Head of Retail - Travel

JR United Kingdom; Bolton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent travel brand is seeking a Head of Retail in Bolton to lead the development and execution of their retail strategy. This role focuses on driving sales and managing retail operations within the duty-free sector, requiring over 5 years of experience in high-volume retail. The candidate will ensure exceptional service delivery and effective merchandising to boost profitability while collaborating with various stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience in high-volume retail, with significant experience in duty-free or travel retail.
• Proven success in driving sales growth across multiple stores.
• Strong understanding of retail operations and concession agreements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement retail strategy for duty-free environments.
• Oversee operations and manage budgets while driving sales profitability.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and respond to industry trends.

Skills

Sales growth

Leadership

Financial acumen

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Head of Retail - Travel, Bolton, Greater Manchester

col-narrow-left

Client:

The Change Partners - Global talent specialists for a connected world

Location:

Bolton, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

-

EU work permit required:

Yes

col-narrow-right

Job Views:

4

Posted:

04.06.2025

Expiry Date:

19.07.2025

col-wide

Job Description:

The Change Partners are working with an iconic Travel brand that is looking for a Head of Retail on an initial contract to permanent basis. The role will start part-time (1-2 days per week initially, increasing over time).

The Head of Retail will be responsible for developing and executing the overall retail strategy, including Duty Free and Operator tender processes, management, and implementation. This includes collaborating with Operators for retail execution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the retail strategy for duty-free and tender, aligning with company objectives and market trends.
• Drive sales targets and profitability through effective merchandising, promotions, and motivating sales teams.
• Oversee retail operations, including inventory management, visual merchandising, store maintenance, and compliance with operational standards and regulations specific to duty-free and tender environments.
• Manage and execute outlet implementation with operators.
• Ensure a customer-centric approach, delivering exceptional service and a memorable shopping experience for international travelers.
• Manage budgets, analyze sales data, control costs, and prepare commercial reports for senior management.
• Build and maintain relationships with authorities, concessionaires, brand partners, and other stakeholders in the duty-free and tender sectors.
• Stay informed about industry trends, competitor activities, and traveler demographics to identify opportunities and inform strategic decisions.
• Participate in developing competitive tender bids for retail concessions, demonstrating understanding of commercial terms and operational requirements.

Your background:

• Minimum of 5 years experience in high-volume retail, with significant experience in duty-free, travel retail, airports, rail, or similar international concession environments.
• Proven success in driving sales growth and profitability in a multi-store retail portfolio.
• Strong understanding of duty-free operational complexities, retail operations, and concession agreements.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to inspire and manage diverse teams.
• Financial acumen, including budget management, forecasting, and P&L responsibility.