Learn more about working in our Head Office team
Our Head Office is a buzz of the energy and passion of about 100 bright stars! Each an expert in their area, these individuals work together to carefully select, purchase and market our products and brands and deliver them to stores all while providing support to our business operations and store teams.
In our office our Finance, IT, Supply Chain, HR and Front Office teams work along side our retail specialist teams of Retail Ops Management, Buying, Merchandise Planning, Marketing, and VM for each of General Pants Co. and Surf.
Keep reading for more information on our Head Office teams:
Finance
Our Finance Team works with everyone to crunch the numbers and make sure the Group's finances are managed and controlled. The team is responsible for ensuring our team, suppliers and partners are paid on time, managing our budgeting and forecasting processes, controlling inventory, delivering financial and management reports and providing analysis to support the business to make decisions.
IT
Our IT team is the high-octane information heart of our business. They keep our systems up and running so we can place our orders, track our stock movements and deliveries and sell to our customers. They also make sure we're keeping pace with technology and innovation and provide the ever important technical help desk support to our Head Office, Stores and Distribution Centre teams by troubleshooting our queries and problems. Without the IT team we would be lost! It's a busy work environment where an advanced knowledge of computer systems, hardware and software programs is a must.
Supply Chain
Our Supply Chain team is 100% focused on working with the retail specialist teams to make sure we have the 'right stock, in the right stores at the right time' so our store teams can focus on what they do best - serving our customers and selling our products! Innovation through our Distribution Centre (DC) and new inventory system are key to our success here.
HR
Our HR team plays an active role in coaching and supporting our Leaders and their teams to stay true to our values: One Team, Bold, Real, Passionate, Unexpected and On Top of It. This team also develops and implements new and improved ways of recruiting, developing and caring for our people and is the advocate for making sure we stay focused on treating everyone fairly and with respect. As a business, we want 'the right people, in the right jobs, at the right time' so everyone can achieve great results both personally and professionally and the HR team helps us to make this happen.
Front Office
Our Front Office can be a great foot in the door to working at Head Office. Our 2 Front Office Assistants are the 'eyes and ears' of our team and the 'glue' that holds our business together. With ultimate responsibility for 'first impressions', they meet and greet our team, suppliers and guests each day and delight them with their personality and wit. It's a well-rounded administration role with responsibility for managing the switchboard and responding to general enquiries, booking flights and accommodation, sending our promotional material to stores, booking couriers, and coordinating maintenance of the office.
Retail Operations (Stores) Management
Led by our 2 National Retail Managers, our Retail Ops Management teams have the important responsibility of taking care of our store teams and coaching and supporting them to achieve their sales and profitability targets. Both General Pants Co. and Surf stores are divided into areas and each area is led by an Area Manager. With anywhere from 5 to 10 stores each, our AMs as they're affectionately known, spend their days travelling between their stores to make sure everyone's doing what it takes to be on top of it.
Buying
Did you know that there are around 30 people working in the General Pants Co. and Surf division Buying teams whose sole job it is to scour the globe looking for the best and brightest brands in the world? That's why the jeans you're wearing are from LA, your tee is from a couple of kids in Surry Hills and the kicks on your feet are direct from Tokyo. Our Buying teams are crucial to the success of our business. They choose the ranges in multiple categories, analyse company sales, build solid relationships with suppliers, liaise with the stores and warehouse to ensure timely delivery and allocation of stock, identify areas for growth and are constantly on the hunt for the latest fashion and styles. Any positions in our Buying teams require advanced skills in excel and sound analytical skills coupled with a sixth sense for credible branded products which are of most relevance to the youth of today.
Product Development
If you are into fashion design and have a creative flair for garment construction and management then this is the department for you. Our Production team looks after all of our in-house production. Negotiating with factories on and offshore, quality control, liaising with agents, fabric suppliers and presenting ranges to buyers is all part of the fun. Coming up with the latest gear is their specialty. Experience in production and qualifications in design or pattern making is preferred.
Merchandise Planning
You could liken our Merch Planning teams to the person in your house who manages the purse. In simple terms, they control and decide how much the buyers spend. Our Merchandise Planners play an important part in the Buying process by setting the sales budgets with the buyers and looking at how best to spend the allocated budget to maximize profit. They also analyse historical data, forecast ahead to understand sales trends by store and category and suggest promotional activity and markdowns to drive sales and stock through the business.
Marketing
Our Marketing Team is a creative hotpot that works largely in house to conceptualise and execute seasonal campaigns, drive innovation, organise grandiose events, coordinate store activity as well as manage in-house brand identities. They are also responsible for building on and maintaining the individual brands stories. Marketing works closely with suppliers, complimentary brands, the media, talented creatives, charities, store managers and the other teams in the Group to be across anything that shakes or stirs in global youth culture. This team is full of fresh and exciting projects. It is a key for those who are interested to have a solid knowledge of youth and surf culture and General Pants Group initiatives.