Drugstore manager

Drugstore managers are responsible for activities and staff in drugstores that sell items such as magazines, household products, medicines, cosmetics, candy or refreshments. €‹They manage employees, monitor the sales of the store, manage budgets and order supplies when a product is out of supply and perform administrative duties if required.

The following job titles also refer to drugstore manager:

drugstore counter manager
healthcare shop manager
chemist’s shop manager
drugstore department manager

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as drugstore manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Drugstore manager is a Skill level 3 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to drugstore manager.

hardware and paint shop manager
toys and games shop manager
medical goods shop manager
press and stationery shop manager
floor and wall coverings shop manager

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of drugstore manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of drugstore manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

purchasing manager
ICT vendor relationship manager
rail operations manager
packaging production manager
licensing manager

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of drugstore manager.

Beverage products: The offered beverage products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
Medicines for self-medication: Medication which can be self-administered by individuals for psychological or physical problems. This type is sold in supermarkets and drugstores and does not require a doctors prescription. This medication mostly treats common health issues.

These skills are necessary for the role of drugstore manager.

Advise customers on usage of medical products: Provide advice to customers on what medical products can be used for various medical conditions.
Set up pricing strategies: Apply methods used for setting product value taking into consideration market conditions, competitor actions, input costs, and others.
Order supplies: Command products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Maintain relationship with customers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and services and by supplying after-sales information and service.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Maintain relationship with suppliers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.
Obtain relevant licenses: Comply with specific legal regulations, e.g. install the necessary systems and provide the necessary documentation, in order to obtain the relevant license.
Oversee promotional sales prices: Ensure that sale prices and promotions are passed through the register as they should.
Ensure correct goods labelling: Ensure that goods are labeled with all necessary labeling information (e.g. legal, technological, hazardous and others) regarding the product. Ensure that labels respects the legal requirements and adhere to regulations.
Maximise sales revenues: Increase possible sales volumes and avoid losses through cross-selling, upselling or promotion of additional services.
Ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations: Implement and monitor company activities in compliance with legal contracting and purchasing legislations.
Adhere to organisational guidelines: Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
Set sales goals: Set sales goals and objectives to be reached by a sales team within a period of time such as the target amount of sales made and new customers found.
Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
Supervise merchandise displays: Work closely together with visual display staff to decide how items should be displayed, in order to maximise customer interest and product sales.
Monitor customer service: Ensure all employees are providing excellent customer service in accordance to company policy.
Manage theft prevention: Apply theft and robbery prevention; monitor security surveillance equipment; enforce security procedures if needed.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of drugstore manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Sales activities: The supply of goods, sale of goods and the related financial aspects. The supply of goods entails the selection of goods, import and transfer. The financial aspect includes the processing of purchasing and sales invoices, payments etc. The sale of goods implies the proper presentation and positioning of the goods in the shop in terms of acessibility, promotion, light exposure.
General medicine: General medicine is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
Cosmetics: The various types of substances used to enhance the appearance of the human body.
Employment law: The law which mediates the relationship between employees and employers. It concerns employees’ rights at work which are binding by the work contract.
Types of written press: The various types, ranges, styles and subject matter of the written press such as magazines, journals and newspapers.
Accounting: The documentation and processing of data regarding financial activities.
Company policies: The set of rules that govern the activity of a company.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of drugstore manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Operate cash register: Register and handle cash transactions by using point of sale register.
Ensure customer focus: Attitude that puts customers at the centre of the business in all cases.
Study sales levels of products: Collect and analyse sales levels of products and services in order to use this information for determining the quantities to be produced in the following batches, customer feedback, price trends, and the efficiency of sales methods.
Manage health and safety standards: Oversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support alignment of these requirements with the company’s health and safety programmes.
Maintain store cleanliness: Keep the store tidy and clean by hovering and mopping.
Handle financial overviews of the store: Monitor the financial situation, analyse the store’s sales figures.
Manage inventory: Control product inventory in balance of availability and storage costs.
Ensure store security: Implement and monitor security measures within the store; be vigilant about shoplifters and fraudulent use of credit cards.
Store products: Store products to ensure the quality and in accordance with standards and regulations. Ensure the stock facilities are kept according to hygiene standards, regulating temperature, heating and air conditioning of storage facilities.
Negotiate buying conditions: Negotiate terms such as price, quantity, quality, and delivery terms with vendors and suppliers in order to ensure the most beneficial buying conditions.

1420 – Retail and wholesale trade managers

 

 

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References

1. Drugstore manager – ESCO