Retail Supervisor

Job description

About the role

Are you an experienced retail professional with a passion for leading teams, driving sales, and delivering exceptional customer experiences?

Imperial College Union is looking for a proactive and commercially minded Retail Supervisor to support the day-to-day operation of our busy retail outlets and growing online store. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled retail leader to take ownership of store performance, motivate teams, manage stock effectively, and help shape the future of retail services at one of the world's leading universities.

Working closely with the Retail Manager and Assistant Retail Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring our retail operations run smoothly, efficiently, and profitably while maintaining the highest standards of customer service and visual presentation.

What you would be doing

As Retail Supervisor, you will:

• Lead, motivate and support retail staff to deliver an outstanding customer experience.
• Oversee daily shop floor operations, ensuring excellent merchandising, stock availability, and presentation standards.
• Manage deliveries, stock control processes and supplier relationships to ensure effective stock coverage throughout trading periods.
• Support the development and growth of the Union's online retail offering.
• Monitor performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement solutions to enhance sales and operational effectiveness.
• Coordinate staffing schedules and ensure adequate coverage across trading hours.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training and development of casual retail staff.
• Ensure compliance with financial controls, stock management procedures, and cash handling processes.
• Maintain a safe, compliant working environment and champion health and safety best practice.
• Assist with stock takes, budgeting activities, and continuous improvement initiatives across the retail operation.

Please see Job Description for full list of duties and responsibilities.

What we are looking for

Essential requirements

You will demonstrate:

• Proven experience leading, supervising, and motivating retail teams to achieve excellent results.
• Experience managing stock ordering and supplier relationships to meet business demands and peak trading periods.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and an ability to build positive working relationships across a diverse organisation.
• Experience using EPOS systems, stock control processes, and retail reporting tools.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Competence in Microsoft Office applications, spreadsheets, and retail technology systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate at all levels.
• The ability to manage competing priorities, solve problems independently, and make sound operational decisions.
• A proactive, resourceful, and customer-focused approach.

Desirable requirements

It would be advantageous if you have:

• Significant retail experience within a high-volume environment with turnover exceeding £1m.
• Experience in e-commerce or online retail operations.
• Knowledge of retail sector trends and changing customer behaviours.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety legislation and best practice.
• Experience within a Students' Union, higher education, or customer-focused service environment.
• A recognised Health & Safety qualification.

Please see Job Description for full list of Person Specification.

What we can offer you

Please note this role is with the Students' Union. We're a registered charity in our right, with our own governance, systems, processes, and objectives. However, we work extremely closely with Imperial College London, so you'll also be joining a wider community of staff working within higher education. If you've never worked in a students' union, or are unsure why it's different, we encourage you to get in contact. It's a brilliant place to work.

As an employee of Imperial College, you will be part of lively community and work in a friendly and relaxed environment. Our aim is to provide to all our employees an encouraging and relaxed working environment with an emphasis on personal development and work-life balance. Based on that we offer:

• flexible working hours
• generous pension scheme
• 27 days holiday (plus 8 extra days per year for College Christmas and Easter closures as well as the 8 Bank Holidays)
• bicycle loan scheme
• season ticket loan
• health benefits
• excellent professional development opportunities and many more.

More information can be found on the Imperial College Benefits page:

Benefits | Administration and support services | Imperial College London

Further information

To apply for the role please complete the online application form.

We are running a characteristic anonymised application process for this recruitment as part of the College's commitment to equal opportunities and eliminating discrimination. Applicants will be assigned an application reference number and applicants' names will not be visible to recruiting managers until the interview stage. You will not be required to attach a CV. Please also refrain from including your name in your supporting statement.

Should you require any further details on the role please contact the People team on [email protected] .

Closing date: 13 September 2026.

Interviews will be expected to take place week commencing 21 September 2026, (however this may be subject to change).

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and other racial minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. If there are any reasonable adjustments needed through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible.

As part of our commitment to sustainability, every role within Imperial College Union contributes to our environmental and social goals. This includes actively participating in initiatives to reduce waste, conserve energy, and promote eco-friendly practices within every department.