Store Manager Designate

Dunelm; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Dunelm is seeking a Store Coach Designate to cover stores around the M1 Corridor. This hands-on role focuses on operations, people leadership and creating brilliant customer experiences.

You’ll coach Hosts, drive local presence and campaigns with Deputy Manager, while ensuring smooth operations and maintaining high standards. You’ll foster a welcoming store environment for customers and colleagues across all touchpoints.

Qualifications

• Natural leader with empathy
• Customer-obsessed approach to shopping
• Great coach who develops others
• Commercially curious with an eye for opportunities
• Process-savvy and detail-focused
• Community-minded with a collaborative mindset

Responsibilities

• Customer Acquisition: grow local presence and attract new customers
• Customer Obsession: coach Hosts to deliver a seamless, multi-channel experience
• Trading Mindset: spot opportunities, keep store looking its best and drive campaigns
• Process & Compliance: ensure health & safety, audits and compliant operations
• Empower the Team: mentor leaders, build succession and support growth

Job description

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 M1 Corridor. 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 UK 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 our Customer First mindset, 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.