Department Manager

🔒 Confidential Employer
Posted 24 April 2026
LOCATION
Grays
TYPE
Full-time
LEVEL
Mid-Senior level
CATEGORY
Retail
This employer holds a UK Home Office sponsor license — sponsorship for this specific role is at the employer’s discretion

SKILLS

Management Leadership Customer Service Merchandising Sales Communication Operational Procedures Performance Development

FULL DESCRIPTION

Department Manager – Full Time

[Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk]

Salary: TBC

Role Summary

The main objective of this role is to assume total department accountability for sales, service profitability and loss prevention. To achieve a department environment that fosters creativity and inspires the [Employer hidden] customer. Ensure appropriate feedback and guidance is given in order to execute employee development. To assist senior management with all general store operations that falls within their sphere of responsibility. Participate in building community relationships that directly reflect the Urban culture. To uphold the [Employer hidden] “Peers Teaching Peers” philosophy.

What You’ll Be Doing

People:

  • Recruit, motivate, develop and lead a store team.
  • Manage all aspects of performance development within the department team (Performance Appraisals, Individual Development Plans, Coaching and Counselling and Disciplinary actions).
  • Recognise and develop talented individuals for advancement and growth within the organisation.
  • Uphold Company standards and act as a positive role model to others.

Leadership & Communication:

  • Inspire, motivate and encouraging teamwork among the team.
  • Conduct productive daily meetings to ensure that goals are met.
  • Effectively delegate projects while at the same time allowing others the creativity to succeed by making their own decisions.
  • Possess excellent communication skills in both written and verbal form.

Managing the Environment:

  • Oversee all levels of customer service by setting daily goals and expectations to create a positive store environment.
  • Exhibit excellent floor presence by training and coaching the store team on customer service, standards, product placement and time management.
  • Achieve Company-average mystery shop results by uphold the Company’s mystery shop standards.

Operations:

  • Perform all store-level operational procedures accurately and in a timely fashion, in accordance with all Company policies and procedures.
  • Achieve the store stock loss goals by overseeing adherence to loss prevention practices.
  • Assist in upholding Company Health & Safety regulations at all times in order to protect employees and customers against accidents and incidents.

Merchandising & Display:

  • Manage all aspects of the assigned department in collaboration with the Visual Merchandising Manager with regard to: training, shipment placement, markdowns, transfers, merchandising and store standards.
  • Understand and interpret current fashion trends in local markets in order to generate creative solutions.
  • Take an active role in ensuring floor sets for the department are well organised and scheduled appropriately.

Commercial Awareness:

  • Maximise departmental sales through analytical and creative management of merchandise from receipt to sales.
  • Utilise Company reports to react to trends and drive business.
  • Stay abreast of current trends and have a sound knowledge of customer profile by keeping up to date with external influences i.e. media and local community.
  • Manage stock levels appropriately (taking into consideration the store environment) through the understanding of relevant reports and market trends.
  • Demonstrate entrepreneurial skills to achieve and exceed store targets.

What You’ll Need

  • Experience in a management role working in a fast paced, high volume fashion retail environment.
  • Demonstrates strong operational skills. An understanding of the [Employer hidden] culture and its appeal to the local market.
  • Ability to drive sales through excellent service, strong visual presentation, and a full understanding of the business.

About Us

[Employer hidden] started out as a single boutique in 1970s Philadelphia with creativity and uniqueness at its core. 50 years on, and over 60 stores across Europe later, we’ve become a destination for emerging design, unexpected styling, One-Of-A-Kind vintage and homeware that makes you want to hit the share button.

We speak to a social community of over 10 million forward-thinking individuals, bringing together a nostalgia for the past with an enthusiasm to shape the future. The UO community are culturally aware, they shape the music scene, they live a digitally native life and they wear style trends before anyone else. At our core, we empower our customers and staff to express themselves, unapologetically, living life in a way that’s truly authentic to them.

Location

This position is located at W Thurrock Way, Grays, Essex, RM20 2ZP, UK.

Work Life Balance:

  • ‘Life Leave’ – one day a year to take time off for those big events in life, in addition to your annual leave entitlement

Wellbeing:

  • Employee Assistance program to support with mental, physical and financial health
  • Discount off external gym memberships
  • Private Medical Insurance for eligible employees

Employee Discounts:

  • Up to 40% employee discount at all URBN Brands

Travel:

  • Season ticket loan for eligible employees
  • Cycle to work scheme for eligible employees

Continued Development:

  • We offer structured support within the business alongside continued learning and development.

Sign up free — access 45,000+ UK sponsor-licensed jobs