Store Manager - Ashford Designer Outlet

Columbia Sportswear Company; Ashford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading outdoor apparel brand is seeking a Store Manager for their location in Ashford Designer Outlet, England. This role involves leading a team, driving sales, ensuring premium customer service, and managing store operations. The ideal candidate has over 2 years of store management experience and possesses a passion for the outdoors. Join a dynamic team and contribute to impactful store performance in a positive work environment.

Benefits

Significant discounts on Columbia and Sorel products

Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning

Access to in-house training courses

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of store management experience in a retail or customer-focused environment.
• Fluent in English with a professional level of language.
• Able to build strong relationships with employees and customers.

Responsibilities

• Be a visible and approachable leader on the shop floor.
• Recruit, train, and grow talent within the team.
• Manage the store’s P&L and make informed commercial decisions.
• Champion customer experience by ensuring high-quality interactions.
• Oversee daily operations and optimize staffing.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strong communication skills

People-first mindset

Coaching & development skills

Strategic thinker

Motivated by challenges

Passion for the outdoors

Adaptability & flexibility

Job description

Reports to: Retail Operations Manager

Fixed-term contract, converted permanent after 12 months

Ashford Designer Outlet, England

Start date: at the earliest convenience

OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.

At Columbia Sportswear, we’re as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, we’re proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.

Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: “It’s perfect. Now make it better.” As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving

Discover a world of diversity within our team of 700+ across 13 European countries, united by the common goal of elevating Columbia to the pinnacle of outdoor brands in Europe. Our omnichannel approach seamlessly integrates Columbia and Sorel brands' engaging in-store and online experiences.

We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy. We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.

And we believe in you.

About The Position

Are you a hands-on leader who thrives on the shop floor, connecting with people, driving results, and developing talent? We’re looking for a Store Manager to take the lead at our Columbia store in the Ashford Designer Outlet, England—creating an inspiring, high-energy retail experience for customers and team members alike.

At Columbia, Store Managers don’t sit behind a desk. They lead from the front—coaching their team by example, cultivating a high-performance culture, and using their business acumen to drive commercial success. You’ll be a key player in our European Retail Team, working with peers across nine countries in a brand that champions innovation, customer connection, and a passion for the outdoors.

If you’re looking for a meaningful challenge in a purpose-driven brand, this is your chance to make a real impact!

How You’ll Make a Difference

• Lead from the front: Be a visible and approachable leader on the shop floor, setting the tone for service excellence and team engagement.
• Build and develop your team: Recruit, train, and grow talent, fostering a culture of coaching, accountability, and progression.
• Drive performance with purpose: Set clear targets, motivate your team, and use data insights to steer actions and boost store KPIs.
• Own your business: Manage your store’s P&L, make informed commercial decisions, and proactively address opportunities to improve profitability.
• Deliver premium service: Champion customer experience by ensuring consistent, high-quality interactions aligned with our service standards.
• Plan and operate efficiently: Oversee daily operations, optimize staffing, and ensure smooth execution of store processes.
• Elevate visual impact: Implement and maintain brand-right merchandising standards that bring our product stories to life.
• Cultivate a strong team culture: Build trust and collaboration, creating a safe and empowering environment for your team to grow.

WHAT MAKES YOU SUCCESSFUL?

• Leadership experience – At least 2 years of store management experience, leading a team in a retail or customer-focused environment.
• Strong communication skills – Fluent in English, with a professional level of language to collaborate with our European team.
• People-first mindset – You thrive in a team environment, building strong relationships with both employees and customers.
• Coaching & development skills – You love helping others succeed, mentoring, training, and inspiring your team to reach their full potential.
• Strategic thinker – You’re confident in analyzing data, solving problems, and making decisions that improve store performance.
• Motivated by challenges – You bring energy, resilience, and a results-driven attitude to every task.
• Passion for the outdoors – You love adventure and enjoy sharing that enthusiasm with others.
• Adaptability & flexibility – Comfortable working a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays, to support store operations.

WHY JOINING US?

You will have the opportunity to work for a company that has a positive impact on the people we reach, the places we touch, and the products we make. Indeed, one of our core values is to do the right thing, not just for our company, but also for our consumers, customers, employees and their communities.

• Build new skills, develop your potential, and grow within our company.
• Join an inclusive employer where diversity and equity lead to creativity and empowerment.
• Be part of a company that focuses on your wellbeing to ensure that you can be your best self.
• Travel around Europe for seminars or staff events and expand your professional network.
• Benefit from special staff discounts on our products.

Perks & Benefits

Significant discounts on Columbia and Sorel products

Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning

Unlock your potential: access to in-house training courses (feedback, leadership, Insights...)

DEI initiatives to exchange and strengthen our involvement around these themes

About The Culture

• At Columbia Sportswear, we value an inclusive and open culture that emphasizes the absence of barriers between team members. We are committed to fostering a sense of belonging by encouraging personal connections at all levels, which creates a cohesive and supportive work environment.
• Team members serve as ambassadors for our brand, finding motivation in being part of an organization dedicated to activities they are passionate about. This dedication reflects our commitment to building a team that takes pride in our products and values.
• We offer the opportunity to work for a US-based company within a multicultural environment, where your job has an impact across different countries.
• Our 'Always Be Learning' culture of continuous learning enables our employees to identify and develop skills that will enable them to continue to grow within the company.
• 'Unlock Your Potential' is the spirit that characterizes our vision of employees' development: to offer them opportunities to grow, in their job, in their team or even to change jobs completely. We grow our people to grow our business.

To learn more about us and our culture, visit our page on Welcome To The Jungle: https://bit.ly/49bl1i5

About The Hiring Process

Ready to unlock your potential at Columbia Sportswear Company? Apply now to help us connect active people with their passion! The hiring team will review your application in the following weeks.

If your application is selected: a 30-45mn introductory interview with our Talent Acquisition Team to talk about yourself, your motivations and the role

Interview with the hiring manager (online or in-person interview)

Your unique strengths align perfectly with our team: we are thrilled to extend you an offer!