The Profit Protection Manager safeguards profit across all 22 Hillier garden centres by reducing loss, improving stock integrity, strengthening compliance and embedding disciplined operational routines. The role oversees shrinkage, cash handling, stock accuracy, discounting and risk-related processes, ensuring centres operate safely, legally and to agreed standards.
As the subject matter expert for loss prevention and retail risk, you will analyse data, identify trends, investigate issues and work closely with Area and Centre Managers to drive improvement. This is a hands-on role with regular travel to centres to review compliance, coach teams, conduct investigations and support the rollout of new tools and routines.
Key Responsibilities
- Analyse shrinkage, stock loss and variance data to identify trends, root causes and high-risk areas.
- Develop and implement loss reduction plans with Area Managers.
- Visit centres to review stock integrity, cash controls, refunds and discounting.
- Ensure centres follow agreed routines for stock handling, deliveries, write-offs and waste.
- Lead investigations into stock loss, cash discrepancies or procedural breaches.
- Own the retail compliance framework and conduct regular audits, providing clear feedback and action plans.
- Escalate non-compliance where necessary.
- Monitor key risk indicators including refunds, discounts, voids, stock adjustments and cash variances.
- Work with Health & Safety, HR, IT, Buying, Merchandising and Finance to keep processes practical, robust and consistently applied.
- Maintain accurate documentation, SOPs and audit tools.
- Support the rollout of new systems that strengthen controls (e.g. stock on hand, replenishment, H&S digitisation).
- Coach and train Centre Managers and teams on safe checks, cash handling, stock routines and loss prevention.
- Support centres during peak trading, stock take and seasonal changeovers.
- Ensure retail risk is considered early in project design.
- Produce clear reporting for the Retail Director on shrinkage, compliance and risk trends, and track improvement actions.
Skills And Experience (Essential)
- Strong retail background, ideally at Store/Centre Manager level or in loss prevention or compliance.
- Experience managing stock integrity, shrinkage, cash handling or operational risk.
- Highly analytical, able to interpret data and identify root causes.
- Strong communication skills, confident working across functions and challenging constructively.
- Strong Excel, reporting and systems capability.
- Willingness to travel regularly to all Hillier retail sites.
Desirable
- Multi-site retail or central retail support experience.
- Experience conducting investigations or audits.
- Exposure to stock systems, replenishment tools or compliance platforms.
- Understanding of retail health & safety or loss prevention frameworks.
Personal attributes
- Tenacious, disciplined and highly organised.
- Calm under pressure with a structured approach.
- Solutions-focused, proactive and committed to continuous improvement.
- Comfortable working independently across multiple sites.
Benefits
- Competitive salary depending on experience.
- Car allowance.
- Online Learning Hub.
- Employee discount of 20%.
- Discount of 50% on restaurant menu whilst on shift.
- 31 days annual leave.
- Free on-site parking.
- Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme for you and your immediate family, including free counselling on health, financial, legal and personal matters.
- Free access to exclusive retail discounts, plus extra cashback on your Amazon and food shop.
- Company Christmas gifts (eligibility based on start date).
- Free access to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey and deals at other gardens nationally.
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Profit Protection Manager employer: Hillier Nurseries Ltd
Hillier is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment where HR professionals can thrive. With a strong emphasis on employee development, competitive benefits including a generous pension plan and 31 days of annual leave, and the opportunity to work within a renowned family business, this role provides a meaningful chance to make a real impact in a people-focused setting. Located in Ampfield, Hampshire, employees enjoy a blend of flexibility and community, making it an ideal place for those looking to grow their HR careers.
