Interim Retail Director

Artisan People; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A premium retail brand in London is seeking an Interim Retail Director to take full operational ownership of their retail estate for an 8-12 week transformation mandate. This hands-on role involves resetting in-store standards, mentoring teams, and driving performance improvements. Ideal candidates will have a proven track record in retail leadership and experience managing significant turnarounds. If you're ready for a high-impact role that makes a difference, apply today.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in multi-site retail operations.
• Proven track record of delivering successful turnarounds.
• Strong emotional intelligence and decision-making abilities.

Responsibilities

• Take operational ownership of the UK retail estate.
• Lead cultural and in-store standards reset.
• Design and implement sales training framework.
• Mentor internal talent for leadership roles.
• Deliver final report with outcomes and recommendations.

Skills

Retail leadership

Change management

Performance improvement

Team mentoring

Operational excellence

Job description

You’ll be joining a fast-paced, premium retail brand as Interim Retail Director, based in London.

The role

As Interim Retail Director, you will take full operational ownership of the UK retail estate for an 8 -12 week transformation mandate, acting as the most senior retail leader in the business and working closely with the CEO. This is a hands-on role for an experienced operator who thrives on resetting standards, energising teams and driving measurable performance improvement. You will:

• Lead a full reset of retail culture and in-store standards, including presentation, hygiene, service behaviours and selling energy
• Establish clear non-negotiables and implement daily and weekly leadership disciplines
• Assess area managers, store managers and senior sales teams to identify high potential, capability gaps and performance issues
• Introduce a clear weekly performance cadence covering conversion, ATV, footfall and standards compliance
• Design and roll out a practical sales training framework with embedded in-store coaching
• Refresh in-store promotional activity, theatre and sales missions to drive engagement and urgency
• Support senior leadership with ER, conduct and people performance issues
• Assess succession, mentor internal talent and recommend a long-term retail leadership structure
• Deliver a final report outlining actions taken, outcomes achieved and next-phase recommendations

How you’ll dazzle us

You are a senior, credible retail operator with extensive multi-site leadership experience and a proven track record of delivering turnarounds. You bring gravitas, warmth and clarity, balancing high standards with emotional intelligence. Comfortable making tough decisions, you are commercially driven, hands-on and energised by fast-moving environments. Your background is likely within premium or aspirational retail or service-led hospitality, and you know how to lead large teams through cultural and operational change.

What’s next

If you’re ready to step into a high-impact interim role where your experience will make an immediate difference, apply via the form below.