Regional Managers

Ever wondered about the function and role of an agency's Regional Manager? I recently came across a vacancy advertising the post for one of the leading scuba agencies.

The Regional Manager is required to live and operate within a specific region and be able to travel to the agency's regional office as required.

Summary

The Regional Manager is responsible for meeting or exceeding the prescribed sales goals for their region.
The strategies for accomplishing this include, presenting and selling the agency's products and programs during store visits, member meetings and telephone calls. Additionally, they provide members in the region with sales and training consultation, customer service and education. The Regional Manager may also represent the agency before local governments, tourist and recreation bureaus, and other official agencies.

Essential duties and responsabilities include the following (additional duties may also be assigned).

Achieve prescribed merchandise and certification sales goals for their region.
Direct involvement in the development and implementation of product promotions and campaigns.
Promote agency's system and philosophy.
Provide customer service to the current membership.
Promote and sell agency's products to retailers during store visits and consumer contact.
Function as instructional specialist in consultation/seminars with agency's members.
Maintain regular contact with service providers through a combination of store and resort visits, phone calls and email.
Trip reporting and customer relationship management.
Provide public relations for agency as needed.

Competitive Acquisition:

Identify potential stores/resorts & develop strategies to aggressively acquire them.
Work in conjunction with the head office to maintain and exceed new membership goals.
Promote the agency's stores and resorts national promotions.
Represent the agency before governments and official agencies as needed.
Review agency's website weekly to gain knowledge of activities.
Keeping abreast of company programs and activities by daily reviewing agency's Intranet (subject to connectivity).
Actively participate in follow up programs associated with the agency's programs, including Management Training Workshop and Continuing Education Workshops. This includes, but is not limited to, telephone (or other) communications with participants to discuss progress of workshop agreement action items, appropriate follow up, and recording of communication and follow up.
Maintain sales history data on their corparate laptop's hard drive for 3 years.

Perform necessary paperwork functions, including:

Calendar year's proposed activities itinerary & budget (due 30 days prior to Budget due date).
Trip Status Report (within 3 working days of store visit unless in remote area with no connectivity).
Know how many competitive stores are in the region and be able to report on them when needed. Competitive information should focus on but not be limited to other agencies worldwide.
Expense Report (monthly).
Competitive Report (monthly).
Seminar Income/Expense Report (immediately following programs).
Submit annual itinerary – update throughout the year as necessary.

Education and experience

Some relevant tertiary qualifications preferred.
Extensive dive store retail experience (management/ownership preferred).
Experience as an outside Sales Representative preferred.
Experience in International business.

Certificates, Licenses & registrations:

Course Director qualification is required.
Valid driving license.

Other skills and abilities

Strong commitment to serve the goals and direction of the agency's region.
Strong working knowledge of implementing agencies educational programs into retail dive stores.
Political astuteness.
Good public speaking abilities.
Ability to function effectively in non-structured situation.
Excellent organization and administrative skills.
Strong business writing skills.
Self Starter.
Computer skills including Web browsers, e-Letters, Microsoft software, Hand Held PC's, Laptops, wireless communications technology.