Trainer (Western Cape) at Smollan

Description

• Please read the below in detail. The role is actually a "Field Coach" i.e. someone who does in-store merchandizing, training, relationship building and influencing with store management and staff.

JOB MISSION

• Smollan is seeking enthusiastic and motivated Field Coaches who have a genuine passion for running, sports performance, biomechanics, rehabilitation or endurance sport.
• You will become the trusted technical and brand expert within assigned specialist running and sporting goods retail environments — building the confidence, knowledge and belief of store teams so that they can guide runners with authority, and ensuring the brand is presented at pinnacle standard on the shop floor.
• The role combines performance science, retail training, visual merchandising and community engagement, offering a unique opportunity to apply your knowledge and passion within a leading global running brand.

Top performers will:

• Build authentic relationships with retail teams and the local running community
• Translate technical product features into performance benefits store staff can confidently explain
• Lift the product knowledge and brand belief of every store team in their territory
• Ensure brand presentation, seasonal stories and launches show up at pinnacle standard in every door
• Become recognised as a credible expert within local running communities

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES

Retail Team Training & Education

• Deliver seasonal and ongoing product training to store staff across assigned doors, building confidence and depth of product knowledge.
• Explain brand technologies, cushioning systems, support structures and performance benefits in simple, engaging ways.
• Provide guidance on running styles, gait, comfort, movement patterns and general biomechanics so store teams can make credible recommendations.
• Act as the brand subject matter expert within assigned stores, and the first point of contact for product and technical questions.
• Support ongoing education around running performance, footwear innovation and category trends.
• Equip in-store teams to be the brand's trusted voice — store teams don't only need to know the product inside out, they also need to believe in the brand's vision for runners.

Visual Merchandising & In-Store Standards

• Implement and maintain visual merchandising standards in line with brand guidelines across all assigned doors.
• Execute seasonal launches, campaign moments and new product introductions so that in-store presentation matches the ambition of the brand story.
• Maintain product visibility, fixture health, signage and category presentation on every store visit.
• Identify and escalate opportunities to improve space, positioning and presentation within assigned stores.
• Monitor stock availability and range presence on shelf, flagging gaps to the account team.

Insight & Market Feedback

• Capture and share consumer feedback, product feedback and competitor activity observed in the marketplace.
• Provide sharp, relevant insight from the shop floor to support brand and category decision-making.
• Highlight training gaps, category trends and store-level opportunities to the account team.

Reporting & Territory Management

• Maintain accurate reporting on store visits, training sessions delivered, merchandising compliance and market feedback.
• Work to an agreed call cycle, managing schedules effectively across assigned retail locations.
• Complete all administration, reporting and photographic evidence within required timeframes.

Ways of Working

• Report into the Smollan account team responsible for the portfolio, working to agreed KPIs, call cycles and training plans.
• Work closely with store managers and store teams in assigned doors to secure time, access and buy-in for training and merchandising.
• Partner with the brand's local training and marketing contacts as directed by the Smollan account team.
• Share best practice with fellow Field Coaches across the national team.

The shape of your day-to-day work will vary significantly, and your style and influence will need to adapt accordingly. You must be collaborative, intuitive and able to build rapport quickly, remaining open to the opinions and expertise of the retail teams you work alongside.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS

• A successful candidate will be expected to clearly demonstrate and articulate experience against the essential requirements below in order to be considered.

Essential

• A genuine background in and passion for sport, athletics, running or fitness — as a participant, athlete, coach, club member or through sustained active involvement in sporting communities.
• A strong communicator, with the ability to simplify technical concepts and make them engaging.
• Comfortable educating and influencing store teams and consumers.
• Energetic, self-motivated and confident engaging with people.
• Organised, with strong planning and territory management skills.
• Available full-time (40 hours per week) on a flexible schedule that includes weekends, evenings and sporting events.
• Previous retail sales experience
• A valid driver's licence and your own reliable vehicle and comfortable travelling between retail locations as required.

Advantageous

• Previous experience in training delivery, coaching or facilitation.
• Previous retail, visual merchandising or field marketing experience.
• Active participation in running communities, gyms, sports clubs or athletic environments.
• Comfort with digital content creation and using social platforms to build community presence.
• A completed qualification in Sport Science, Human Movement Science, Exercise Science, Biokinetics, Physiotherapy, Sport Management or a closely related discipline is beneficial, but not essential — passion, technical curiosity and enthusiasm for sport are highly valued.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Successful Field Coaches consistently:

• Leave every store team more knowledgeable and more confident than they found them
• Translate performance science into guidance store staff can actually use
• Build credibility through technical expertise and genuine passion
• Uphold merchandising and presentation standards in every door, every visit
• Strengthen retailer confidence in and advocacy for the brand
• Become recognised contributors within local running communities