At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and elevate retail spaces, creating memorable visitor experiences at Kew.
- Company: Join the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and wellness support.
- Other info: Diverse workplace committed to equity, inclusion, and personal development.
- Why this job: Shape inspiring retail environments and connect visitors to nature's stories.
- Qualifications: Strong retail experience and leadership skills in a fast-paced environment.
The predicted salary is between 44479 - 44479 € per year.
We’re looking for an exceptional retail leader to shape and elevate our retail environments at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. At the heart of the world-renowned Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this is an opportunity to lead vibrant retail spaces that inspire curiosity, deliver memorable visitor experiences, and bring the Kew brand to life through exceptional service, retail theatre, and commercial excellence.
As Retail Experience Manager, you’ll lead and develop a large multi-site team, creating engaging, beautifully executed retail environments that connect visitors to the stories, seasons, and spirit of Kew. From immersive visual merchandising and experiential pop-ups to operational excellence and team culture, you’ll play a key role in shaping how hundreds of thousands of visitors experience retail across the gardens each year.
This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in fast-paced, customer-focused environments and is passionate about creating inspiring experiences, developing people, and driving high standards across every detail of the shop floor. You will have strong retail experience within a visitor attraction or commercial environment, with proven expertise in visual merchandising, multi-site retail management, and leading high-performing teams.
Commercially aware and highly organised, you will use data, customer insight, and analytical skills to drive performance, efficiency, and excellent customer service standards. You will demonstrate excellent communication and IT skills, confidence in managing staff performance, and a keen eye for detail. Experience within a high-footfall environment and knowledge of EPoS or Microsoft D365 systems would be advantageous.
This role is based at Kew with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.
We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history. Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi.
The salary for this position is £44,479 per annum (Grade 5). Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.
At Kew, our strength lies in the diversity of our people and the insights they bring. When you join us, you will find an organisation that values your perspective and lived experience. You will receive support to achieve your full potential and access opportunities to develop and progress. Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is ongoing, shaped by the people who work here and the communities we serve.
As a disability confident employer, we are breaking down barriers to be an inclusive workplace for everyone.
Retail Experience Manager in London employer: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture. As a Retail Experience Manager, you will lead a passionate team in a unique environment that not only values creativity and customer engagement but also prioritises employee growth through continuous learning opportunities and flexible working arrangements. With a strong commitment to diversity and well-being, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, ensuring that our staff can thrive both personally and professionally while contributing to our mission of protecting the world's plants and fungi.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail Experience Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Kew's mission, values, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend events at Kew. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to retail management and customer experience. Use examples from your past roles to demonstrate your skills and how they align with Kew's needs.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Kew team!
We think you need these skills to ace Retail Experience Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Retail:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for retail shine through! Share specific examples of how you've created memorable experiences in previous roles, especially in visitor attractions. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about elevating the retail experience.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:As a Retail Experience Manager, you'll be leading a large team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience. Talk about how you've developed teams and fostered a positive culture in fast-paced environments. We love to see candidates who can inspire and motivate others!
Be Data-Driven:We’re all about using data to drive performance, so don’t forget to mention your analytical skills! Include examples of how you've used customer insights or sales data to improve operations or enhance customer service. This will show us that you understand the commercial side of retail.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure your application is tailored specifically for this role at Kew. Use keywords from the job description and relate your experience directly to the responsibilities outlined. We appreciate when candidates take the time to connect their background with what we’re looking for!
How to prepare for a job interview at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
✨Know Your Retail Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your retail experience, especially in visitor attractions. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've created engaging retail environments and led high-performing teams. This will show that you understand the unique challenges and opportunities in this role.
✨Showcase Your Visual Merchandising Skills
Prepare to talk about your approach to visual merchandising. Bring examples of past projects or initiatives where you’ve transformed retail spaces. Highlight how these changes improved customer engagement and sales, as this is key to elevating the Kew brand.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Since the role requires using data and customer insights, be ready to discuss how you've used analytics to drive performance in previous roles. Share specific metrics or outcomes that demonstrate your ability to enhance customer service standards and operational efficiency.
✨Emphasise Team Development
This position involves leading a large team, so be prepared to share your strategies for developing staff and fostering a positive team culture. Discuss any training programmes you've implemented or how you've motivated your team to achieve high standards on the shop floor.
