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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic retail team onboard cruise ships, creating memorable guest experiences.
- Company: Harding, a leading innovator in cruise retail with a global presence.
- Benefits: Take home pay of £50k+, all living expenses covered, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Experience life at sea while leading a diverse team and exploring the world.
- Qualifications: Retail leadership experience and ability to inspire teams in fast-paced environments.
- Other info: Enjoy a unique work-life balance with 4-6 months at sea followed by breaks at home.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 58000 £ per year.
What if your next leadership role didn’t just grow your career, but expanded your world? This is retail leadership, but not as you know it on the high street. With Harding, you will lead in a fast-paced global retail environment where guests are on holiday, energy is high and experiences matter as much as performance.
The cruise industry continues to grow year on year, offering exciting opportunities for retail leaders ready to step beyond traditional store environments and lead within one of the most dynamic sectors in retail today. Retail leadership here goes beyond running a store. It is about building exceptional teams, creating memorable guest experiences and driving commercial performance in a unique environment that blends retail, hospitality and travel.
We are looking for experienced Store Managers or experienced matrix concessions leaders ready to lead onboard, living and working for 4-6 months at sea before 1-2 month breaks at home to recharge before heading out again, combining strong commercial instinct with inspiring people leadership. If you thrive on creating momentum, elevating standards and leading teams to deliver their best, this could be your next adventure.
About Us: Harding is leading the way in innovative onboard cruise retail, partnering with world-class cruise lines and premium global brands to make every cruise better. Recognised as Cruise Retailer of the Year in 2022, 2023 and 2025, we operate within a truly global, multi-stakeholder environment where retail excellence and guest experience go hand in hand.
The Opportunity: Life as a Store Manager at sea is immersive, fast-paced and uniquely rewarding. You will lead a diverse international team, shaping both the culture and performance of your store while delivering experiences that guests remember long after their time on board ends. This is retail leadership within a complex and collaborative environment.
Alongside leading your team, you will work closely with cruise line partners, premium brand partners and onboard stakeholders to ensure standards, service and commercial performance align seamlessly. Success comes from balancing strong operational discipline with relationship-building, adaptability and commercial judgement across multiple partners and expectations.
Unlike traditional retail environments, you will be engaging guests who are relaxed, curious and ready to enjoy their time onboard. This creates a vibrant and energising retail atmosphere where storytelling, service and connection drive both experience and performance. Your role is not simply to manage operations but to lead with purpose. You will set the tone for your team, creating a culture where expectations are clear, feedback is constructive and success is shared.
Through coaching, communication and strong commercial focus, you will build an environment where people feel motivated to perform and guests feel genuinely welcomed. Every day brings variety. Your store will be selling everything a guest needs and desires whilst onboard from low value gifts or confectionery and duty free to premium, luxury products like fine jewellery and luxury watches so experience with multi departments is vital.
One moment you may be guiding your team through a busy retail period, the next collaborating with onboard partners or delivering a guest event that brings brands to life. Success comes from balancing detail with big-picture thinking, combining operational excellence with authentic leadership.
Beyond the role itself, you will experience life at sea. With accommodation, meals and day-to-day living expenses covered, you will have the opportunity to travel the world while focusing on your leadership and maximising your earning potential.
Who You Are: You have experience leading retail teams/whole stores, where performance is built through trust, clarity and high standards. The environments you have thrived in involve pace, multiple priorities and collaboration across different stakeholders or brand environments, and you are comfortable balancing commercial goals with exceptional service delivery.
You bring a track record of building strong sales cultures, balancing commercial ambition with genuine coaching and development. Your leadership is visible and intentional. You know how to inspire momentum, give direct and meaningful feedback, and create alignment by clearly communicating the purpose behind decisions and priorities.
You are commercially astute, with experience driving results through strong operational discipline, attention to detail and an uncompromising focus on guest experience. You are comfortable making decisions in dynamic environments, you combine sound judgement with adaptability and resilience. You are motivated by creating something bigger than yourself. Leading diverse teams, elevating standards and delivering memorable retail experiences is what energises you.
The opportunity to do this while living and working at sea, exploring the world and embracing a unique leadership environment genuinely excites you.
You will receive:
- Genuine TAKE HOME / Net pay of c.£50k per year
- All onboard living expenses covered - Opportunity to save all your wages.
- All costs and support to get necessary visas and documents to allow you to work onboard
- Support and development opportunities to grow your career
Previous retail/sales leadership experience with accountability of whole store management or managing within a complex matrixed, multi-brand environment is essential; international or cruise experience is welcomed but not required.
Store Manager – Cruise Retail employer: Harding Retail
Contact Detail:
Harding Retail Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Store Manager – Cruise Retail
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Connect with people in the cruise retail industry on LinkedIn or at events. We can’t stress enough how important it is to build relationships; you never know who might help you land that dream Store Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. We want you to show your passion for creating memorable guest experiences and leading diverse teams. Tailor your answers to reflect how you can elevate standards and drive performance in a unique environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! When you're in an interview, share specific examples of how you've built strong sales cultures or led teams through busy periods. We love hearing about your successes and how you’ve inspired others to perform their best.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate leaders ready to take on the adventure of working at sea while making a real impact in retail.
We think you need these skills to ace Store Manager – Cruise Retail
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Leadership Skills: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. We want to see how you've built strong teams and created memorable experiences in your previous roles. Use specific examples to showcase your ability to inspire and motivate others!
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the unique aspects of the Store Manager role at Harding. We love seeing candidates who understand our values and the cruise retail environment.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your written application. We’re looking for someone who can connect with guests and team members alike, so don’t be afraid to show us who you are and what excites you about this opportunity!
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed! It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harding Retail
✨Know Your Cruise Retail
Familiarise yourself with the cruise retail environment and Harding's unique approach. Understand how retail, hospitality, and travel blend together in this role. Research recent trends in the cruise industry to show your enthusiasm and knowledge during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership experiences and how you've built strong teams in fast-paced environments. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've inspired momentum and created a culture of high standards and trust within your team.
✨Emphasise Guest Experience
Highlight your commitment to exceptional guest experiences. Think of examples where you’ve gone above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction, especially in dynamic settings. This will demonstrate your understanding of the unique atmosphere on a cruise.
✨Balance Commercial Acumen with Service
Be prepared to discuss how you balance commercial goals with delivering outstanding service. Share instances where you've driven sales while maintaining a focus on guest experience, showcasing your ability to think both strategically and operationally.