Retail Operations Manager

SPACE NK; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading beauty retailer in the UK is seeking a Retail Operations Manager to oversee store communication and operational excellence. This position requires strong leadership and communication skills, with a focus on team development and collaboration. The ideal candidate will have retail management experience and the ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives. This role offers a hybrid work model with both office-based and remote working days.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a retail operations manager role.
• Excellent team player with relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Retail Operations team.
• Manage third-party operational partners.
• Ensure effective communication across stores.

Skills

Retail experience

Microsoft Office proficiency

Strong communication skills

Analytical skills

Team leadership

Problem-solving abilities

Job description

If you love beauty, you're in the right place.

As the ultimate curator of over 100 of the most in-demand, highly innovative and boundary-pushing beauty brands, we are the go-to destination for worldwide beauty discovery.

Together through our neighbourhood stores, online presence and loyalty scheme, Space NK has built a flourishing community in which to discover beauty. The customer is at the heart of everything we do, and we will always endeavour to offer everything they need to help them explore, experiment, and enjoy our brands.

Job title: Retail Operations Manager

Reports to: Head of Retail

Location: 2 to 3 days office-based (Head Office, Capper Street, London) remaining days remote

Role Overview

The Retail Operations Manager plays a critical role in communications to the stores, ensuring stores operational excellence and ensuring effective, consistent communication across the retail estate. Acting as the central point between Head Office and the stores, this role is accountable for ensuring that all store-facing communication is clear, timely, and aligned with business priorities.

The Retail Operations Manager leads the Retail Operations team, oversees the internal communications platform, and partners with all departments and the field team to enable seamless operational execution in stores. They are responsible for managing third-party operational partners, supporting cross-functional projects, and embedding best practice and efficiency across all aspects of retail operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Retail Operations team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the team's day-to-day workflow, ensuring communication, processes, and support are delivered to a consistently high standard.
• Line manage the Retail Operations Coordinator, In-Store Services Coordinator, Retail Assistant, and Retail Administrator.
• Act as the gatekeeper for all communication to stores, ensuring tone, clarity, and consistency across all channels.
• Oversee and maintain the internal communications platform (NGAGE), ensuring content is accurate, accessible, and aligned with retail priorities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to plan and deliver in-store initiatives, projects, and activations
• Partner with the Field Management Team to ensure store communication supports operational needs and business objectives.
• Monitor and assess communication effectiveness, implementing improvements to optimise engagement and clarity.
• Lead and support retail operational projects, ensuring timely delivery, effective cross-functional collaboration, and alignment with business goals.
• Partner with the Field Team to identify and address operational challenges, providing solutions that enhance efficiency and store performance.
• Develop, implement, and train stores on new operational processes, ensuring consistent understanding and execution.
• Drive continuous improvement in operational standards, processes, and communication flow.
• Manage relationships with third-party operational partners, including recycling providers, logistics suppliers, and procurement service companies.
• Coordinate and distribute promotional and campaign communication to stores, ensuring timely and accurate execution.
• Maintain visibility of promotional calendars and key retail activity to support planning and readiness across store teams.
• Partner cross-functionally to manage operational readiness for new store openings, relocations, and refits.
• Lead the organisation of key retail events, including the annual Store Managers' Conference, ensuring seamless execution and peak readiness

Qualifications, Knowledge, and Experience

• Previous experience in a retail operations manager role.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Excellent team player, with the ability to build, foster, and nurture strong relationships across all levels.
• Natural ability to think creatively and outside the box, identifying solutions to operational challenges.
• Self-confident with strong presentation skills and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic retail environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and make informed operational decisions.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.
• Proactive, solution-oriented, and able to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Resilient and adaptable, able to manage competing priorities while maintaining high standards of operational excellence.

Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.

All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK.

If you want to find out more about us, what it is like to work for us, all about our benefits, and our pledges on Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, please visit our website.

Space NK are an equal opportunities employer.

How We Will Use Your Information

We will use the information you provide to us with your job application to help us process your application for the specific job you have applied for. If you apply speculatively, we will process your application for the job/relevant business area that you detail within your email.

Please note that our current system does not use an automated filtering system.

All applications made via the website, through a third-party website or in-store will be kept on file for a period of 12 months.

This information will be retained and used to assess your suitability to similar positions that may arise in the future, or if the initial vacancy becomes live again during the 12-month period. If you would prefer us to not hold your information on file/ you wish to be 'forgotten' if you are not offered a position with Space NK, please email your "right to be forgotten" to our recruitment email address with RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN as the title of the email. We will always inform you when we have deleted your application details, otherwise we will treat your application as consent to us holding this information.