HR and Talent Acquisition.
• Plan and organize team activities and verify their day-to-day execution.
• Maintain a motivated, positive, and safe work environment; manage sensitive personnel situations in accordance with company policies and employment laws.
• Hold regular store meetings and morning briefings, keeping the team informed about performance and sales objectives.
• Set quantitative and qualitative objectives and ensure their achievement.
• Monitor sales activities and uphold Valentino Client Journey standards to deliver an excellent client experience.
• Implement clienteling and drive client engagement, recruitment, retention, and upgrading, with particular attention to local domestic clients.
• Develop external relationships with network contacts, prestigious individuals, clients, and third parties to promote loyalty and expand the network.
• Manage the client database, including client assignment and reassignment, and execute direct marketing actions for loyal and inactive clients in line with company CRM requirements.
• Integrate digital tools and assets into the client journey and clienteling routine.
• Turn customer interactions into meaningful relationships through a robust client-development strategy.
• Follow operational policies and procedures to minimize loss and optimize store performance.
• When no Operations Headcount is present, participate in operational tasks, including shipping and receiving.
• Where applicable, support the Team Manager with sensitive sales and after-sales matters, including boutique returns, end-of-season matters, customer returns, repairs, and complaints; ensure compliance with company procedures.
• Manage end-of-season returns, product transfers, inventory activities, and related results.
• Manage cash and payment systems in accordance with company procedures and policies.
• Handle recurring store-accountancy audits and ensure administrative procedures and timelines are followed.
• Maintain the store, furnishings, machinery, and tools in efficient working order.
• Partner with the Team Manager, Client Advisors, and merchandising team on seasonal buys.
• Monitor product rotation and ensure it aligns with store sales potential, with Merchandising and Buying support.
• Liaise with local Head Office Visual Merchandising, receive requirements, assess visual criteria effectiveness in terms of sales, and report relevant information.
• Ensure visual merchandising reflects strategy and guidelines, and maintain the order and cleanliness of windows and internal displays.
• Verify visual criteria and guideline execution in store.
• Partner with Head Office and Regional Visual Merchandising teams to maintain boutique visual standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred, not required.
• At least 5 years of experience in store management or a leadership role.
• Luxury department-store management experience preferred, not required.
• Demonstrated track record of achieving results and developing teams.
• Excellent knowledge of products and the client journey.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of store and team performance and KPIs.
• Proactive in identifying business opportunities and proposing action plans.
• Effective team-management skills and ability to motivate a team.
• Excellent organizational, follow-up, and time-management skills.
• Confidence and ability to build relationships with clients, the team, and the business.
• Clear, concise verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Attention to detail while working to strict deadlines.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects with competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in all store sales and operations systems.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Skills

Experience

At least 5 years in store management or a leadership role; luxury department-store management experience preferred.

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred, not required.

Benefits

Competitive compensation; comprehensive benefits package; career growth opportunities within a global luxury fashion house; generous employee clothing allowance; collaborative and inspiring work environment.

Culture

Valentino’s workplace culture is rooted in its Roman couture heritage, combining creative expression with exacting craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail. Its professional environment brings together design, atelier and business expertise around a shared ambition to interpret the Maison’s distinctive identity through a contemporary vision of luxury.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.