Retail Duty Manager, Guinness Open Gate Brewery London United Kingdom

Diageo España SA; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Retail Duty Manager to lead operations at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in London. This exciting role involves managing retail performance, ensuring exceptional customer experiences, and driving innovative retail strategies. The successful candidate will inspire a passionate team, collaborate on marketing initiatives, and uphold high standards of service in a vibrant environment. Join a forward-thinking company that values diversity and offers a competitive rewards package, including performance-based bonuses and flexible working options. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of retail in a culturally rich setting.

Benefits

Annual bonus (performance based)

Contributory pension scheme

Share options

Flexible working hours

Contemporary work-life balance policies

Qualifications

• 3+ years of retail management experience required.
• Strong interpersonal skills to lead and inspire teams.
• Ability to manage commercial performance and P&L.

Responsibilities

• Support Head of Retail in managing store operations.
• Ensure high standards of service and merchandising.
• Lead and develop the retail team for optimal performance.

Skills

Retail Management

Customer Service

Sales Strategies

Inventory Management

Leadership

Commercial Judgement

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or related field

Tools

LS Central retail management system

Job description

Job - Retail Duty Manager, Guinness Open Gate Brewery London

Help transform our business as we take our brands to new heights and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world. Join us for career defining opportunities that give you the chance to thrive.

Job Description

Retail Duty Manager, Guinness Open Gate Brewery, London

Permanent, Full Time

Closing Date: May 16, 2025

About the Team

Guinness Open Gate Brewery (GOGBL) is a new Guinness neighbourhood in London that will inspire the best in brewing, food, retail and culture. Consisting of 52,000 square feet of heritage buildings and central courtyard in the historic brewing quarter in Covent Garden, GOGBL will become a key growth driver for Guinness, placing the brand in culture, driving relevancy and brand saliency amongst a new generation of drinkers. GB is the biggest Guinness market globally and Guinness is enjoying a period of exceptional growth and cultural magnetism, with the brand growing by around 50% since 2019 to the biggest it has ever been in value, volume and market share in the brand’s 264-year history.

Beer will be produced at a 10hl on site brewery, a world-leading brewing facility which will produce innovation and limited-edition liquids to be served across the GOGBL site. The brewery will form part of a grain to glass immersive visitor experience in 1 Mercer Walk, which will also house dedicated space to build Diageo’s southern hub for the Learning 4 Life programme, training hundreds of people per year in hospitality skills.

We believe that the power of community is now more important than ever. At GOGBL we will create opportunities for local jobseekers, give our brewery waste products a second life in the community, and share GOGBL spaces with local community groups.

Key elements of the site include:

• Iconic Guinness Gates as main entrance to the experience, offering huge cultural impact in the heart of London
• Restaurants/Taproom/bars – world class food and beer produced and served on site
• Central all weather historic courtyard with world class bar experience
• Retail spaces, one of which will stock items produced through exciting short-term brand collaborations
• Bespoke 5th floor glass box rooftop eating and drinking experience creating brand new rooftop view of London
• Brewery and beer experience/tasting tours
• Cultural events space designed and fitted out with technology to enable world class meeting and conference experiences

This role is part of the GOGBL Retail Team and will be responsible for supporting the Head of Retail with implementing the retail strategy of a multi-million pound business. The successful applicant will be a key influencer within the retail team and with internal and external stakeholders alike. You will work very closely with the wider GOGBL team to ensure that GOGBL delivers a world class retail experience for customers.

Purpose of Role

This role will support the Head of Retail in all matters in the Mercers Walk and Neal Street stores.

They will help ensure an efficient, profitable, reputable, world class retail operation. They will ensure that the standards of service, merchandising, presentation and experience are consistently at the highest level. They must also possess sound commercial judgement and outstanding leadership skills.

The type of person we are looking for is bursting with energy and drive. The person will be an individual that inspires contagious passion, and gets things done. The person will be a winner by nature and encourage the same from the people around you.

Dimensions of the Role

Commercial Management

• assist the strategic direction and manage commercial performance of the Mercer Walk and Neal Street retail stores.
• Help deliver the GOGBL retail P&L including setting and achieving revenue targets and deliver KPIs.
• Collaborate with the GOGBL Catering operating partner on cross-site retail opportunities.
• Ensure regulatory compliance, and compliance to the Diageo Marketing Code, for all GOGBL merchandise.

Retail Marketing

• Help create, drive and implement effective promotional activities.
• Help manage the GOGBL Retail A&P budget to ensure that the store is inviting and key products are promoted efficiently.
• Manage and deliver a calendar of exciting and innovative retail collaborations with external brands, working with Diageo GB Culture & Entertainment team on wider cultural collaborations.

Retail Operations

• Help manager the LS Central retail management system, including staff training on system use, and management of system updates in collaboration with the Global Brand Homes team.
• Take accountability for maintaining shop floor and store maintenance standards across the GOGBL retail stores
• Take ownership of customer experience across the GOGBL retail stores.
• Take accountability for achieving shrinkage KPI across both stores
• Implement Diageo Health & Safety and Compliance & Ethics policies across all GOGBL Retail spaces.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the GOGBL Retail team
• Develop the leadership capability within the retail team
• Contribute to the overall management of GOGBL as part of the GOGBL Leadership team, and lead and/or support projects to support the operation and growth of GOGBL.
• Lead change transformation where necessary.
• Role model the Diageo values to help create the right culture in the GOGBL management team.
• Follow all Diageo Policies and Procedures and ensure you and your team meet all legal and compliance standards in the business.
• Encourage GOGBL (Diageo and operating partners) team members to discover Guinness and Diageo’s Brands, promote responsible drinking and Diageo’s Society 2030 ambitions.

Key Stakeholders

The role reports into the Head of Retail, GOGBL, and is part of the GOGBL Leadership Team. You will lead a team of sales associates, and will work closely with the Diageo GB Beer Marketing and Commercial Finance teams, and the Irish Brand Homes Retail team.

Qualifications and Experience Required

• At least 3 years’ experience in retail management. Be able to demonstrate mastery of retail operations, sales strategies, merchandising, inventory management and customer service.
• Experience of leading high-performing teams. Strong interpersonal and communication skills to lead the team toward achieving stretching goals.
• Has a deep understanding of consumer behaviour and retail trends
• Demonstrated ability to deliver exceptional customer experiences and drive customer loyalty.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to work under pressure and to regularly re prioritise to meet deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Resilient; prepared to tackle problems head on and persist despite setbacks or difficulties
• Combine intellectual rigour and people engagement with the ability to represent Guinness and GOGBL brand values and purpose.
• Highly effective team player, able to recognise, value and utilise the strengths of the team around them

Celebrating our inclusive and diverse culture is core to Diageo’s purpose of “celebrating life every day everywhere”. This purpose is, in itself, inclusive in nature, as it values everybody irrespective of background, disability, religion, gender identity, sexuality or ethnicity.

We know that for our business to thrive and for Diageo to realize its ambition, we depend on having diverse talent with a range of backgrounds, skills and capabilities in each of the 180 countries in which we operate and to reflect our broad consumer base. We view diversity as one of the key enablers that helps our business to grow and our values, purpose and standards set the conditions for us to respect the unique contribution each person brings.

The ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate strong leadership with the ability to work with a broad spectrum of skills, the poise to deal with managers at different levels, and be able to work at both micro and macro level. This role will suit a proactive, commercially focused retail expert who wants to work in an entrepreneurial, dynamic business. The role will require a flexible approach to work with evening and weekend working required.

Working with Us

Flexibility is key to success in our business and many of our people work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time, compressed hours, flexible location. Please talk to us about what flexibility means to you and don’t let anything stop you from applying.

• We offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including: Contemporary work life balance policies and wellbeing activities
• Annual merit increases (performance based)
• Annual bonus (performance based)
• Contributary pension scheme
• Share options

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and listened to, is a crucial part of this.

We believe the most diverse and inclusive culture makes for a better business and a better world.

We know that for our business to thrive and for Diageo to realise its ambition, we depend on having diverse talent with a range of backgrounds, skills and capabilities in each of the countries in which we operate and to reflect our broad consumer base.

Around the world we have a number of inclusive Business and Employee Resource Groups known as BRGs and ERGs. These influential groups, made up of our people, represent various viewpoints, experiences and communities who generate thought-provoking work to enhance our business and workplace, creating a sense of belonging and opportunities for all.

Join us, and you'll be part of an organisation that embraces diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you'll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You'll be part of — and help build — an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more. And you'll help us champion inclusion and diversity across our entire business: with our employees, our suppliers, across our brands, and within the communities in which we operate.

With over 200 brands sold in more than 180 countries, we’re the world’s leading premium drinks company. Every day, over 30,000 talented people come together at Diageo to create the magic behind our much-loved brands. From iconic names to innovative newcomers – the brands we’re building are rooted in culture and local communities. Our ambition is to be one of the best performing, most trusted and most respected consumer products companies in the world.

Our founders, such as Arthur Guinness, John Walker, and Charles Tanqueray, were visionary entrepreneurs whose brilliant minds helped shape the alcohol industry. And through our people, their legacy lives on. Join us, and you’ll collaborate with talented thinkers, leaders, and makers from all corners of the world. Together, you’ll innovate and push boundaries, shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future that we can all be proud of.

With diversity at our core, we celebrate our people's unique passions, commitments and specialist skills. Because when varied voices, mindsets, and personalities come together, great ideas are born. In our supportive culture, your voice will be heard and you’ll be empowered to be you. Just bring your ambition, curiosity and ideas, and we’ll celebrate your work and help you reach your fullest potential.

What's your DRINKiQ? Take our quiz to understand how alcohol is made and explore the effects of drinking. You can discover everything you need to know atDRINKiQ.

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Retail Operations Manager, Guinness Open Gate Brewery London

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