Retail Manager

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Guaranteed base hours

On-mountain employee benefits

Season pass for skiing/snowboarding

Equipment discounts

Food & beverage discounts

Medical centre discounts

Group lessons

Job summary

Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu is recruiting an experienced Retail Manager to own the year‑round retail business, including the on‑mountain store and online offering.

As a member of the Whakapapa Leadership Team, you’ll drive revenue, margins, product range and supplier relationships, lead a small team and shape retail strategy beyond the mountain.

Qualifications

• Proven retail management experience with commercial outcomes.
• Strong experience in retail buying, procurement, range planning and supplier management.
• Demonstrated experience managing inventory and stock control.
• Strong commercial acumen with budgets, revenue and margin.
• Experience with retail POS, inventory systems and e-commerce.
• Proven experience leading, developing and motivating a team.
• Supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Ability to use sales and inventory data to drive decisions.
• A proactive approach with ownership mindset and guest focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Retail team to deliver a great guest experience and strong commercial outcomes.
• Oversee the day-to-day operation and performance of Whakapapa’s physical and online retail offering.
• Develop and manage the retail product range, including buying, range planning and seasonal purchasing.
• Build strong supplier relationships and negotiate pricing, terms and opportunities for value.
• Manage inventory performance, stock levels, stock turn and aging stock.
• Manage budgets, forecasts and performance against revenue, margin and inventory targets.
• Use sales and inventory information to identify trends and opportunities to improve performance.
• Develop Whakapapa’s online retail offering and grow sales through new channels.
• Identify opportunities to expand Whakapapa’s retail beyond the mountain.
• Collaborate with Marketing and other teams to grow the retail business and guest experience.

Skills

Retail management

Buying & procurement

Range planning

Inventory management

Budgeting & finance

POS & e-commerce

Team leadership

Supplier negotiation

Data-driven decisions

Customer experience

Tools

Inventory system

E-commerce platform

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

The Whakapapa whānau are a small but ambitious team, delivering year-round experiences on the northern slopes of Mt Ruapehu, within Tongariro National Park – a Dual World Heritage area recognised for its natural and cultural significance.

In winter, from June until October, Whakapapa is home to a world-class ski area. Through summer and the shoulder seasons, our focus extends to creating memorable mountain experiences that connect manuhiri (guests) with the maunga – its nature, culture and drama – through sightseeing, hospitality and experiences unique to this remarkable place.

Each year we welcome hundreds of thousands of manuhiri to Whakapapa, many with life‑long connections to the maunga and surrounding region, some even third or fourth generation. As we look towards 2031, our ambition is to continue developing Whakapapa as a thriving year‑round mountain destination, while ensuring the mana of the maunga remains at the heart of how we grow and operate.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As we continue to grow Whakapapa as a year‑round mountain destination, Retail has an important role to play in both the experience we provide our manuhiri and how they take a connection to Whakapapa with them beyond their time on the maunga.

We’re looking for an experienced Retail Manager to take ownership of Whakapapa’s year‑round retail business, including our on‑mountain store and online retail offering.

As a member of the Whakapapa Leadership Team, you’ll be responsible for the commercial performance and ongoing development of Retail, with a strong focus on growing revenue, managing margin and inventory, developing our product offering, and building strong relationships with suppliers.

You’ll lead a small year‑round team and have the opportunity to shape and grow the retail business – from the experience and products we offer on the mountain through to online retail and commercially viable opportunities to extend Whakapapa’s retail presence beyond the mountain.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing the Retail team to deliver a great guest experience and strong commercial outcomes.
• Overseeing the day‑to‑day operation and performance of Whakapapa’s physical and online retail offering.
• Developing and managing the retail product range, including buying, range planning and seasonal purchasing.
• Building strong supplier relationships and negotiating pricing, terms and opportunities that deliver value for Whakapapa.
• Managing inventory performance, including stock levels, stock turn, stocktakes and aged stock.
• Managing departmental budgets, forecasts and performance against revenue, margin and inventory targets.
• Using sales and inventory information to identify trends and opportunities to improve commercial performance.
• Developing Whakapapa’s online retail offering and identifying opportunities to grow sales through new channels.
• Identifying and developing commercially viable opportunities to expand Whakapapa’s retail offering beyond the mountain.
• Working collaboratively with Marketing and other teams across Whakapapa to grow the retail business and enhance the overall guest experience.
• Supporting wider Whakapapa operations, including Guest Services through our summer season.

You will ideally bring:

• Proven retail management experience, with responsibility for delivering commercial outcomes.
• Strong experience in retail buying, procurement, range planning and supplier management.
• Demonstrated experience managing inventory and stock control.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience working with budgets, revenue, margin and business performance.
• Experience with retail point of sale, inventory management systems and e‑commerce.
• Proven experience leading, developing and motivating a team.
• Strong supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.
• The ability to use sales and inventory information to make informed commercial decisions.
• A proactive approach, with the ability to identify opportunities and take ownership of delivering them.
• A genuine focus on delivering a great guest experience.
• A connection to, or genuine passion for, the outdoors, mountain environment and what makes Whakapapa a special place to work and visit.

For more information on the role, see the position description.

Gear up for the ultimate work adventure at Whakapapa. Joining Whakapapa unlocks a number of perks:

• Competitive remuneration, depending on skills and previous retail experience.
• Guaranteed base hours for all full‑time and part‑time staff.
• A range of on‑mountain employee benefits.
• A complimentary season pass for skiing and / or snowboarding, and access to day pass discounts for friends and family
• Free beginner and intermediate group lessons. Don't have equipment? You'll receive discounts on that too
• Exclusive food and beverage, and retail discounts, for use in Whakapapa's cafes and store
• Priority access and discounts to our on‑mountain medical centre services

Your Whakapapa whānau experience is not just a job: you will build lifelong memories and experiences in one of the most beautiful and culturally significant places on earth!

This is a permanent, full‑time role based onsite at Whakapapa Ski Area on Mt Ruapehu. This is not a remote or hybrid role, and the successful candidate will need to be based in, or willing to relocate to, the wider Ruapehu region.

If you’re excited by the opportunity to take ownership of an established retail operation, grow its commercial performance and help shape what Retail looks like as Whakapapa develops as a year‑round mountain destination, we’d love to hear from you.