Head of Retail

UMENCO is seeking a Head of Retail for a female-founded brand whose designs are centred around key seasonal styles and modern tailored essentials.

The Head of Retail will be responsible for the overall performance, profitability and operational excellence of the national retail network. This role will work closely with the leadership team to execute retail strategy while building and developing high-performing store leadership teams. With accountability across State Managers, Boutique Managers and Retail Operations, the role ensures alignment between brand vision, commercial objectives and day-to-day execution across all locations.

This role plays a critical role in driving sales growth, customer experience and consistent operational standards. It oversees all aspects of retail operations including compliance, visual merchandising, inventory management and store expenditure, while supporting new store openings and maintaining strong partnerships with key internal functions such as stock control and HR. A disciplined approach to performance, reporting and cost management is essential to ensure each store operates efficiently and in line with company expectations.

Equally important is the leadership component of the role, with a strong focus on coaching, capability building and fostering a high-performance culture across the network. The Head of Retail will be responsible for identifying and addressing underperformance, implementing succession plans and developing clear pathways for growth within the retail team. Through regular store visits, structured communication and ongoing feedback, the role ensures consistency, accountability and engagement across all locations.

The role also leads the national learning and development strategy, identifying capability gaps and delivering targeted training programs to support both current and future business needs. With full ownership of retail budgets and financial performance, the Head of Retail will monitor sales, wages and expenses while partnering with store leaders to optimise productivity and profitability. Success in this role will be measured by the achievement of sales targets, strength of team culture, customer satisfaction and the consistent delivery of a premium brand experience across the entire retail network.