Head of Retail

F5; London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fashion brand in the UK is seeking a Head of Retail to drive operations and ensure growth. This high-impact role requires a retail leader with experience overseeing 20-30 stores, a proven track record of new store openings, and strong commercial acumen. You will have direct influence on retail strategy, responsible for P&L management and engaging with councils for compliance. A competitive salary and career advancement opportunities are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Direct reporting line to CEO

Career-defining step up

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience overseeing a portfolio of 20-30+ retail stores (fashion preferred).
• Track record of leading successful new store openings across multiple aspects.
• Experience with engaging councils for compliance and licensing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support Regional/Area Managers, setting clear standards.
• Drive sales and operational performance across retail stores.
• Ensure compliance and manage P&L performance across the retail estate.

Skills

Leadership

Sales Growth

P&L Accountability

Retail Operations

Visual Merchandising

Job description

Head of Retail

Location: UK-wide, frequent store visits required

Salary: £100,000 - £140,000. Reports to: CEO

A fast-growing fashion brand is searching for a Head of Retail to take full ownership of retail operations and play a defining role in the brand's growth story.

This role isn't for someone who just wants to manage stores - it's for a retail rockstar. Someone who thrives on pace, pressure, and challenge. Someone ambitious, fresh, and driven - ready to step up from running a territory of 20-30+ stores to shaping the retail engine of a brand in rapid growth.

You'll be hands-on in stores, pushing teams to deliver their best, while also steering strategy, recruitment, compliance, and operational excellence. Always going above and beyond, you'll bring energy and vision, ensuring every store is a true brand experience while delivering sharp commercial results.

What You'll Do

• Lead, inspire, and support Regional/Area Managers across the UK, setting clear standards and expectations.
• Take full ownership of recruitment operations and rotas with Regional Managers, ensuring stores are staffed efficiently with the right teams at the right times to budget.
• Drive consistent retail performance with a laser focus on sales, profitability, and customer-first execution.
• Oversee retail operations and visual merchandising across stores, embedding best practice and consistent brand standards.
• Act as the link between boardroom strategy and in-store execution, making growth plans real.
• Partner with the CEO on sales performance, growth strategy, and retail expansion.
• Lead and deliver multiple new store openings - managing everything from recruitment and training through to operations and customer launch.
• Work with local councils and authorities to ensure all piercing services meet compliance and licensing requirements.
• Take full accountability for P&L performance across the retail estate.

What You'll Bring

• Proven leadership experience overseeing a portfolio of 20-30+ retail stores (fashion, jewellery, beauty, or lifestyle preferred).
• Proven track record of leading successful new store openings - across operations, recruitment, training, and compliance.
• Experience engaging with councils and local authorities to secure licences and ensure regulatory compliance (particularly for piercing or other regulated services).
• A hunger to step up into a bigger role with full end-to-end retail responsibility.
• A track record of driving sales growth, efficiency, and customer engagement at scale.
• Energy, ambition, and the ability to inspire teams at every level.
• Strong commercial acumen, with P&L accountability experience.
• Resilience, adaptability, and a love of pace and pressure.
• Hands-on approach - thrives on being in stores, not just behind a desk.

Competencies

• Strategic & Transformational Leadership
• New Store Openings & Launch Management
• Regulatory Compliance & Council Engagement
• Recruitment & Workforce Planning
• P&L Management & Sales Forecasting
• Retail Operations & Inventory Management
• Loss Prevention & Profit Protection
• Team Development, Training & Coaching
• Visual Merchandising

Personal Attributes

• A retail rockstar: fresh, energetic, ambitious
• Thrives in high-pressure, high-growth environments
• Entrepreneurial and commercially sharp.
• Tenacious - never settles for "good enough"
• Results-driven and deadline-focused.
• Engaging communicator and natural motivator.

What's on Offer

• Competitive base salary of £100,000 - £140,000
• Direct reporting line to the CEO with significant influence on retail strategy
• A career-defining step up into a senior leadership role
• The chance to shape the customer experience for the UK's most exciting fashion jewellery brand.

RSG Plc is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.