Retail Graduate Manager - Manchester

Asda; Stretford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK retailer is seeking a Retail Graduate Manager for a two-year program based in Trafford Park. This full-time position offers an opportunity for recent graduates to develop their leadership skills in a fast-paced retail environment. Ideal candidates will be adaptable and customer-focused, with a passion for retail management. Competitive salary and various benefits are included.

Benefits

15% colleague discount

Discounted service rates

Flexible pay access

Wellbeing services

Parental leave policies

Qualifications

• Recent graduate or equivalent experience.
• Strong desire to pursue a career in retail management.
• Valid driving license preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Complete a two-year Retail Graduate Programme.
• Manage store operations and coordinate staff.
• Engage with customers and resolve issues.

Skills

Leadership

Customer focus

Problem solving

Adaptability

Job description

Job Title

Retail Graduate Manager - Manchester

Location

Trafford Park

Employment Type

Full time

Contract Type

Permanent Graduate (Fixed Term)

Hours per Week

45

Salary

Competitive salary

Category

Store Management

Closing Date

10 January 2026

At ASDA we're always striving for bigger and better ways to grow our reach and help our customers live better lives. New and innovative ideas are what drive us. We have big ambitions to grow our store portfolio over the next two years across a range of different store formats. The chance to have responsibility for your own store and become a retail leader of the future is better than ever before.

Our 2026 Retail Graduate Programme has been developed in partnership with the store managers of today, many of whom were on similar graduate programmes, ready for the retail leaders of tomorrow.

“Everything about Asda”

We are a values-led organisation. As such we, encourage everyone to be open and honest. We work creatively and collaboratively, valuing everyone's input.

Our collaborative culture, the size of our business and our belief in the empowerment of the individual means opportunities at Asda are abundant.

We conduct £300m worth of transactions every week. Our website handles over 2 million transactions a month. We have more than 145,000 dedicated Asda colleagues ensuring that our customers are at the heart of everything we do.

“Everything you'll love”

Alongside a competitive salary, you'll get lots of other great benefits too, including:

• Colleague discount: 15% off your shopping at Asda from day 1 for you and a nominated user
• Discounted rates and special offers on Asda services such as Mobile, Pharmacy, Opticians, Personal Loan, Pet Insurance, Travel Insurance, Travel Money, Tyres, Breakdown Cover
• Wagestream: access to flexible pay, income tracker, financial coaching, exclusive savings account and much more.
• Company pension
• Wellbeing: including 24/7 virtual GP, 24/7 EAP service, as well as access to free counselling, legal, mortgage, cancer and bereavement support
• Asda Allies Inclusion Networks – helping colleagues to make sure everybody is included and that our differences are recognised and celebrated.
• Excellent parental leave policies, including maternity & adoption leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave, and support for those doing fertility treatments.
• Colleague recognition programme
• Special offers and discounts across a range of services and activities, from airport parking to theme parks and cinemas.

Amanda Green, former Retail Graduate and Store Manager capture the experience perfectly. “I can't think of another high-profile scheme where you are given such an opportunity to build both yourself and your own business side by side.”

This is a fast-paced, two-year learning programme where you'll discover everything store management has to offer. At Asda, no two days are the same. You’ll complete a series of placements within your region, progressing at pace and taking on more accountability every 6 months. At times, you will need to deal with management issues such as disciplinary and grievances, as well as manage rota planning and holidays. The hard work and effort you put in is repaid knowing that you've made a difference to your colleagues, customers, and the communities we serve.

If you have the ambition to be a store manager of the future, the 2-year Retail Graduate Programme will guide you, prepare you and support you every step of the way. After two years, you’ll be on track to become either an operations manager within a large store or manager of your very own express store. That's what's possible at Asda.

“Find your role…”

Store managers are tenacious, hardworking, and determined. But they're also empathetic, caring and customer focused. The pedestrian 9-5 doesn't interest them. As part of the store management team, you'll work a rolling rota which will include weekends, evenings and sometimes, late nights.

To succeed, you'll want to get stuck in, being adaptable to change and able to work at pace. You’ll be highly organised and motivated by problem solving. You’ll be a natural leader, passionate about delighting customers and keeping colleagues motivated and engaged to be the best they can be and deliver great results.

We'll help you to train in different areas and continually develop your skills, so if you're looking for a chance to develop in retail, this could be the role for you!

We aren't looking for a specific degree, or only those who are graduating in 2026.

We're looking for recent graduates who are right for the role. You might already have some experience in the working world, or in retail. You might have no work experience at all. We're looking for graduates who have the right attitude and are looking for a bigger, better career. A valid driving license is preferred but not essential.

“Find your everything at Asda”

Take time to complete your online application, it really is the best way to make a good first impression. Once we received your application, we use a range of techniques to narrow down the field and help us find our ideal candidates.

If you are successful at each stage, you will progress to the next. This will include:

• A short, blended personality and numerical assessment

• Three, quick video interview questions

• A half-day assessment centre, where you will meet the team and find out more about the programme.

If you are successful, we will ask you to come and join ASDA in September 2026.

Applications may close before the deadline so please register your interest as soon as possible.

We are passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive workforce, representative of the communities we serve, and are creating ways to inspire diverse talent to join Asda.

All candidates must have the continuous right to work in the UK and any offer of employment is conditional upon this requirement. Asda do not provide sponsorship for our graduate and apprenticeship programmes.