Store Director - St James, Edinburgh

At SEPHORA UK, beauty isn’t just what we sell - it’s who we are. It’s the freedom to express yourself, the thrill of discovering something new, and the power of belonging to a community that celebrates every identity. From our beginnings in France in 1969 to becoming part of the LVMH family, we’ve always pushed boundaries through creativity, innovation, and inclusivity. Today, with nearly 500 iconic brands and our own SEPHORA Collection, we’re redefining the future of prestige beauty as we continue our bold expansion across the UK.

The Opportunity

As Store Director of your store, you’ll be the driving force behind one of the most exciting openings in SEPHORA UK’s expansion. Reporting to the Regional Retail Manager, you’ll bring SEPHORA’s bold, inclusive and customer‑obsessed spirit to life from day one - shaping the vision, culture and operational excellence of a store designed to set the benchmark for our future boutiques. You’ll own the full commercial, operational and customer‑experience performance of this flagship location, leading and inspiring a high‑performing management team to deliver world‑class service, exceptional storytelling and outstanding business results. With your strategic mindset, passion for people and ability to inspire, you’ll define what the SEPHORA experience feels like for every customer who walks through the doors. If you thrive in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment and are energised by the opportunity to build, create and lead something new, this is your moment.

What you’ll be doing…

• Delivering strategic insight to the Regional Retail Manager through market analysis, competitor intelligence and customer trends.
• Shaping and executing short‑and-long‑term plans to maximise both top‑and-bottom‑line performance.
• Using local insights to influence product curation, stock decisions and in‑store storytelling.
• Setting the bar for exceptional customer experience through SEPHORA Attitude behaviours and on‑floor leadership.
• Coaching and supporting the team in real time to uphold service excellence in any situation.
• Leveraging customer satisfaction metrics (e.g., Love Meter) to drive continuous improvement and resolve issues quickly.
• Leading the management team to exceed sales targets across all categories, including exclusive brands and SEPHORA Collection.
• Supporting the Customer Experience Manager, Beauty and Services Managers to bring to life immersive, educational and engaging customer experiences.
• Overseeing operational excellence across stock management, cash handling, replenishment and visual merchandising with the Operations, Cash and Stock Managers.
• Conducting post‑event reviews to measure the impact of promotions and activations.
• Creating a high‑performing, engaged team culture with regular coaching, feedback and recognition.
• Communicating business priorities clearly so every team member understands the strategy and their role within it.
• Managing scheduling and annual leave to ensure strong floor coverage and operational efficiency.
• Partnering with the Recruitment team to attract exceptional talent and build a strong pipeline for the future.

What you’ll bring…

• You’ll be an inspiring, strategic and commercially minded leader who thrives in a high‑energy retail environment.
• Proven experience leading large, high‑performing retail teams with strong commercial and operational capabilities.
• A passion for delivering unforgettable customer experiences and empowering others to do the same.
• Strong analytical acumen to interpret sales data and inform strategic decision‑making.
• The ability to coach and develop leaders, driving capability, performance and long‑term growth.
• A track record of achieving sales targets and driving commercial results across multiple categories.
• Operational excellence across stock, cash, compliance and visual standards.
• A leadership style aligned with Sephora’s values: inclusive, creative, empowering and customer‑obsessed.

Beautiful Benefits at Sephora UK

When you join SEPHORA, you’re joining a team that we truly value - and our benefits reflect that. Here’s what you can look forward to:

• SEPHORA University - receive industry‑leading product, customer care and development training to help you grow your skills and your career.
• Allowances tailored to your role and location - including shoes, lunch and more.
• Competitive pay that grows with you - including annual salary reviews based on your performance and our company results.
• Performance‑based commission tied to collective store success.
• A generous employee discount across the world’s best beauty brands.
• A paid day off on your birthday - because you deserve to celebrate!
• Access to a perks and wellbeing platform offering discounts, wellness support, and more.
• Generous holiday allowance, plus the option to buy extra days.
• And more!

Start a beautiful career with us. Together, we belong to something beautiful. SEPHORA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace for all. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, advancement, or other employment practices. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating and fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.