At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire retail teams across Central and South Europe for a premium fashion brand.
- Company: Join COS, a modern wardrobe brand known for quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 25% staff discount, extensive development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Flexible remote work options available, fostering collaboration and teamwork.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-level leadership role with a focus on growth and excellence.
- Qualifications: Proven executive experience in multi-market retail and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Overview
COS is a brand for the modern wardrobe, built on exceptional quality, lasting design and a commitment to craftsmanship and innovation. As we continue to strengthen our global presence, we are seeking an experienced retail leader to join us in a role externally positioned as a Senior Retail Director / Vice President of Retail. Internally, this role is titled Regional Head of Sales, reflecting our organisational structure within H&M Group. The scope, influence and market presence, however, align with a senior executive position overseeing a significant European retail portfolio. This is a high-impact leadership role with responsibility for our flagship and key market stores across Central and South Europe. The role requires a considered, values-led leader who combines strategic clarity, strong commercial judgement and the ability to build and inspire high-performing teams.
Key responsibilities
- Strategic and commercial leadership
- Define and deliver the strategic direction for the European retail business, balancing immediate results with long-term, sustainable growth.
- Maintain a clear, data-informed view of performance across all markets, identifying opportunities to drive productivity, optimise stock and strengthen overall profitability.
- Partner closely on the evolution of the store portfolio, including new openings, relocations and refurbishments, ensuring relevance and consistency across markets.
- Lead with insight, using key commercial metrics to inform decisions and drive focused, effective action.
- Service and operational excellence
- Champion a service-led culture, elevating the in-store experience and positioning COS as a benchmark for thoughtful, premium retail.
- Drive operational excellence across markets, ensuring efficiency, consistency and adaptability within local frameworks.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with teams across Merchandising, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance and HR to deliver aligned, end-to-end plans.
- Work in partnership with merchandising and global operations to optimise stock flow, localise assortments and strengthen the omnichannel customer experience.
- Leadership and organisational development
- Shape the structure and capabilities of the European retail organisation, ensuring the right talent and ways of working are in place to deliver on strategic ambitions.
- Lead, coach and develop senior retail leaders, building a strong and future-focused talent pipeline.
- Contribute as a core member of the European Leadership Team, ensuring retail insights inform broader business decisions.
- Champion COS values, fostering an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture across all markets.
Qualifications
Alignment to our company values is the most important characteristic we look for in all new joiners. Our values are the behaviours that we appreciate above and beyond anything else. We are open-minded and curious, we dare to be different, we believe in constant improvement and we empower and trust you to take ownership. Our values are part of who we are, what we stand for and how we act.
What you need to succeed
- Executive experience - Brings proven experience leading large-scale, multi-market retail environments, with full accountability for performance across flagship and key locations.
- Strategic perspective - Shapes clear, long-term direction, with a considered approach to navigating complexity and driving sustainable growth.
- Commercial insight - Applies strong analytical thinking to understand performance, identify opportunities and translate insight into focused, effective action.
- Leadership - Leads with clarity and purpose, building and developing high-performing, collaborative teams.
- Service focus - Champions a thoughtful, elevated customer experience, creating service-led retail environments.
- Financial expertise - Demonstrates a strong understanding of commercial and financial drivers, using data to inform decisions and outcomes.
- Collaboration - Works seamlessly across functions, building strong partnerships to achieve shared goals.
- Values alignment - Reflects COS values through an open mindset, a progressive approach and a commitment to continuous improvement and empowering others.
Additional Information
This is a full time permanent contract based at our Regional Office in London.
Benefits
We offer all our employees attractive benefits with extensive development opportunities around the globe. All our employees receive a 25% staff discount usable on all our H&M Group brands in stores and online. In addition to our staff discount, all our employees are included in our H&M Incentive Program - HIP.
In addition to this, London-based colleagues also receive:
- 25 days holiday
- Discounts on everyday brands and leisure activities
- Retail Trust membership
- Pension scheme
- Discounted gym membership
- Cycle to work scheme
Inclusion & Diversity
At COS we are determined to create and maintain inclusive, diverse and equitable workplaces throughout our organisation. Our teams should consist of a variety of people who share and combine their knowledge, experience and ideas. Having a diverse workforce leads to a positive impact on how we address challenges, what we perceive as possible and how we choose to relate to our colleagues and customers all over the world, therefore all diversity dimensions are taken into consideration in our recruitment process.
Brand Description
COS offers a wardrobe of ready-to-wear and accessories rooted in exceptional quality and lasting design. The brand has an elevated aesthetic that embodies luxury with an emphasis on craftsmanship, innovation and compelling fashion movements.
In this role you will have some flexibility to work remotely however due to the high level of cross department collaborations approx. 4 days per week office presence is required to foster strong collaborations and team work.
Ready to apply? This description may include application instructions contained within this posting.
Please note this position is offered on a local contract, therefore you should have the legal right to work in the UK before applying. Other candidates are welcome to register their interest and we will keep you in mind for future opportunities.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
Job Location: London, UK (Regional Office)
COS Regional Head of Sales - Central and South Europe in London employer: Cos
COS is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development, offering extensive opportunities for advancement within a collaborative and inclusive work culture. Based in London, employees benefit from a generous 25% staff discount across all H&M Group brands, a comprehensive incentive programme, and additional perks such as discounted gym memberships and a cycle to work scheme, all while being part of a brand committed to craftsmanship and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land COS Regional Head of Sales - Central and South Europe in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the retail industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even reach out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching COS and its values. Understand their commitment to craftsmanship and innovation, and think about how your experience aligns with that. Be ready to share examples of how you've led teams and driven results in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You want to be able to clearly articulate your vision for the role and how you can contribute to COS's growth. Keep it concise but impactful—show them you mean business!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the COS team. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace COS Regional Head of Sales - Central and South Europe in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Retail:When writing your application, let your love for retail shine through! Share specific experiences that highlight your journey in the industry and how they align with COS's values of craftsmanship and innovation.
Be Data-Driven:Since this role requires a strong analytical mindset, make sure to include examples where you've used data to drive decisions. Highlight any metrics or results that demonstrate your commercial insight and strategic thinking.
Emphasise Leadership Skills:As a potential Regional Head of Sales, we want to see your leadership style! Talk about how you've built and inspired teams in the past, and how you plan to foster a collaborative culture at COS.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of the role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what COS is looking for. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cos
✨Know Your Numbers
As a candidate for the Regional Head of Sales, you’ll need to demonstrate your commercial insight. Brush up on key performance metrics relevant to retail, such as sales growth, profit margins, and inventory turnover. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires a strong leader who can inspire teams. Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style and how you've developed high-performing teams. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you’ve navigated them while fostering collaboration and inclusivity.
✨Align with COS Values
COS values are crucial to their culture. Familiarise yourself with these values—openness, curiosity, and empowerment—and think of ways you embody them. During the interview, share stories that reflect these principles in action, showing how you can contribute to their mission.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
Given the emphasis on collaboration across departments, be ready to discuss your experience working with teams like Merchandising, Supply Chain, and Marketing. Highlight specific projects where you successfully partnered with other functions to achieve shared goals, demonstrating your ability to work seamlessly across the organisation.
