Location
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire | United Kingdom
Job description
National Retail Manager
Field Based
Permanent
Full Time / 35 Hours
Annual salary, Bonus, Car Allowance and benefits
Haven seeks a skilled National Retail Manager to lead the category development team in implementing retail strategies across various formats, including Supermarkets, Wondershops, Vending, and Bingo. Collaborating with parks and suppliers, the role focuses on achieving sales goals, optimising margins, and ensuring a consistently excellent guest experience. The ideal candidate should possess strong Category Management experience from major retail or convenience store backgrounds.
Working closely with the Director of Retail, Entertainment, and Leisure, the National Retail Manager will contribute to the long-term strategy for all Haven retail formats. This includes enhancing propositions, streamlining internal processes, and driving contribution growth in collaboration with core functions such as IT, Marketing, and Proposition.
The role involves indirect leadership for 38 park-based Retail Managers, overseeing annual planning, range management, standard operating procedures, and supporting labour deployment and profit protection. Regular Team Manager leadership and the development of skills and technical training programs are also part of the responsibilities.
This field-based role requires spending 60% of time on planning and strategy, 40% on implementation and operations. The position entails 2-3 days at the head office in Hemel Hempstead or remote work, with 20-30% of time dedicated to visiting parks.
Your Opportunity To learn, develop and become an expert in a key area of the business by:
- Leading a team to drive budgeted sales and margin across various categories.
- Delivering margin improvements while maintaining brand standards.
- Managing the buying and merchandising cycles for own brand gifting merchandise.
- Initiating and leading category reviews for continuous improvement.
- Leading the central promotions and seasonal events strategy for grocery and hardlines.
- Developing and executing retail strategy aligned with budgets and company strategy.
- Identifying new revenue opportunities and implement a 'Simply Better, Lower Cost' approach.
- Overseeing central capex and maintenance spend.
- Leading financial analysis and pricing strategy across retail formats.
- Building and leading relationships with key suppliers.
- Partnering with Central Procurement for contract negotiations and category tenders.
- Supporting the Operations Director to establish a clear framework for food safety.
- Conducting regular 121s and lead annual functional training.
- Building relationships with park teams and support execution of functional plans.
- Collaborating on creating functional Standard Operating Procedures.
- Sharing best practices across parks and support performance tracking.
- Engaging with General Managers and Operational Directors to challenge and support performance.
- Collaborating with Central Finance and Park Retail Managers for cost tracking.
What we’d like you to bring: - Comprehensive product knowledge, including own brand development.
- Extensive bricks-and-mortar retail expertise and industry knowledge.
- Understanding of external factors impacting retail and operational consequences of commercial decisions.
- Proficiency in P&L management, food safety standards, and Far East sourcing.
- Skilled in critical path management and multitasking across projects.
- Strong business acumen, decision-making, leadership, and analytical skills.
- Effective relationship management, strategic thinking, and negotiation abilities.
- Experience in developing complex strategies and Senior/Head of Department roles.
- Competent in budget management, end-to-end Category Management, and supplier/stakeholder management.
- Leadership or collaboration with operational teams, research skills for new product ideas.
- Ability to create strategic plans aligning guest, team, and business needs.
- Clear and concise presentation of ideas to diverse stakeholders.
- Confident, clear, collaborative, consultative, curious, and resourceful communication style.
Desirable, but not Essential:
- Retail experience in a leisure environment.
- Competitor knowledge.
- Familiarity with retail operations, sales, and marketing.
- Experience in tender and contract management.
- Background in training and development, including negotiation training.
- Knowledge of convenience retailing.
- Ability to present at the board level.
What’s In It For You? - Holiday allowance that rises with service, plus a ‘Holiday Buy Scheme’
- Car allowance
- Annual bonus
- 20% discount on both Haven and Warner Hotels holiday for you, family and friends
- Comprehensive wellbeing support
- Access to the Bourne Leisure corporate box at the O2 Arena ,London
- Exclusive discounts with corporate partners
- Exciting career pathways, including Learning and Development opportunities such as Apprenticeships and Degrees
- Enhanced family friendly policies and pay* (eligibility criteria applied)
Who are we? We’re part of an award-winning Bourne Leisure family, which includes Haven & Warner Hotels. We have 9,000 fantastic team members and 39 beautiful seaside locations and our HQ based in Hemel Hempstead.
What’s it like to work with us? Working with us is ultimately defined by our exceptional people and teams. At Haven, we take pride in our Breath of Fresh Air culture, which focuses on valuing and supporting every team member. We prioritise openness and transparency in our interactions allowing our team members to be their authentic selves.
We operate a hybrid working model, meaning 50% of your working week will be spent at the office, occasionally on Park, or at external events.
What can you expect during the recruitment process? The interview process will be up to 3 stages and may contain a presentation or skills test, depending on the role. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments to help you perform at your best during this process, please let us know.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries and we are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments or flexibility that you may require, including whether a role can be part-time or a job-share.
We genuinely care about every candidate's experience during the recruitment process and are here to provide support where we can. If you require any assistance or reasonable adjustments while applying, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at
[email protected].
#LI-JS1
Job tags
Salary
