Retail Area Manager in London

This range is provided by Finisterre. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

About The Role

As the Retail Area Manager, you will lead between 10-15 stores within a wide geographical area from Edinburgh to Bristol and as far south as Poole, driving a customer first focus. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, you'll ensure seamless execution of plans. You will use insights from store performance to refine operations and guide improvements, ensuring every store delivers a top-tier experience. Leading new store openings, you'll ensure every detail is in place to create exceptional first impressions for customers. Your role will also involve taking ownership of sales and cost forecasts, managing performance, and implementing strategies to meet operational standards. Regular store visits will allow you to inspire and support your teams in delivering excellent service. You will lead community-driven initiatives to strengthen relationships with customers while prioritising talent development, health, safety, and inclusivity to ensure your stores remain welcoming, secure spaces for all.

Key Responsibilities

• Planning
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives in retail by creating, implementing, and reviewing new ideas that support the head of retail's strategic direction.
  • Set measurable goals for your area and teams that align with Finisterre's overall retail and business strategy.
  • Collaborate across functions (stock, marketing, operations, and visual merchandising) to ensure your area's plans are seamlessly executed.
  • Provide valuable insights on store, customer, and local high street performance to inform improvements and actions.
  • Lead the charge for new store openings, ensuring every detail - from recruitment to training and community engagement - is in place for a successful launch.
• Commercial
  • Take ownership of building and managing your area's sales and cost forecasts as part of the budgeting process.
  • Deliver insightful analysis on your area's performance, combining data-driven decisions with your intuition to drive results.
  • Provide commercial reporting for the area, representing both retail and your region in trade forums.
  • Ensure store teams align with operational guidelines and implement action plans where stores are underperforming.
• Team
  • Be present, visiting stores weekly to support, inspire, and manage performance.
  • Lead community-driven business development initiatives through local events, marketing, and external collaborations.
  • Implement new initiatives, securing buy-in from your teams and ensuring successful integration into daily operations.
  • Develop the talent in your area, creating succession plans, identifying key skills, and fostering growth through targeted development plans.
  • Maintain a focus on health, safety, and inclusivity across your stores, ensuring they are welcoming and secure spaces for both customers and crew.

Requirements

• A natural leadership style with a passion for retail and customer experience, with a proven track record of delivering results.
• 2 years' experience in an Area Manager role.
• Experience in a collaborative environment where teams can grow, innovate, and succeed.
• A strategic thinker balancing long-term objectives with hands‐on, tactical decisions.
• Proven experience in driving community‐led business development initiatives through impactful local marketing and event strategies.
• Strong communication skills as well as being comfortable with data, forecasting, and performance analysis.
• A values‐driven individual who embodies the Finisterre ethos and is dedicated to sustainability, inclusivity, and responsible growth.
• A full clean driving license and the ability to travel including overnight stays.

Important

The successful candidate must, by the start of their employment, have permission to work in the UK. Please note that Finisterre are not licensed to sponsor overseas workers.

Benefits

We are offering a full-time, permanent contract, based remotely with travel required. We'll invest in you with a competitive salary of £38,000 - £42,000 plus additional car and fuel allowance, depending on your skills and experience.

But it's not just a job. At Finisterre, we provide an opportunity to grow and develop yourself within a fast‐paced, growing B Corp certified brand with a great culture and an exciting purpose. You'll get the chance to collaborate with a diverse community of people with a shared mission. In return, we take good care of you through a range of initiatives and rewards, including:

• 25 days holiday per year, plus up to 8 UK bank holidays (pro rata for part-time employees).
• Additional holidays for length of service.
• Your birthday day off.
• Up to 3 days of paid volunteering - we will support you in giving back to communities and causes.
• A discretionary bonus scheme, based on company performance.
• A pension scheme with Nest.
• 60% product discount for personal and gift use.
• 30% Friends and Family product discount.
• Enhanced Family Leave policies to support you in growing your family.
• Life assurance with access to an online wellbeing platform which includes, an employee assistance program, virtual GP appointments, digital gym, and a range of perks.
• Access to a range of wellbeing resources, including counselling services, cycle to work, eye tests, and wellbeing activities.
• Regular company and team social events.
• Various discounts from our B Corp community.
• Access our online Learning Library and company-wide training sessions delivered by both internal and external trainers to support you in your ongoing development.
• An hour to spend in or by the sea every Tuesday followed by Sea Tuesday companywide meeting.
• And so much more!

Closing date

We'll be interviewing as we go along, so we'd encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity. Finisterre is committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. We celebrate difference and encourage everyone to join us and be themselves at work.