Senior Franchise Manager

Gymshark; Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fitness brand is seeking a Senior Franchise Manager to drive growth in wholesale and franchise markets. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in retail management and possess excellent project management skills. This role offers a hybrid working arrangement with benefits including performance bonuses, healthcare, and employee discounts.

Benefits

Performance-based bonus opportunity

Funded healthcare benefit

25 days holiday, plus an extra day for your birthday

Contributory employer pension scheme

Flexible benefits programme

Employee discount

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in retail wholesale/franchise management.
• Strong understanding of retail operations and customer experience.
• Proven project management skills leading cross-functional initiatives.
• Willingness to travel frequently.

Responsibilities

• Identify and activate growth opportunities across wholesale and franchise markets.
• Monitor KPIs and sales performance to identify growth opportunities.
• Work closely with internal teams like Marketing and Finance.
• Lead projects such as new store openings and campaign rollouts.

Skills

Retail Wholesale/Franchise Management

Project Management

Communication Skills

Negotiation Skills

Stakeholder Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sports Management or related field

Job description

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

This role champions brand consistency, commercial performance, and strategic expansion, with a strong focus on driving growth in defined priority markets. The Senior Franchise Manager leads initiatives that unlock market potential and elevate partner capabilities, while collaborating cross-functionally to deliver impactful results.

Key Responsibilities

Wholesale & Franchise Growth & Market Development

• Identify and activate growth opportunities across existing and new wholesale and franchise markets.
• Develop and implement scalable strategies to increase revenue, market share, and brand presence.
• Partner with franchisees to optimize store performance, customer engagement, and local relevance.

Partner Support & Development

• Guide wholesale partners and franchisees in business planning, inventory management, and local marketing execution.
• Enable wholesale partners and franchisees through structured onboarding programs and ongoing capability‑building initiatives.

Performance Management

• Monitor KPIs and sales performance to identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with partners to implement strategies that drive profitability.

Commercial Project Management

• Lead strategically relevant projects such as new store/partnership openings, campaign rollouts, and seasonal activations.
• Manage timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder alignment to ensure successful execution.

Cross‑functional Collaboration

• Work closely with internal teams including Marketing, Merchandising, Visual Merchandising, Finance, and Supply Chain.
• Act as the central point of coordination between wholesale partners, franchisees, and corporate functions to ensure seamless execution of brand initiatives.

Brand Expansion & Onboarding

• Support market entry strategies and onboarding of new wholesale and franchise partners.
• Conduct location analysis and launch planning in collaboration with relevant teams.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader with a strong entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for fitness, sport‑driven brand development.

Essential Criteria

• 5+ years of experience in retail wholesale/franchise management, preferably in fitness, sports or active lifestyle brands.
• Strong understanding of retail operations, visual merchandising, and customer experience.
• Proven project management skills with experience leading cross‑functional initiatives.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Willingness to travel frequently.

WHAT YOU COULD ALSO HAVE

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sports Management or related field.
• Experience with P&L ownership and strategic planning.
• Familiarity with wholesale and franchise agreements and legal frameworks.
• Proficiency in retail analytics and performance reporting tools.

Hybrid Working

This is a hybrid role and would require the successful candidate to attend at least 3 days a week in the GSIQ Solihull, UK office. There may also be opportunities to work from the London office on a weekly basis.

Benefits & Perks

• Performance‑based bonus opportunity.
• Funded healthcare benefit.
• 25 days holiday, plus an extra day for your birthday & bank holidays.
• Contributory employer pension scheme.
• Flexible benefits programme – including salary sacrifice EV scheme, dental insurance, cycle‑to‑work, tech scheme, holiday trading.
• Gymshark employee discount & long‑service awards.
• Access to High Street cashback and discounts.
• Financial, physical and mental wellbeing support.
• Enhanced family leave package.
• Life assurance.

Equity & Inclusion

We’re an equal opportunities employer, and for us that means we always strive to be as inclusive as possible in all aspects of employment, right from your application. We’re committed to finding reasonable adjustments for candidates with specific needs or a disability during our recruitment process, and all applicants will be considered fairly and equally. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.