Head of Retail

The Head of Retail will provide strategic leadership and expert insight to review, strengthen and evolve Alder Hey Children’s Charity’s retail operation during a six-month period of strategic development. Working closely with the Director of Operations & People, the postholder will undertake a comprehensive review of the charity’s retail portfolio, identifying opportunities to maximise income, improve operational effectiveness and enhance supporter engagement. The role will assess the current retail model, including shop performance, operational structures, processes and growth opportunities, and develop clear recommendations and a practical roadmap for the future development of retail income at Alder Hey Children’s Charity. This is a highly collaborative role requiring strong commercial insight, charity retail expertise and the ability to translate analysis into actionable plans that will support the charity’s long-term income growth and sustainability.

Main Duties / Tasks

• Lead a comprehensive strategic review of Alder Hey Children’s Charity’s retail operations, including shop performance, operational structure, systems and processes.
• Assess the current retail model to identify opportunities for income growth, efficiency improvements and enhanced supporter engagement.
• Benchmark retail performance against charity sector best practice and comparable retail operations.
• Develop strategic recommendations and a clear roadmap to strengthen long-term sustainability and growth.
• Analyse financial performance, sales data, stock flow and operational costs across the retail portfolio.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, operational efficiency and customer experience.
• Review pricing, merchandising, stock management and donation processes to optimise retail income.
• Provide clear insights and reporting to inform strategic decision-making by the senior leadership team.
• Review existing retail processes, structures and ways of working to identify improvements.
• Introduce practical operational improvements during the contract period where appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with best practice in Gift Aid, health and safety and charity retail standards.
• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation or diversification, including new retail formats or channels.
• Assess opportunities to strengthen community engagement and donation generation.
• Support development of a longer-term retail strategy aligned to wider income generation ambitions.
• Provide leadership and support to the retail team, fostering a positive and collaborative culture.
• Work closely with fundraising, marketing and operations teams to integrate retail into wider strategy.
• Build strong relationships with volunteers, supporters and key stakeholders.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on findings, opportunities and progress.
• Deliver a final strategic report with key findings, recommendations and a clear action plan.
• Act as an ambassador for Alder Hey Children’s Charity in line with organisational values.
• Contribute positively as part of the wider team, including supporting fundraising events where required.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by your line manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• Significant experience in retail leadership, ideally within a multi-site or charity retail environment.
• Proven experience delivering retail strategies that drive income growth.
• Experience managing budgets and financial performance.
• Experience leading and developing teams, including volunteers.
• Strong understanding of retail operations (stock, merchandising, customer experience).
• Experience analysing performance data to inform decision-making.
• Experience working within charity retail.

Skills and Attributes

• Commitment to equality, diversity and collaborative working.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Strong relationship-building skills.
• Ability to analyse data and inform strategic decisions.
• Self-motivated with a positive attitude in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organisational skills with ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection requirements.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft packages.

Additional Requirements

• Strong interest in working for a children’s health charity.
• Commitment to the values of Alder Hey Children’s Charity.
• Willingness to support wider charity activities.

Our Values

At Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide how we work. Being courageous, working together, showing passion and embracing creativity enables us to support the hospital in delivering the very best care for young patients and their families.

• Courage: We try new things, take risks and innovate. We speak up, take accountability and act with responsibility. We are unstoppable.
• Together: We work as one team, sharing knowledge and learning. We partner with patients, families, supporters and colleagues. We respect, celebrate diversity and empower each other.
• Passion: We are passionate about what we do and why we do it. We inspire others and grow together.
• Magic: We are creative, fun and child-led. We create special moments and go the extra mile for our patients.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature of the role and is not exhaustive. It may be subject to change in line with organisational needs. Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make reasonable adjustments for applicants where required. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The post holder will be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.