Apple retail stores destine for Italy

The company has posted a job listing for a "Store Operations Coordinator" to oversee several retail stores apparently planned for Italy. The document is data Feb. 9, 2006.

According to the listing, the position will operate out of Apple's Regent Street offices in London and report to the Senior Manager of Store Operations and Communications in Europe.

Among the responsibilities listed for the position are: providing daily operations support to the Italian retail stores, updating Apple Retail Web Italy on a daily basis, researching Point-of-Sale transactions to resolve customer service issues, assisting in training, and handling confidential information and partnering with managers.

Some of the skills required are: passionate dedication to the delivery of consistent and unparalleled customer service, strong knowledge and experience of retail operations, fluency in English and Italian, and strong knowledge of Apple's core products and the Macintosh operating system.

While its unclear in which cities the first Italian retail stores will turn up, outlets like ifoAppleStore have been predicting a store in the capital city of Rome for some time. According to the Web site, a likely candidate for a Rome Apple store is the brand-new Parco Leonardo shopping mall on the city’s outskirts However, there don't appear to be any vacancies at the moment.

Apple has yet to officially acknowledge a retail expansion into Italy. During a recent conference call the company said it would open approximately 40 new stores during the fiscal 2006 year, including new stores in Canada, the UK and Japan.

Apple also plans an expansion into France, with a retail store slated to open in Paris during 2007.