Are you an experienced retail leader who can combine commercial thinking with purpose, people and community impact?
Weston Hospicecare is seeking a Director of Retail to lead and develop our retail division at a pivotal moment in our journey. This is a senior leadership role with influence and autonomy, giving the opportunity to shape a vital income stream that directly supports specialist palliative and end-of-life care for our local community.
About the role
As Director of Retail, you will provide strategic leadership for a diverse retail portfolio comprising 16 shops across North Somerset and Somerset, e-commerce operations, and the associated logistics and donation processes. Reporting to the Chief Executive and working closely with the senior leadership team and Trustees, providing significant Board-level engagement, you will develop and deliver a forward-thinking, sustainable retail strategy that responds to evolving customer behaviours, high street trends, economic pressures and developments within the wider charity retail sector.
Just as importantly, you will lead, inspire and develop a committed team of paid staff and volunteers, creating a high-performance, values-led culture where people feel supported, accountable and proud to be part of their local community.
By building strong relationships across the hospice and working collaboratively, you will maximise income opportunities, strengthen community engagement, and protect and enhance the hospice’s reputation.
What you will bring
We are looking for a leader who combines commercial credibility with warmth, empathy and purpose, and who can confidently operate at both strategic and operational levels.
You will demonstrate:
Commercial and strategic leadership
- Significant experience of maximising resources and delivering strong commercial performance within a retail setting
- The ability to develop, articulate and deliver a clear, ambitious and sustainable retail strategy
- Agility and confidence to move comfortably between board-level conversations and front-line retail operations
People and culture
- A proven ability to lead, inspire and develop diverse teams of paid staff and volunteers
- A collaborative leadership style that brings people with you, fostering ownership and accountability
- Resilience to lead effectively through challenge and uncertainty, responding openly and constructively to feedback and change
- Credibility, confidence and presence to inspire others and lead effectively through change
Values and behaviours
- A genuine passion for charity retail and the difference it can make in communities
- Warmth, empathy and compassion, personifying our hospice values in how you lead
- A values-led approach with a commitment to encouragement, inclusion, collaboration and continuous improvement
- A strong commitment to building effective relationships with trustees, colleagues, supporters, customers and donors, patients and their loved ones
Why join us?
In return, we offer:
- A senior leadership role with real influence, autonomy and purpose
- The opportunity to take our retail division to the next level at a crucial time
- A supportive, flexible and collaborative working environment with passionate, committed colleagues
- A sector-competitive salary and benefits package
- Access to training, professional development and wellbeing support
We are seeking to appoint a permanent Director of Retail; however, we will also welcome applications from experienced interim retail leaders who can bring immediate expertise, stability and momentum during this important period while we recruit to the permanent role.
Weston Hospicecare is located in the quiet village of Uphill on the North Somerset coast, and was founded by our local community over 30 years ago. We are the major provider of specialist palliative care within the catchment we serve, offering in-patient, community, day care and related services to patients, and bereavement support to their families and loved ones. All our care is provided free of charge to whomever needs it, however it costs approximately £7 million every year to provide our full range of services, of which less than 20% is funded by the NHS. The remainder is raised each year through a combination of our retail division income, our multi-varied fundraising activities, and gifts in wills.
For an informal discussion about the role or to arrange a visit or virtual tour, please contact Sonja Hammond, Head of People Services by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01934 423900.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or any other category protected by law.
