Head of Retail - Travel

JR United Kingdom; Northampton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel brand seeks a Head of Retail to develop and execute strategic retail operations, focusing on duty-free environments. This part-time role will evolve to full-time, requiring strong leadership and extensive retail management experience. Join a team dedicated to delivering exceptional shopping experiences for travelers.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement retail strategy for duty-free and tender.
• Oversee retail operations, including inventory management and compliance.
• Ensure customer-centric service and manage commercial relationships.

Skills

Retail Management

Sales Growth

Leadership

Communication

Financial Acumen

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

The Change Partners - Global talent specialists for a connected world

Location:

Northampton, 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 who are looking for a Head of Retail on an initial contract to permanent basis, starting part-time (1-2 days per week initially, which will increase).

The Head of Retail will be responsible for overall retail strategy and execution, including duty-free and operator tender management, working 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 team motivation.
• 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 provide commercial reports to senior management.
• Build and maintain relationships with authorities, concessionaires, brand partners, and stakeholders in the duty-free and tender ecosystem.
• Stay updated on industry trends, competitor activities, and traveler demographics to identify opportunities and inform strategy.
• Participate in developing competitive tender bids for retail concessions, understanding commercial terms and operational requirements.

Your background:

• Minimum 5 years experience in high-volume retail, especially within duty-free, travel retail, airports, or similar international concession environments.
• Proven success in driving sales growth and profitability in multiple retail stores.
• Strong understanding of duty-free operations, retail management, and concession agreements.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to manage diverse teams.
• Financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management.