Duty Manager

Speciality Drinks Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff Discount

Career Development

Private Medical Insurance

33 Days Holiday

Job summary

The Whisky Exchange is seeking a Duty Manager to support the retail sales team and day-to-day shop activities in central London. You will manage floor operations, supervise staff, and drive merchandising and customer service excellence in a fast-paced whisky retailer.

With responsibility for opening/closing, cash handling, and coordinating tastings and events, you will lead by example and foster a culture of continuous improvement across the store and team.

Qualifications

• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Must have flexibility to work shift patterns during weekdays and weekends.
• Previous supervisory experience in retail or drinks environment preferred.
• Strong customer service and sales skills.

Responsibilities

• Open and close the shop; manage cash and end-of-day procedures.
• Assist with tastings and events; support store targets.
• Maintain merchandising and stock control; ensure professional displays.
• Lead Spirits Advisors and supervise floor staff and operations.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Customer service

Sales track record

Team leadership

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Us

The Whisky Exchange is a world-leading specialist online retailer for whisky and fine and rare spirits. We have three shops in central London, a range of flagship shows and events, and an award-winning curated selection of Old & Rare, own-label and exclusive whiskies and spirits. We have an on-trade team supplying the best bars, restaurants, hotels and luxury retailers in the UK (The Whisky Exchange Trade), and a specialist auction platform (Whisky.Auction). Together as One Team we serve a global community of whisky drinkers, fuelled by an enthusiasm for discovering and collecting.

About Us

The Whisky Exchange is a world-leading specialist online retailer for whisky and fine and rare spirits. We have three shops in central London, a range of flagship shows and events, and an award-winning curated selection of Old & Rare, own-label and exclusive whiskies and spirits. We have an on-trade team supplying the best bars, restaurants, hotels and luxury retailers in the UK (The Whisky Exchange Trade), and a specialist auction platform (Whisky.Auction). Together as One Team we serve a global community of whisky drinkers, fuelled by an enthusiasm for discovering and collecting.

Being part of the Speciality Drinks Group, and the wider Pernod Ricard family, means you'll be working with some of the very best people in the drinks industry and part of a fantastic team that is passionate about everything they do.

About The Role

As a Duty Manager your primary role is to support the retail sales team objectives and day-to-day shop activities, encompassing floor management, team supervision and merchandising. You'll ensure the smooth running of retail operations, motivate others, and inspire a culture of continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a first-class communicator with a passion for drinks and an eagerness to learn.

The role involves moving, stretching, lifting, bending and carrying of boxes and materials.

Key Responsibilities

Operations/Floor Management:

• Opening and closing the premises.
• End of day procedures and ensuring accurate cash management.
• Assisting with in-store tastings and events and anticipating potential requirements.
• Customer service, sales and shop floor activities as required to maintain exceptional standards.
• Processing refunds, exchanges and handling customer queries.
• Ensuring all health and safety requirements are met and making corrections where necessary.
• Weekly banking management and sales performance reports.

Stock and Merchandising:

• Assist with back-office operations including stock management, pricing and offers on Defacto.
• Ensure that retail and stock room spaces are maintained to professional standard.
• Monitoring, replacing and updating visual merchandising displays.

Product Knowledge and Personal Development:

• Continual development of product awareness and understanding for new and existing ranges.
• Liaising with brand representatives as required.
• Supporting a culture of continuous improvement.

Team Supervision:

• Prepare and distribute weekly/monthly tasks and DLC to Spirits Advisors.
• Monitor and motivate Spirits Advisors to work towards store targets.
• Maximise shopper engagement.
• Maintain exceptional customer service standards.
• Assist with product knowledge development of other team members.

Job Requirements

• Must have flexibility to work shift patterns during weekdays and weekends.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Professional manner and tidy appearance.
• Previous experience in the drinks industry is desirable but not essential.

About You

• Previous supervisory experience.
• Passion for spirits, and the drinks industry in general.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• A strong sales track record and able to transfer skills to the drinks sector.
• Excellent team working skills.
• Good problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication skills and ability to enthuse and motivate others.
• The ability to effectively prioritise and delegate tasks.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite

The Way We Perform

Our values:

• Grounded in the real
• Passion for challenge
• Fiercely authentic
• Connected beyond borders

Our behaviours:

• We collaborate
• We deliver results efficiently
• We grow diverse teams
• We are consumer and customer centric
• We foster growth mindset
• We drive engagement

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The responsibilities associated with this job will change from time to time in accordance with the business needs of Speciality Drinks. More specifically, the incumbent may be required to perform additional and/or different responsibilities from those set forth above.

We’re committed to diversity and inclusion.

We promote diversity and inclusion throughout our business. In our teams, we proactively foster a diverse work force and an inclusive culture - an environment where we can truly be ourselves.

We will assess your application for this role based on your skills, experiences and achievements, not your gender, age, ethnic or educational background or any other such factors. Please feel free to leave these off your CV and application form if you so wish.

Benefits Of Joining The Whisky Exchange

Fun Stuff:

• Staff Discount at The Whisky Exchange | Tastings | Product Education | Access to Events | Cycle to Work Scheme

Serious Stuff:

• EAP | Great Parental Leave Policies | Life Cover | Private Medical Insurance

Feel Good Stuff:

• S&R Initiatives | Career Development | Responsib'All Day | Employee Networks | Flexi Work | 33 Days Holiday (including Bank Holidays)

We’re committed to diversity and inclusion.

We promote diversity and inclusion throughout our business. In our teams, we proactively foster a diverse work force and an inclusive culture - an environment where we can truly be ourselves.

We will assess your application for this role based on your skills, experiences and achievements, not your gender, age, ethnic or educational background or any other such factors. Please feel free to leave these off your CV and application form if you so wish.