The Harrods Bookshop: Store Manager

WHSmith; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

WHSmith is seeking a Store Manager for The Harrods Bookshop to lead performance and ensure a positive team culture. The role involves managing HR processes, ensuring compliance, and driving sales while providing excellent customer experiences. Join a company proud of its inclusive culture and rich heritage in retail as you make every one of life’s journeys better.

Benefits

Pension Scheme

33 days holiday (including bank holidays)

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounts up to 50%

Qualifications

• Proven experience in retail management.
• Strong understanding of HR processes and compliance.
• Ability to drive sales and managing store performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the store's performance to drive growth.
• Foster a positive team culture and ensure development plans.
• Maintain high standards and ensure compliance with regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Team Development

Customer Engagement

Data Analysis

Communication

Job description

The Harrods Bookshop: Store Manager – WHSmith

Our goal is to make every one of life’s journeys better, and at the heart of this are our people, customers, and partners. You contribute to this success by leading your store's performance for continued growth and success.

What being The Harrods Bookshop Store Manager involves:

People, Plan, Customer:

• Fostering a positive culture where everyone recognises their role within a team and works together to deliver business goals.
• Tailoring development and training plans to suit varying capabilities, nurturing your team's strengths and potential.
• Creating an environment that encourages openness, idea sharing, and engagement. Be an advocate for the colleague voice and support store engagement plans aligned with district/divisional actions.
• Managing all HR processes, ensuring policies and procedures are followed, with support from the ER team.
• Ensuring stores are safe, legal, and compliant with HMRC regulations.

Creating inclusive environments, valuing diversity, and prioritising team wellbeing.

• Approaching store visits and meetings with purpose, balancing focus on People, Plan, and Customers.
• Interpreting data to drive impactful results, communicating SMART actions, and monitoring their effectiveness.
• Ensuring store activities meet high standards and brand guidelines, including supplier compliance.
• Delivering a comprehensive business scorecard covering sales, shrinkage, payroll, and legal compliance through effective planning.

Achieving the right colleague, in the right place, at the right time, within budget, and managing peaks effectively.

• Maintaining high store standards through coaching and exemplifying excellent behaviours.
• Role-modelling a world-class customer experience, coaching your team to sell, manage queues, and delight customers, aiming for strong NPS scores and positive feedback.
• Training teams to understand key sales levers like ATV, transaction volume, and Rewards KPIs, supporting them with selling techniques.
• Maintaining excellent relationships with landlords and resolving issues promptly.

Rewarding our teams:

In addition to salary, pension, holidays (Management - 33 days including bank holidays; Hourly - 6.6 weeks including bank holidays), and discounts (up to 50%), we offer deals from retail partners to help you save money and create memories. Our Employee Assistance Programme supports your wellbeing—physical, mental, and financial.

About us:

WHSmith has a rich heritage and is expanding in department stores, airports, hospitals, rail stations, and motorway services. Our aim is to serve everyone on their journeys. Our InMotion brand continues to grow, offering the latest tech and excellent customer experiences. We have partnerships with Harrods, Selfridges, Fenwick's, M&S, and Costa Coffee, broadening our offering across the UK. Our goal remains to make every one of life’s journeys better!

WHSmith is proud to be an inclusive employer, welcoming everyone to be themselves.