Department Manager - New Store Opening

This is GO Outdoors. Made for Exploring. Built for Everyone. At GO Outdoors, our purpose is simple: to inspire and equip everyone for life outdoors. From hikers to cyclists, cold-water dippers to weekend campers, we believe the outdoors should be for all - and we’re here to make it accessible with trusted kit and unbeatable value. We’re passionate, practical, and people focused. Our values - welcoming, responsible, authentic, and innovative - guide everything we do as we help the nation discover the joy of being out there. If you’re driven to empower every kind of adventurer and make the outdoors accessible to all, you’ll feel right at home with us. This is your moment. This is GO Outdoors. Are you in?

We are excited to be opening a new GO Outdoors store in Tunbridge Wells and are looking for passionate colleagues to join us as we build a successful team in this new location. This is GO Outdoors. Made for Exploring. Built for Everyone. At GO Outdoors, our purpose is simple: to inspire and equip everyone for life outdoors. From hikers to cyclists, cold-water dippers to weekend campers, we believe the outdoors should be for all - and we’re here to make it accessible with trusted kit and unbeatable value. We’re passionate, practical, and people focused. Our values - welcoming, responsible, authentic, and innovative - guide everything we do as we help the nation discover the joy of being out there. If you’re driven to empower every kind of adventurer and make the outdoors accessible to all, you’ll feel right at home with us. This is your moment. This is GO Outdoors. Are you in?

Role Overview

As a Department Manager at GO Outdoors, you are a key driver of your department’s success and contribute to the overall performance of the store. You lead from the front — motivating your team, driving performance alongside the Store Manager, and ensuring every shift delivers strong results. You help inspire your colleagues to excel, uphold high standards, and move the store toward ambitious sales targets and operational excellence. This role is all about confident leadership, strong commercial awareness, and the ability to elevate your team so the store achieves success together.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Store Manager with daily store operations to help achieve sales targets and core KPIs.
• Lead and guide colleagues on the shop floor, allocating tasks, supporting service delivery, and maintaining GO Outdoors standards throughout the day.
• Take ownership of your department, ensuring it is commercially strong, well presented, and aligned to store priorities.
• Assist with coaching and development, offering real-time feedback and reinforcing expectations set by the Store Manager.
• Maintain GO Outdoors’ high presentation and operational standards, including availability, pricing accuracy, tidy displays, and a safe environment.
• Carry out core operational duties such as cash handling support, till checks, delivery processing, stock audits, and opening/closing routines — escalating issues appropriately.

Skills & Experience Required

• Previous experience in a retail management or supervisory role, such as Department Manager, Assistant Store Manager or Supervisor, demonstrating readiness to support leadership.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to guide, develop, and motivate staff while reinforcing store priorities.
• Confidence in interpreting KPI and sales data to support commercial decision-making and shift focus.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, supporting colleagues and ensuring professional customer interactions.
• Proven success driving sales performance and contributing to KPI achievement in a retail environment.

Desirable Attributes

• Passion for retail and the outdoors, with an enthusiasm for representing the GO Outdoors brand.
• Professional, proactive leader with a solutions-driven mindset.
• Hands-on and committed to leading by example in all areas of the store.
• Resilient, adaptable, and able to remain composed under pressure.
• Customer-focused, with a strong commitment to delivering a great in-store experience.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a workplace where every colleague is valued, respected, and empowered. We celebrate the diversity of our teams and strive to ensure that all colleagues — regardless of background, identity, or lived experience — can thrive and contribute meaningfully. As part of our successful and continually evolving company, you’ll be encouraged to embrace our core values: putting people first, staying connected to our customers, and delivering operational excellence. We are always exploring new opportunities for growth and welcome individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact every day. We know our employees work tirelessly to make GO Outdoors the success it is today and, in return, we offer some great benefits:

What We Offer

• Incremental Holiday Allowance
• Staff Discount on qualifying purchases across Group retail stores and online
• Exclusive Colleague Bike Discount scheme
• Discounted Gym membership
• Personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work
• Access to Apprenticeships and accredited qualifications

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