At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a premium retail business, overseeing operations, ecommerce, and customer experience.
- Company: Join a successful premium retail brand with a strong market presence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonus, and excellent benefits package.
- Other info: Enjoy executive autonomy and direct access to the Board.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a thriving business and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in premium retail and strong P&L management skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Salary: £80,000 to £100,000+ + Performance Bonus + Excellent Benefits
Lead the Future of a Premium Retail Business
This is a rare opportunity for an exceptional Retail Director, General Manager, Retail Operations Director or Head of Retail to take full strategic and operational responsibility for an established premium retail business with a turnover of approximately £16 million. Reporting directly to the Board, you will lead every aspect of the business, overseeing two premium retail stores, a growing ecommerce operation, warehouse and distribution, commercial performance and the continued development of a highly respected retail brand. This is a genuine executive leadership role with significant autonomy and the opportunity to influence the future direction of a successful and ambitious business.
The Opportunity
As Retail Director / General Manager, you will have full accountability for the performance of the business, ensuring operational excellence, commercial growth and an exceptional customer experience across every channel. You will work closely with the Board to develop and execute business strategy while leading an experienced management team across retail, ecommerce, operations and support functions. This is an ideal opportunity for an ambitious retail executive looking to make a significant impact within a premium consumer brand.
Key Responsibilities
- Full P&L ownership with responsibility for profitability, forecasting and commercial performance.
- Leading multi-site retail operations to maximise sales, customer experience and operational excellence.
- Driving business strategy, growth initiatives and continuous improvement.
- Overseeing ecommerce trading, website performance and digital sales.
- Managing key supplier and brand relationships, buying activities and seasonal planning.
- Leading warehouse, stock management, logistics and supply chain operations.
- Inspiring, coaching and developing high-performing leadership teams.
- Managing HR, organisational development and performance management.
- Improving systems, processes and operational efficiencies across the business.
- Ensuring excellence in governance, compliance, health & safety and risk management.
About You
We are looking for an accomplished commercial retail leader with experience in roles such as:
- Retail Director
- General Manager
- Retail Operations Director
- Head of Retail Operations Director
- Regional Director
- Commercial Director
- Managing Director (Retail)
- Multi-Site Retail Director
You will ideally bring:
- Significant senior leadership experience within premium, luxury or high-quality retail.
- Experience managing multi-site retail operations together with ecommerce.
- Full commercial and P&L responsibility.
- Strong financial and analytical capability.
- Outstanding leadership and people development skills.
- Experience driving operational improvement and business transformation.
- The ability to influence at Board level while remaining hands-on operationally.
- A passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Experience within premium retailers, lifestyle brands, luxury fashion, department stores or consumer brands would be highly advantageous.
Why Join?
This is an opportunity to lead a highly successful business where your decisions will directly shape future growth.
You'll enjoy:
- Executive-level autonomy.
- Direct access to the Board.
- Significant influence over business strategy.
- A varied role spanning retail, ecommerce, commercial and operational leadership.
- The opportunity to build and develop a high-performing business.
- Competitive salary of c.£80,000 to £100,000+ plus performance-related bonus.
Apply
If you're an experienced Retail Director, General Manager, Retail Operations Director, Head of Retail or Multi-Site Retail Leader looking for an outstanding leadership opportunity, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today for a confidential discussion by calling Peter Shrimpton on (phone number removed).
Mandeville is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Retail Director/General Manager in London employer: Mandeville
Join a purpose-driven organisation that values community impact and offers a supportive work culture where your leadership can truly shine. As a Store Manager in Cheshire, you'll benefit from competitive salary packages, opportunities for personal growth, and the chance to make a meaningful difference through charity retail. With a focus on teamwork and volunteer engagement, this role provides a fulfilling environment for those passionate about making a positive change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail Director/General Manager in London
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Mandeville, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Mandeville!
We think you need these skills to ace Retail Director/General Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Mandeville, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Mandeville and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Mandeville that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mandeville
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
