Store Manager - Designate

Dunelm; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Dunelm is hiring a Store Coach Designate to cover stores around the Kent region. You’ll lead and develop teams, drive exceptional customer experiences, and champion our store standards and campaigns.

You’ll be a hands-on leader focused on people, processes, and performance, with a passion for delivering brilliant homeware shopping experiences in our UK stores.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and people-management skills with empathy and decisiveness.
• Customer-centric approach to store operations and guest experiences.
• Proven ability to coach and develop teams to deliver consistent service.
• Keen commercial sense with ability to spot opportunities for growth and efficiency.
• Organised and detail-focused with strong process discipline.
• Committed to community engagement and local store impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead store operations in the Kent region, ensuring strong customer experiences.
• Coach Hosts to deliver a seamless, multi-channel shopping journey.
• Collaborate with Deputy Manager and Team Leaders to implement campaigns and standards.
• Own compliance, health & safety, and audit processes across the store.
• Develop talent and succession plans with Regional Coach and People Lead.

Skills

Leadership

Customer focus

Coaching

Commercial acumen

Process orientation

Community mindset

Culture champion

Job description

Overview

At Dunelm, we’re all about helping people feel truly at home—now and for generations to come. That’s not just something we say; it’s something we live and breathe in every store, every day.

We’re looking for a Store Coach Designate to cover stores around the Kent Region. Someone who’s got a head for operations, a heart for people, and a passion for creating brilliant customer experiences—no matter how or where our customers choose to shop.

It’s a hands‑on role where your attention to detail will make life easier – not just for customers, but for your team too. You’ll be helping people find what they need, when they need it, and making sure the store feels as good behind the scenes as it does out front.

Home. There’s no place like it.

And there’s no feeling like helping people create the joy of feeling truly at home. At Dunelm, that’s what we do. We’re the UK\'s number one choice for homewares because we make home life lovelier for our customers. And we’ve crafted a workplace that feels just as welcoming – where you can bring your ideas, be yourself, and feel right at home.

We’re all about the customer – making them feel welcome and helping them find the perfect pieces for their home (and maybe a few they didn’t even know they needed!) We’re fast and friendly, and no two days are ever the same. There’s always someone new to meet, something new to learn, and plenty of chances to make a real difference.

Seeing as we have 200+ stores across the U K it’s safe to say we know a thing or two about great shopping experiences - and it all starts with our people. Our friendly, helpful teams make all the difference, so we make sure they’re well looked after with great benefits and loads of opportunities to grow. So, get stuck in, take pride in your store, and make the most of everything on offer. There’s something for everyone here – and that includes you!

What you\'ll be doing

• Customer Acquisition
  You’ll be the friendly face behind growing our local presence—whether that’s boosting our Facebook followers, encouraging e-receipts, or finding smart ways to bring new customers through the door (and keep them coming back).


• Customer Obsession
  You’ll coach and empower our Hosts to deliver a seamless, multi-channel shopping experience—from mobile point-of-sale to virtual consultations. You’ll champion ourCustomer Firstmindset, helping the team deliver consistently great service and strong NPS results.


• Trading Mindset
  You’ll spot opportunities, act fast, and make sure our store is always looking its best. Working closely with your Deputy Manager and Team Leaders, you’ll bring campaigns to life and keep standards sky‑high.


• Process & Compliance
  From click & collect to stock loss prevention, you’ll keep things running smoothly and safely. You’ll take ownership of compliance, health & safety, and audit standards—because a well-run store is a happy store.


• Empower the Team
  You’ll inspire your leadership team to think like owners and act with purpose. You’ll nurture talent, build succession plans, and work with your Regional Coach and People Lead to help your team grow and thrive.

What we\'ll look for in you

• A natural leader– You know how to bring out the best in others and lead with empathy, not ego.


• Customer-obsessed– You genuinely care about making every shopping experience feel personal, easy, and enjoyable.


• A great coach– You love helping others grow, and you’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and lead by example.


• Commercially curious– You spot opportunities, act on them, and always have one eye on what’s next.


• Process-savvy– You’re organised, detail-focused, and know how to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.


• Community-minded– You see the value in local connections and love finding ways to make your store part of something bigger.


• A culture ad– You bring something new to the table and help us build a team that’s as diverse and dynamic as the customers we serve.