Head of Retail

About The Opportunity

Our client is a well established, premium Australian lifestyle brand with an omni-channel model spanning wholesale, e-commerce and a boutique retail network across NSW and New Zealand. Following a recent restructure of the retail channel, the business is bringing in an experienced, hands-on retail operator to lead a defined performance turnaround ahead of and through the peak trading period.
 
This is a genuine intervention role, not a caretaker position. You will be judged on measurable commercial outcomes within your first weeks on the ground, with strong potential for the engagement to convert to a permanent leadership role for the right person.
 
About They Role 

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will be responsible for restoring store performance to business case levels and lifting the retail channel's contribution ahead of peak trade. This includes:

• Turning around the network's flagship store, diagnosing and fixing conversion and average transaction value, addressing team capability, floor management and visual and stock presentation, and establishing a daily performance rhythm
• Embedding operating disciplines across the store network, including industry standard rostering to a wages-to-sales target, stock management, loss prevention and store-level performance reporting
• Leading retail performance across Australia and New Zealand, with accountability for sales, profitability, productivity, and operational outcomes
• Developing and executing strategic business plans, forecasts, budgets, and people plans
• Coaching store managers and teams on the floor in selling skills and product knowledge, building capability that outlasts your engagement
• Documenting operating routines, rosters and a performance framework the existing team can run going forward
• Partnering with key stakeholders across Client Relations, Marketing, Human Resources, Merchandising, and Operations to deliver market objectives
• Maintaining a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

About you

• A proven multi-site retail operator with a track record of turning around underperforming stores, ideally within luxury retail, jewellery, fashion, or a premium customer-focused environment.
• Hands-on and floor-based by preference, not a head office strategist. You are comfortable being in stores daily, coaching in real time
• Strong across the fundamentals: rostering economics, conversion levers, stock disciplines and loss prevention
• Available immediately or at short notice
• Familiarity with the Australian and New Zealand retail landscape is an advantage but not essential
• Demonstrated success in developing high-performing leadership teams
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills
• Commercially driven and entrepreneurial. You spot the opportunity and move on it.
• You lead with empathy, honesty and humility, and hold yourself to the standard you set for your teams.

The engagement

• Initial three month fixed-term contract, with strong potential to convert to a permanent leadership role based on performance
• Reports directly to the CEO
• Immediate start required, ahead of peak trade
• Sydney based, with regular presence across the NSW store network and travel to New Zealand as required

This is a rare opportunity to make a fast, visible commercial impact and step into an ongoing leadership role on your own terms. If you have a track record of walking into an underperforming retail network and fixing it, we want to hear from you.