Head of Retail - Travel

JR United Kingdom; Preston; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel brand seeks a Head of Retail in Preston to oversee and execute their retail strategy. The role involves managing sales targets, operational complexities, and ensuring exceptional customer service in duty-free environments. Candidates should have a strong retail background, particularly in high-volume settings, and possess exceptional leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience in high-volume retail, particularly in duty-free or travel retail.
• Proven track record of driving sales growth and managing multi-store portfolios.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement retail strategy for duty-free.
• Drive sales targets across all stores and manage retail operations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Financial Acumen

Job description

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Head of Retail - Travel, preston, lancashire

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Client:

The Change Partners - Global talent specialists for a connected world

Location:

preston, lancashire, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Views:

4

Posted:

04.06.2025

Expiry Date:

19.07.2025

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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 and implementation including working with Operators for Retail execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the overall retail strategy for all 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 adherence to 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 diverse international travelers.
• Manage budgets, analyse 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 abreast of 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 new and existing retail concessions, demonstrating deep understanding of commercial terms and operational requirements.

Your background:

• Minimum of 5 years experience in high-volume retail, with a significant portion of that experience specifically within duty-free, travel retail, airports/rail or similar international concession environments.
• Demonstrable 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 acumen, including budget management, forecasting, and P&L responsibility.