Retail Operations Partner in Edinburgh

Department: Commercial

Reports to: Head of Retail Operations & Business Development

Location: Central London

Hybrid working: 3 days in office, 2 days from home

Hours: 40 Hours, Monday to Friday

Our Values:

Every day the energy, creativity and passion of Manolo permeates through our business. We believe in the artist and the artisan; we are innovative while still protecting our heritage. We strive for timeless beauty and quality craftsmanship. We celebrate curiosity and believe in working proactively and being solution focused. We believe in upholding family values; we treat everyone with honesty, respect and kindness while nurturing our teams to deliver excellence. We believe in making people smile.

Purpose:

The Retail Operations Partner is responsible for supporting within the maintenance of the operational framework that enables all boutiques to run efficiently, accurately, and in line with luxury brand standards. You will serve as a partner within the retail channel, ensuring strong cross-functional alignment between our boutiques and headquarters and continuity across all Direct-to-Consumer stores. This role requires excellent project management skills, the ability to deliver on multiple priorities at pace, and the confidence to streamline complex workflows into efficient and effective execution, whilst supporting the Head of Retail & Business Development.

Responsibilities:

• Operational Partnering
  • Act as a primary point of contact for all Direct-to-Consumer stores, supporting the Head of Retail in ensuring boutiques operate efficiently and in line with brand standards, resolving issues quickly and ensuring clear communication between boutiques and HQ.
  • Support in driving the continuous improvement across retail processes to optimise efficiency.
  • Support retail strategy through operational insight, store feedback, and data-driven recommendations.
  • Assist with the planning and execution of new store openings.
  • Partner with Store Managers to provide support with scheduling tools, training compliance and best practices.
  • Oversee staff scheduling alongside Store Managers, including holiday/TOIL management, and the coordination of temporary staffing resources.
  • Deputise for the Head of Retail Operations when required.
• Vendor, Stock & Logistics Management
  • Manage vendor and supplier relationships to ensure quality, reliability, and commercial value.
  • Oversee inbound and outbound stock movements and collaborate with Logistics and Merchandising to ensure smooth product flow.
  • Support stock control processes including stock takes, cycle counts, and shrinkage investigations.
  • Ensure strong stockroom organisation and operational readiness for launches and seasonal transitions.
• Packaging, Sustainability & After-Sales
  • Manage retail packaging forecasting, ordering, and distribution.
  • Partner with suppliers to improve packaging quality and sustainability initiatives.
  • Oversee repair and after-sales processes, ensuring a high standard of service and consistent procedures across boutiques.
• Retail Systems & Technology
  • Act as the key contact for retail systems including POS and operational technology.
  • Provide training and support to store teams and collaborate with IT on troubleshooting and system improvements.
  • Monitor system usage, data accuracy, and reporting integrity.
• Compliance and Reporting
  • Support health, safety, and compliance across boutiques in partnership with Facilities.
  • Conduct regular store visits to maintain operational standards and support teams.
  • Produce operational reporting and analyse data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
  • Communicate updates, priorities, and insights clearly to store teams and leadership.
  • Develop and maintain Retail Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all boutiques.
  • Create clear guides, tools, and training materials to support operational consistency.
  • Deliver training and conduct operational audits to ensure compliance with procedures and brand standards.
• Coordination & Administrative Support
  • Coordinate and schedule retail team meetings, workshops, and training sessions.
  • Book travel and logistics for retail teams and store visits.
  • Maintain clear operational communication channels (newsletters, operational updates, and internal platforms) to ensure consistent information flow across boutiques.

Skills and Experience Required:

• Experience: At least 2-4 years prior experience in retail operations with a strong awareness of client service, administration and project coordination.
• Organisational excellence: The ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and deadlines with precision.
• Analytical mindset: Confident working with retail data, KPIs, and reports to extract actionable insights.
• Attention to detail: Ensures accuracy across reporting, communications, and execution of brand standards.
• Strong communication skills: Clear, professional, and persuasive in both written and verbal interactions.
• Problem-solving ability: Proactive in anticipating issues, proposing solutions, and following through.
• Collaboration & relationship building: Works effectively across retail, merchandising, logistics, and marketing teams.
• Technical proficiency: Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, and previous experience using retail management systems (POS/ERP).
• Ambassador: Representing Manolo Blahnik products and values with passion. High level of finesse and excellence required in delivery of all tasks.
• Luxury mindset: Passionate about craftsmanship, client experience, and the nuances of high-end retail service.
• Additional languages would be beneficial, specifically French, Italian or Cantonese.

Our Benefits:

• 4 pairs of Ambassador Shoes per year.
• 50% Friends and Family Discount.
• 25 days holiday with an additional day off for your birthday, plus bank holidays.
• Option to buy an additional 5 days holiday.
• Hybrid working model (core hours 10am-4pm).
• Pension Contribution.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• 2 Executive Coaching Sessions per year.
• Enhanced Family Friendly Policy.
• Workplace Nursery – salary sacrifice based childcare scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Employment Engagement Calendar.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion:

Manolo Blahnik is an equal opportunity employer and are committed to preserving a caring, diverse and inclusive culture with people who feel a real sense of belonging. We recruit and reward based on capability and performance. Our diverse and multicultural teams ignite our creativity, and we celebrate the differences that we collectively bring. We are committed to equal employment and progression opportunities and the elimination of any form of discrimination. We all hold a responsibility to recognise and respect our diversity and to support this in our words and actions. If you need reasonable adjustments at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.