Profit Protection Manager

Hillier Nurseries Ltd; Ampfield; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Car allowance

Online Learning Hub

Employee discount 20%

Restaurant discount 50% on shift

31 days annual leave

Free on-site parking

Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme

Exclusive retail discounts + cashback

Company Christmas gifts

Garden access

Job summary

Hillier Nurseries Ltd is seeking a Profit Protection Manager to safeguard profit across 22 garden centres. You will analyse shrinkage, stock loss and compliance, implement loss reduction plans and lead audits and controls.

The role is hands-on with regular travel to centres to coach teams, investigate issues and roll out new tools and routines. Strong retail experience, excellent data interpretation and communication across functions are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in loss prevention, risk or compliance in multi-site retail.
• Analytical with ability to identify root causes.
• Strong communication across functions.
• Willingness to travel to all Hillier sites.
• Proven experience managing stock, shrinkage and cash handling.

Responsibilities

• Analyse shrinkage, stock loss and variance data to identify trends and high-risk areas.
• Develop and implement loss reduction plans with Area Managers.
• Visit centres to review stock integrity, cash controls, refunds and discounting.
• Ensure centres follow routines for stock handling, deliveries, write-offs and waste.
• Lead investigations into stock loss, cash discrepancies or breaches of procedures.
• Own the retail compliance framework and conduct regular audits with action plans.
• Escalate non-compliance where necessary.
• Monitor risk indicators including refunds, discounts, voids, stock adjustments and cash variances.
• Collaborate with Health & Safety, HR, IT, Buying, Merchandising and Finance to keep processes robust.
• Maintain documentation, SOPs and audit tools.
• Support rollout of systems that strengthen controls (stock on hand, replenishment, H&S digitisation).
• Coach Centre Managers and teams on safe checks, cash handling and loss prevention.
• Support centres during peak trading, stock takes and seasonal changeovers.
• Ensure retail risk is considered early in project design.
• Produce reports for Retail Director on shrinkage, compliance and risk trends.

Skills

Retail leadership

Stock integrity

Data analysis

Communication

Excel proficiency

Tools

Excel

Job description

The Profit Protection Manager safeguards profit across all 22 Hillier garden centres by reducing loss, improving stock integrity, strengthening compliance and embedding disciplined operational routines. The role oversees shrinkage, cash handling, stock accuracy, discounting and risk-related processes, ensuring centres operate safely, legally and to agreed standards.

As the subject matter expert for loss prevention and retail risk, you will analyse data, identify trends, investigate issues and work closely with Area and Centre Managers to drive improvement. This is a hands-on role with regular travel to centres to review compliance, coach teams, conduct investigations and support the rollout of new tools and routines.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse shrinkage, stock loss and variance data to identify trends, root causes and high-risk areas.
• Develop and implement loss reduction plans with Area Managers.
• Visit centres to review stock integrity, cash controls, refunds and discounting.
• Ensure centres follow agreed routines for stock handling, deliveries, write-offs and waste.
• Lead investigations into stock loss, cash discrepancies or procedural breaches.
• Own the retail compliance framework and conduct regular audits, providing clear feedback and action plans.
• Escalate non-compliance where necessary.
• Monitor key risk indicators including refunds, discounts, voids, stock adjustments and cash variances.
• Work with Health & Safety, HR, IT, Buying, Merchandising and Finance to keep processes practical, robust and consistently applied.
• Maintain accurate documentation, SOPs and audit tools.
• Support the rollout of new systems that strengthen controls (e.g. stock on hand, replenishment, H&S digitisation).
• Coach and train Centre Managers and teams on safe checks, cash handling, stock routines and loss prevention.
• Support centres during peak trading, stock take and seasonal changeovers.
• Ensure retail risk is considered early in project design.
• Produce clear reporting for the Retail Director on shrinkage, compliance and risk trends, and track improvement actions.

Skills And Experience (Essential)

• Strong retail background, ideally at Store/Centre Manager level or in loss prevention or compliance.
• Experience managing stock integrity, shrinkage, cash handling or operational risk.
• Highly analytical, able to interpret data and identify root causes.
• Strong communication skills, confident working across functions and challenging constructively.
• Strong Excel, reporting and systems capability.
• Willingness to travel regularly to all Hillier retail sites.

Desirable

• Multi-site retail or central retail support experience.
• Experience conducting investigations or audits.
• Exposure to stock systems, replenishment tools or compliance platforms.
• Understanding of retail health & safety or loss prevention frameworks.

Personal attributes

• Tenacious, disciplined and highly organised.
• Calm under pressure with a structured approach.
• Solutions-focused, proactive and committed to continuous improvement.
• Comfortable working independently across multiple sites.

Benefits

• Competitive salary depending on experience.
• Car allowance.
• Online Learning Hub.
• Employee discount of 20%.
• Discount of 50% on restaurant menu whilst on shift.
• 31 days annual leave.
• Free on-site parking.
• Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme for you and your immediate family, including free counselling on health, financial, legal and personal matters.
• Free access to exclusive retail discounts, plus extra cashback on your Amazon and food shop.
• Company Christmas gifts (eligibility based on start date).
• Free access to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey and deals at other gardens nationally.