As a Retail Director, you'll own and deliver the retail strategy for Audley Travel in the UK, positioning the retail channel as a core driver of growth within the business. You'll be fully accountable for the performance and expansion of the retail business unit, ensuring it delivers exceptional client experiences alongside strong commercial outcomes. You'll lead a multi‑site retail operation, translating Audley’s client‑centric proposition into a premium, service‑led store experience that differentiates us in the market. You'll build the capability, structure, and culture required to scale the retail network, ensuring it is set up for sustainable growth. Working closely with central teams, you'll ensure retail is fully integrated into Audley’s broader commercial strategy, contributing to acquisition, conversion, repeat business, and long‑term client loyalty.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the retail P&L with accountability for revenue, margin, cost control and return on investment
- Accountable for overall performance of the UK retail business unit
- Define and deliver the UK retail strategy aligned to business growth plan
- Lead trading performance across all stores, improving conversion and profitability
- Ensure a consistently exceptional premium client experience
- Build and embed high‑performance culture across all stores
- Partner with Finance on budgets and performance
- Work with Marketing to drive demand and local engagement
- Collaborate with People on recruitment, training and performance management to build capability
- Define and deliver expansion strategy including new openings
- Ensure strong operational standards and governance
- Act as senior retail leader within UK Leadership Team
Team Management
- Lead Store Managers and central support teams
- Responsible for the productivity and efficiency of the team through consistent management of performance, regular feedback and coaching
- Conduct 1‑2‑1s and performance reviews with individual team members to provide support and identify development/training needs
- Set and review objectives for the team and create development plans
- Create a culture of engagement, collaboration and open communication within the team
You’ll be expected to travel regularly across the UK as part of this role and a car allowance will be available.
Additional Experience Required
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management
- Strategic and analytical mindset
- Good understanding of Office 365 including MS Word, Excel, SharePoint and Outlook
- Embodies the Audley values of being positive, being the difference, being one team and being passionate about travel
Benefits
- Holiday – 25 days, rising to 30 days with length of service
- A day off for your birthday
- A day off for volunteering to support a charity, local support group or community work of your choice
- Private Medical Insurance
- Access to Healthshield health cash plan – money back for costs associated with everyday healthcare (including optical, dental, medical, prescriptions, physio), and access to medical and wellbeing resources such as a GP service, employee assistance programme and counselling
- Car Allowance
- Enhanced family leave & pension scheme
- Life insurance
- Discounted Audley trips (for you and your friends & family) and exclusive access to staff travel discount websites
- Wellhub – a wellbeing platform that gives you unlimited, discounted access to top gyms, studios, and wellbeing apps
- Benefits Platform – a reward scheme that gives you discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers
