At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead retail strategy and operations for a fast-growing beauty brand.
- Company: Sculpted by Aimee, Ireland's top cosmetics brand with global reach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to community initiatives.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and shape the future of beauty retail.
- Qualifications: Proven retail leadership experience in beauty or premium consumer sectors.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About the Job
Founded in 2016 by makeup artist and entrepreneur Aimee Connolly, Sculpted by Aimee is an Irish-born beauty brand with a global outlook. After earning a degree in business and building a loyal client base as a makeup artist, Aimee identified a gap in the market for products that were both high-performance and easy to use. Sculpted was launched to bridge that gap without ever compromising on results. At our core is a commitment to empowering our community with multitasking, user-friendly products designed to deliver effortless, radiant results in five minutes or less. We believe beauty is better when everyone’s in on it, creating products that enhance natural features, blend seamlessly, and fit into the real lives of busy modern women. Our philosophy is simple: beauty for every age, at every stage.
In under eight years, Sculpted by Aimee has grown into Ireland’s number one mass cosmetics brand in Boots Ireland, achieving cult status and competing alongside global beauty leaders. The brand is now stocked in leading retailers including Boots and Selfridges UK, with a strong e-commerce presence serving customers in over 68 countries. Our omni-channel footprint spans more than 500 retail doors across eight markets, alongside four flagship stores in the UK and Ireland. Our portfolio includes over 140 makeup, skincare and body products, all Leaping Bunny certified and recognised with more than 40 industry awards. Skincare is now our fastest-growing category, driven by a commitment to innovation, advanced formulation, and best-in-class performance. Developed and made in South Korea, our skincare range reflects our dedication to efficacy, quality and continuous improvement.
Due to this exciting growth, Sculpted by Aimee are looking for a full time Head of Retail to join the growing Trade Team. This role can be based in Dublin, Ireland or UK remote with occasional travel to London/Ireland.
The Head of Retail is responsible for defining and delivering Sculpted by Aimee's retail strategy across flagship stores and retail counters, while owning retail operations as a whole. This role ensures a best-in-class customer experience, strong commercial performance and operational excellence across every physical touchpoint. This role will report to the Commercial Director.
Sculpted by Aimee is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone has equal access to opportunities and every voice is valued. We celebrate and respect all differences and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, colour, religion or belief, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, pregnancy or maternity status, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Accountabilities Include
- Retail Strategy & Growth
- Define and execute the retail strategy across flagships and counters in line with broader brand and commercial objectives.
- Identify opportunities to drive retail growth across existing locations, new sites, and future market expansion.
- Own retail budgets, forecasting and trading cadence, ensuring sales plans are robust and actionable.
- Partner with senior leadership on decisions relating to store openings, closures, relocations and investment priorities.
- Flagship & Counter Performance
- Lead all flagship stores and retail counters to achieve and exceed key commercial KPIs including sales, ATV, conversion, productivity and profitability.
- Monitor store and counter performance closely, identifying risks and opportunities and implementing actions quickly.
- Drive local initiatives to increase footfall, customer acquisition, customer retention and repeat purchase.
- Ensure a consistently premium, on-brand and service-led customer experience across all locations.
- Retail Operations
- Own end-to-end retail operations, ensuring processes, policies and ways of working are efficient, scalable and fit for growth.
- Implement strong operational controls across stock management, staffing, store compliance, reporting and loss prevention.
- Work cross-functionally with supply chain, finance, marketing and eCommerce to optimise execution and stock availability.
- Develop operating frameworks that support both day-to-day excellence and future expansion into new markets.
- People Leadership
- Lead, coach and develop a high-performing retail management team across stores, counters and operations.
- Create clear performance expectations, succession plans and development pathways for retail talent.
- Partner with People/HR on hiring, onboarding, engagement and retention initiatives.
- Customer Experience & Brand Execution
- Champion a best-in-class customer journey rooted in the Sculpted by Aimee brand, ensuring every store and counter brings the brand to life beautifully.
- Ensure excellence in service standards, product education, artistry and in-store execution.
- Partner with marketing teams on launches, campaigns, visual merchandising and in-store activations.
- Maintain consistent brand presentation and high visual standards across all retail touchpoints.
- Retail Partnerships & Counters
- Collaborate with the National Accounts team to support on retailer planning for counter doors.
- Ensure counters deliver best-in-class brand representation and strong commercial performance.
- Adapt trading, staffing and activation plans by retailer or location to maximise results.
- Support new counter launches and any future retail partnerships as the business grows.
- Support sustainable business practices by minimizing waste, promoting responsible sourcing, and reducing environmental impact.
- Foster a diverse, inclusive, and ethical workplace while contributing to our community initiatives both internally and externally.
- Uphold integrity, transparency, and accountability in all business practices.
Experience Needed
- Significant experience in senior retail leadership, ideally within beauty, cosmetics or premium consumer retail.
- Proven track record managing multi-site retail operations, including stores and/or counters.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to drive both sales performance and profitability.
- Experience building or scaling operational processes in a fast-paced, growing business.
- Passion for customer experience, service excellence and physical brand execution.
- Strong leadership, coaching and people-development capability.
- Highly organised, data-driven and action-oriented, with the ability to move between strategy and execution.
Head of Retail employer: Aimee
Sculpted by Aimee is an exceptional employer that champions a vibrant and inclusive work culture, offering employees the chance to be part of a rapidly growing beauty brand with a global presence. With a commitment to professional development, team members can expect robust growth opportunities while contributing to innovative retail strategies that enhance customer experiences across flagship stores and counters. Located in Dublin or available for remote work in the UK, this role provides a unique opportunity to lead in a dynamic environment where creativity and collaboration thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Retail
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Aimee, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Aimee!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Retail
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Aimee, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Aimee and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Aimee that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Aimee
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
