Retail General Manager in Bicester

About Le Creuset:
At Le Creuset, every dish begins with a story - and every story begins with people. Since 1925, weve brought generations together around the table, transforming everyday meals into cherished memories. Our legacy is built on colour, craft, and a deep passion for innovation - shaped as much by our iconic products as by the people who bring them to life. Were not just creating cookware; were creating moments that last a lifetime. If youre inspired by heritage, driven by creativity, and ready to shape the future of the kitchen, wed love to welcome you into our story.

The Recipe for Success: Role Summary
As our Retail General Manager, you'll be the master chef behind a thriving retail business, expertly combining commercial insight, operational excellence, exceptional customer experiences, and people leadership to create a winning formula for success. Working through your management team, you'll ensure every element of the store is prepared and served to the highest standard.
You'll have direct responsibility for an Assistant Store Manager and a team of approximately 15 colleagues, creating an environment where talent flourishes, high performance is celebrated, and everyone is equipped to deliver exceptional results. Through coaching, development, and inspirational leadership, you'll help shape the next generation of retail leaders within Le Creuset.
With full ownership of the business, you'll carefully balance the key ingredients of profitability, productivity, customer engagement, talent development, and operational execution. By blending these ingredients seamlessly, you'll create a consistently exceptional Le Creuset experience that delights customers and drives outstanding results.
You'll foster a culture where excellence is always on the menu, inspiring your team to grow, innovate, and perform at their very best. Through your leadership, the store will become a destination of choice, delivering sustainable growth and creating an environment that customers, colleagues, and stakeholders are proud to be part of.

Ingredients: Key Responsibilities
Whats on your Daily Menu:
These are the everyday ingredients youll be working with:
Business Leadership

• Take full ownership of the store's commercial and operational recipe, combining sales growth, profitability, and productivity to deliver exceptional results.
• Turn company strategy into locally tailored plans that unlock new opportunities and maximise market potential.
• Carefully balance sales, labour, conversion, average unit price, units per transaction, stock performance, and customer experience.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, inspire, and develop a multi-layered leadership team, cultivating a high-performing culture across the entire store.
• Build a strong talent pipeline by identifying future leaders and nurturing their growth through coaching, mentoring, and meaningful development opportunities.
• Create an environment where colleagues feel valued, motivated, and empowered to bring their best every day.

Exceptional Customer Experience

• Champion a premium customer experience, making sure every interaction reflects the quality, craftsmanship, and heritage of the Le Creuset brand.
• Drive client engagement initiatives, local partnerships, events, and community connections.
• Handle escalated customer concerns with professionalism and care.

Commercial & Financial Performance

• Own sales forecasting, labour planning, and business performance reviews, ensuring commercial targets are consistently achieved.
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue, improve profitability, and refine operational efficiency.
• Use data, customer insights, and performance metrics to inform decisions and continuously improve results.
• Provide strategic insights and business updates to the Commercial Director and Senior Leadership Team.

Operations & Inventory Management

• Oversee all aspects of store operations, ensuring efficient and safe business practices aligned with company standards.
• Maintain high standards of presentation, merchandising, stock accuracy, and inventory control.
• Ensure a seamless omni-channel experience.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Maintain a safe, secure, and compliant operating environment.
• Protect company assets through effective stock management, loss prevention, and proactive risk mitigation.
• Ensure all policies, procedures, and legal requirements are consistently followed.

Whats on your Seasonal Menu:

• Strategic Planning: Deliver business plans for sustainable growth and profitability.
• Recruitment & Succession: Source and develop future leaders.
• Community & Brand Partnerships: Build local relationships and create new opportunities.
• Reporting & Business Reviews: Prepare and present business analysis to shape future strategy.
• Project Leadership: Lead operational enhancements and projects.
• Additional Duties: Take on ad-hoc responsibilities as needed.

The Perfect Blend: What Were Looking For
We're looking for an inspiring and commercially astute leader with proven experience in senior retail management, able to lead people and processes to deliver outstanding commercial results. Passion for talent development, customer experience, and operational excellence are essential. Key traits include being customer-obsessed, an inspirational leader, commercially astute, a strategic thinker, great communicator, adaptable, a developer of talent, detail-focused, a problem solver, and professional & accountable.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Extensive senior retail leadership experience (General Manager, Area Manager, or similar) in large, high-performing environments.
• Proven success in managing high-turnover, flagship, or complex retail locations.
• Experience in leading managers and developing high-performance teams.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including productivity, labour planning, profitability, and performance management.
• Excellent coaching, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency with retail systems, merchandising, inventory processes, and reporting.
• Previous premium, luxury, or destination retail experience highly desirable.
• Passion for cooking, food, entertaining, or premium cookware is a plus.
• Ability to lift/move products (11-13 kg).
• Aged 18+ (keyholding/opening/closing responsibilities).
• Flexibility to work across retail trading hours, including weekends and holidays (expectation to work 3 in 4 weekends).
• Full UK driving licence requiredoccasional travel to Andover HQ (expenses paid).
• Acts as a brand ambassador in the local market.

Why Join Our Table?
Find your seat at our colourful and historic table. Our values are Passion, Integrity, Excellence, Innovation, and Teamwork. Every talent adds flavour, every idea brings colour, and every day creates shared stories and moments. Join a legacy that brings people together around food and meaning.

Diversity & Inclusion Statement:
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, race, ethnic or national origin. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered.
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