As an Area Manager at Halfords, you will play a key role in engaging, inspiring, and coaching store management teams to deliver outstanding store standards and exceptional customer service. You'll foster a customer-first culture, ensuring great recruitment, training, development, and recognition - helping build a team of engaged and high-performing colleagues.
You’ll be responsible for driving sales growth, meeting key performance indicators (KPIs) such as customer service metrics, and consistently implementing retail priorities that enhance the overall customer experience. Creating a safe and compliant environment for both colleagues and customers is crucial, achieved through strong management of audits and regulatory affairs, including health and safety compliance.
Key Responsibilities:
* Develop and implement area-wide and store-level business plans, aligned with retail strategies.
* Plan up to six months ahead, ensuring teams are engaged and operational plans deliver excellent customer service.
* Oversee long-term colleague deployment planning, ensuring efficient workforce distribution.
* Maintain an in-depth understanding of the competitor landscape, adjusting strategies accordingly.
* Lead succession planning efforts, identifying future leaders and supporting talent development.
* Coach and mentor store teams to enhance capability and foster a culture of high performance.
* Provide hands-on leadership through weekly conference calls, area meetings, and store huddles.
* Promote engagement by responding to colleague feedback, ensuring actions reflect survey results.
* Champion Halfords’ values, embedding a culture of excellence and inclusion.
* Establish listening groups, ensuring colleagues' voices are heard and ideas are actioned.
* Develop commercial action plans to drive sales growth and improve customer satisfaction.
* Monitor store performance and coach managers in improving key metrics such as sales, profit, and customer service.
* Identify underperforming stores and implement tailored improvement strategies.
* Ensure operational standards are consistently met, holding managers accountable for execution.
* Maintain compliance with retail legislation, health & safety policies, and operational processes.
Due to the geographical area covered, the ideal candidate will be based in or near Glasgow, enabling effective leadership and management across multiple locations.
Skills & Experience Required:
* Proven experience leading multi-site retail teams.
* Ability to deliver sales targets and drive compliance.
* Strong change management skills—capable of leading teams through significant transitions.
* Working knowledge of employment practices and operational retail standards.
* Analytical mindset, interpreting financial reports to inform decision-making.
* Exceptional leadership and coaching skills, inspiring colleagues at all levels.
* Commercially driven, with an ability to identify opportunities for growth.
Benefits of Joining Halfords:
* Competitive salary (negotiable based on experience).
* Bonus scheme, company pension, and life assurance.
* Up to 25% colleague discount across the Halfords Group.
* Discounts on everyday goods, financial products, and services.
* Rota's done in advance, so you know when you're working.
* 1 weekend day every 6 weeks.
At Halfords, we're more than just a retailer—we’re a team, driven by expertise and customer passion. Join us and be part of a thriving, dynamic retail environment, where innovation and dedication power a lifetime of motoring and cycling for our customers.