Multi-Unit Manager Designates

WHSmith North America; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

WHSmith North America seeks a Multi-Unit Manager Designate to provide temporary operational leadership across properties nationwide. This role supports openings, acquisitions, and transformations while safeguarding standards, performance, and customer experience.

Expect extensive travel (up to 75%) across North America, with focus on stabilizing teams, driving profitability, and delivering results during leadership vacancies and major projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, Hospitality, Retail Operations, or related field.
• 5–8 years of progressive leadership experience in retail or high-volume environments.
• Proven multi-unit leadership with accountability for sales, profitability and people leadership.
• Experience leading training, coaching, and large-scale initiatives.
• Expertise in labor management, inventory control, and compliance.
• Ability to travel up to 75% across North America.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended field assignments.

Responsibilities

• Assume full operational leadership of assigned properties during leadership vacancies and strategic deployments.
• Lead delivery of sales, profit, payroll, and operating expense targets with clear execution plans.
• Recruit, coach, and inspire high-performing leadership teams with an inclusive culture.
• Ensure execution of all operational standards, inventory management, and asset protection.
• Drive stabilization in underperforming properties and develop corrective action plans.
• Collaborate with Field Operations, Central Operations, Finance, People, and other teams to resolve challenges.
• Deploy across multiple markets and formats, providing leadership during vacancies and peak periods.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

People management

Travel readiness

Data analysis

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Management/related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

LMS

Operational reporting tools

Job description

The Multi-Unit Manager Designate (National Deployment) serves as a highly capable field leader providing temporary operational leadership, stabilization support, leadership coverage, and deployment across multiple properties throughout the United States. This role fills critical leadership vacancies, supports new store openings, acquisitions, operational transformations, and business-critical initiatives while ensuring uninterrupted execution of operational standards, commercial performance, and customer experience.

The role operates across multiple markets and formats, requiring extensive travel, adaptability, and the ability to rapidly integrate into new teams while delivering immediate operational impact.

This role can be based in either Atlanta, GA (ATL) or Orlando, FL (MCO).

Job Responsibilities

• Assume full operational leadership of assigned properties during leadership vacancies, business transitions, new store openings, acquisitions, organizational changes, or other strategic deployments. Establish stability quickly while maintaining accountability for commercial performance, operational excellence, compliance, customer experience, and financial results.
• Lead delivery of sales, profit, payroll, labor productivity, shrink, and operating expense targets by translating business objectives into clear execution plans. Analyze performance trends, identify opportunities, and implement timely actions that improve conversion, average transaction value, inventory productivity, and overall profitability.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and inspire high-performing leadership teams that foster accountability, engagement, and operational excellence. Conduct performance management, succession planning, talent assessments, and leadership development while creating an inclusive, customer-focused culture aligned with company values.
• Champion consistent execution of all operational standards, including inventory management, receiving, replenishment, merchandising, labor planning, cash controls, food safety, health & safety, regulatory compliance, and asset protection. Ensure stores consistently execute company programs, initiatives, and standard operating procedures.
• Lead operational recovery and stabilization efforts within underperforming or newly assigned properties by assessing business conditions, identifying root causes, developing corrective action plans, and driving measurable improvements in operational performance, compliance, customer experience, and financial results.
• Partner with Field Operations, Central Operations, Finance, People, Commercial, Asset Protection, Facilities, and landlord partners to resolve operational challenges, support strategic initiatives, coordinate major projects, and ensure seamless execution across multiple business functions.
• Deployment Leadership: Deploy across multiple markets, retail formats, and geographic regions based on business priorities. Provide immediate leadership support for vacancies, peak trading periods, acquisitions, remodels, regulatory events, and enterprise initiatives while maintaining operational continuity and minimizing business disruption.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Management, Hospitality, Retail Operations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5–8 years of progressive leadership experience in retail, hospitality, travel retail, airport operations, or other high-volume customer-facing environments.
• Proven multi-unit leadership experience with accountability for sales, profitability, operational performance, compliance, and people leadership.
• Demonstrated success leading training, coaching, operational improvement, change management, and large-scale initiative deployment.
• Strong expertise in labor management, inventory control, shrink reduction, operational controls, compliance, health and safety, and employee relations.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyze performance data, identify root causes, and develop actionable business solutions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, LMS, and operational reporting and analytics tools.
• Experience supporting new store openings, operational transformations, and multiple retail formats preferred.
• Ability to travel extensively throughout North America (up to 75%) to support operational initiatives, training, and field priorities.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended field assignments as business needs require.

About Us

WHSmith is a leading global travel retailer with over 1,700 stores across 30 countries worldwide. WHSmith North America, incorporating Marshall Retail Group (MRG) and InMotion, represents over half of the Company’s international store estate, with a collection of attractive, successful specialty retail stores located in airports and resorts across North America.

EEO/ADA/DFWP

WHSmith North America is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin/ancestry, age, gender identity, gender expression, military/veteran status, marital status, disability status or any other basis prohibited by law.