Head of Retail - Travel

JR United Kingdom; Colchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel brand is seeking a Head of Retail for an initial part-time role, evolving into a full-time position. This strategic role encompasses the complete retail strategy execution, focusing on driving sales and profitability through a customer-centric approach in duty-free environments.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience in high-volume retail, especially within duty-free or travel retail.
• Strong understanding of duty-free operational complexities and concession agreements.
• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement retail strategy for duty-free and tender environments.
• Drive sales targets and profitability through effective merchandising and promotions.
• Manage budgets and analyze sales data to control costs.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Financial skills

Sales Growth

Inventory Management

Job description

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The Change Partners - Global talent specialists for a connected world

Location:

Colchester, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

EU work permit required:

Yes

Job Views:

4

Posted:

04.06.2025

Expiry Date:

19.07.2025

Job Description:

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

The Head of Retail will be responsible for overall retail strategy and execution, including Duty Free and Operator tender management and implementation, working closely with Operators for retail execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the overall retail strategy for duty-free and tender, aligning with company objectives and market trends.
• Drive sales targets and profitability across all stores through effective merchandising, promotions, and sales team motivation.
• Oversee all aspects of 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.
• Champion a customer-centric approach, ensuring exceptional service delivery and a memorable shopping experience for international travelers.
• Manage budgets, analyze sales data, control costs, and provide regular commercial reports to senior management.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with relevant authorities, concessionaires, brand partners, and other key stakeholders in the duty-free and tender ecosystem.
• Stay informed about industry trends, competitor activities, and traveler demographics to identify new opportunities and inform strategic decisions.
• Participate in and oversee the development of 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, especially within 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, with the ability to inspire and manage diverse teams.
• Proven financial skills, including budget management, forecasting, and P&L responsibility.