Assistant Store Manager - Bicester

Oka Direct Ltd; Harwell; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Length of Service increases

Birthday day off

Health Cash Plan

Enhanced Maternity Pay

Employee Assistance Programme

Bonus Scheme

Pension scheme

Life assurance cover

Free eye tests

Cycle to work scheme

Travel loans

Social events

Wellbeing centre access

Job summary

OKA is seeking a proactive Assistant Store Manager for its Bicester outlet to support the Retail Team in delivering outstanding service and driving store performance.

Reporting to the Store Manager, you'll lead a team, manage daily operations, and help create a vibrant, customer-focused shopping experience that reflects OKA's values and design ethos.

Qualifications

• Retail management experience, with at least 1 year in a supervisory or assistant manager role.
• Experience leading a retail team and driving KPIs.
• Strong organisational and decision-making skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Interest in interiors and home furnishings.

Responsibilities

• Support Store Manager in day-to-day leadership and operations.
• Directly lead store staff in manager's absence.
• Drive sales, revenue targets and KPIs.
• Coach team to improve performance.
• Maintain high standards of customer service.
• Ensure store operations, cash/EPOS, stock management.
• Support visual presentation and product presentation.
• Promote OKA's services and brand.
• Provide expert product guidance in-store and over the phone.
• Model company values and leadership.

Skills

Retail management

Team leadership

Customer service

Tools

EPOS systems

Job description

Founded over 20 years ago by three entrepreneurial women with a passion for beautiful, practical and comfortable homes, OKA is more than a furniture and homeware retailer: it is a love affair with living well.

We inspire people to confidently create a home that reflects their personality, a space where nothing should be too precious or perfect to be enjoyed with family and friends. British-born, today we have 15 stores across the UK – an established Interior Design and Trade business, a mail-order service and a thriving website.

We are currently looking to recruit a full-time Assistant Store Manager (40 hours per week) to support our Retail Team, based at our OKA Outlet store in Bicester. We know the best work is done by people who enjoy their jobs, so we create a fun and nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and is able to thrive. We are looking for an agile and proactive Assistant Manager with a positive attitude and entrepreneurial spirit who can help us nurture this company culture. Reporting directly to the Store Manager, the Assistant Manager is responsible for the organisation and execution of all daily activities of the store, ensuring the outlet teams deliver the highest possible standards of customer service - both face to face and via phone - in the most efficient and effective manner. You will be responsible for managing a team of store staff and be proactive in motivating them to achieve brand KPIs and objectives, and work with other business leads to provide a vibrant and unique shopping experience for our customers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Store Manager in the day-to-day leadership and operation of the store, stepping up to lead the business in their absence
• Take ownership of sales performance, revenue targets and key retail KPIs, identifying opportunities and driving action where performance is behind
• Lead, motivate and coach the store team to deliver strong individual and collective performance
• Create a commercially focused environment where the team actively identifies opportunities, builds customer relationships and maximises every sale
• Maintain exceptional standards of customer service across all customer touchpoints
• Drive consistent execution of store operations, including opening and closing procedures, cash and EPOS processes, stock management and back-office standards
• Support effective team planning, organisation and deployment to ensure the store operates efficiently
• Maintain excellent visual and presentation standards across the store
• Champion OKA's Home Styling and Interior Design services and ensure the team confidently identifies relevant opportunities
• Provide expert product advice and guidance to customers in-store and via phone
• Role-model our Company Values and Behaviours and create a positive, accountable and high-performing team culture

OUR VALUES

• Put the Customer First - provides exceptional internal and external customer service at all touchpoints
• Be In It Together - approachable, personable, committed to shared success
• Think Big - creative, innovative, solutions orientated
• Own It - curious, persistent, drives results
• Stay Playful - energises others, focuses on positives and opportunities, finds room for spontaneity

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for someone with proven retail management experience – ideally a minimum of 1 year in an Assistant Manager, Supervisor or equivalent people-management role.

• Experience of leading and managing a retail team, including coaching, motivating and managing performance
• A strong commercial mindset with experience of working towards sales targets, revenue budgets and KPIs
• Confidence taking responsibility for the day-to-day operation of a store
• Strong selling skills and the ability to coach others to improve their commercial performance
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and make decisions in a fast-paced environment
• A proactive approach – you spot opportunities, take ownership and follow through
• A strong eye for visual presentation and an interest in interiors, furniture and home furnishings
• A flexible approach to working hours in line with the needs of the store
• A collaborative, positive and solutions-focused leadership style
• A genuine passion for the OKA brand

OUR BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Length of Service increases
• Day off for your birthday
• Health Cash Plan
• Enhanced Maternity Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Eligibility for a discretionary company
• Bonus Scheme
• Plus a suite of additional employee benefits including: Company pension scheme, life assurance cover, free eye tests, cycle to work scheme, interest free travel loans, social events, online wellbeing centre and more.

Assistant Store Manager - Bicester • Oxford, England, United Kingdom, OX25 2NY