Retail Area Manager

ABOUT FINISTERRE

Born two decades ago from the needs of hardy British surfers, Finisterre is proudly B Corp certified and a leader in its field; designing functional and sustainable products for those that share a love of the sea and adventure. Whether based at our cliff top headquarters in St. Agnes, Cornwall or in one of our eleven retail locations across the UK, Finisterre is a truly unique brand and career proposition.

Perched a few hundred meters from the crashing Atlantic, our HQ at St. Agnes’ Wheal Kitty Workshops is at the heart of our brand. Here we stay true to our original design ethos of functionality and sustainability brought to life in an understated style and identity, always remaining committed to product, environment, and people.

Our people are at the very heart of the Finisterre brand, wherever they may be in the world, sharing our values and vision to make the world a better place. Culture and team are everything here. We take care to create a working environment where our people are valued and can thrive and grow with us. It’s a buzzing place to work, and we are privileged to enjoy the natural environment and ocean on a daily basis.

As we enter the next exciting stage of global growth, we are on the lookout for talented individuals to join our crew. So, if you are as passionate about the ocean as we are, if you embody our values to be Brave, Honest and Driven, if you want to be part of a truly authentic, purpose-led brand and you share our vision to create exceptional products in a responsible way, then we would love to hear from you.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As the Retail Area Manager, you will drive a customer first focus, collaborating with cross-functional teams, you’ll ensure seamless execution of plans. You will use insights from store performance to refine operations and guide improvements, ensuring every store delivers a top-tier experience. Leading new store openings, you’ll ensure every detail is in place to create exceptional first impressions for customers. Your role will also involve taking ownership of sales and cost forecasts, managing performance, and implementing strategies to meet operational standards.

Regular store visits will allow you to inspire and support your teams in delivering excellent service. You will lead community-driven initiatives to strengthen relationships with customers, while prioritising talent development, health, safety, and inclusivity to ensure your stores remain welcoming, secure spaces for all.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning:

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in retail by creating, implementing, and reviewing new ideas that support the head of retail’s strategic direction.
• Set measurable goals for your area and teams that align with Finisterre’s overall retail and business strategy.
• Collaborate across functions (stock, marketing, operations, and visual merchandising) to ensure your area’s plans are seamlessly executed.
• Provide valuable insights on store, customer, and local high street performance to inform improvements and actions.
• Lead the charge for new store openings, ensuring every detail—from recruitment to training and community engagement—is in place for a successful launch.

Commercial:

• Take ownership of building and managing your area's sales and cost forecasts as part of the budgeting process.
• Deliver insightful analysis on your area’s performance, combining data-driven decisions with your intuition to drive results.
• Provide commercial reporting for the area, representing both retail and your region in trade forums.
• Ensure store teams align with operational guidelines and implement action plans where stores are underperforming.

Team:

• Be present, visiting stores weekly to support, inspire, and manage performance.
• Lead community-driven business development initiatives through local events, marketing, and external collaborations.
• Implement new initiatives, securing buy-in from your teams and ensuring successful integration into daily operations.
• Develop the talent in your area, creating succession plans, identifying key skills, and fostering growth through targeted development plans.
• Maintain a focus on health, safety, and inclusivity across your stores, ensuring they are welcoming and secure spaces for both customers and crew.

Requirements

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO FINISTERRE

• A natural leadership style with a passion for retail and customer experience, with a proven track record of delivering results.
• 2 years’ experience in an Area Manager role
• Experience collaborative environment where teams can grow, innovate, and succeed.
• A strategic thinking balancing long-term objectives with hands-on, tactical decisions.
• Proven experience in driving community-led business development initiatives through impactful local marketing and event strategies.
• Strong communication as well as being comfortable with data, forecasting, and performance analysis.
• A values-driven individual who embodies the Finisterre ethos and is dedicated to sustainability, inclusivity, and responsible growth.

Important: The successful candidate must, by the start of their employment, have permission to work in the UK. Please note that Finisterre are not licensed to sponsor overseas workers.

Benefits

WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE FROM FINISTERRE

We are offering a full time, permanent contract, based remotely with travel required. We’ll invest in you with a competitive salary of £38,000 - £42,000, depending on your skills and experience.

But it’s not just a job. At Finisterre, we provide an opportunity to grow and develop yourself within at a fast-paced, growing B Corp certified brand with a great culture and an exciting purpose. You’ll get the chance to collaborate with a diverse community of people with a shared mission. In return, we take good care of you through a range of initiatives and rewards, including:

• A discretionary bonus scheme, based on company performance
• An allowance towards a car and fuel
• A pension scheme with Nest
• 25 days holiday per year, plus up to 8 UK bank holidays

• Additional holidays for length of service
• Your birthday day off
• 60% product discount for personal and gift use
• 30% Friends and Family product discount
• Life assurance with access to an employee assistance program
• Access to a wide range of wellbeing programs, including counselling services, headspace membership, eye tests, yoga, cycle to work and a range of perks
• Regular company social events
• Paid volunteering opportunities – we will support you in giving back to communities and causes
• Various discounts from our B Corp community
• Individual training and development plans
• Sea Tuesday companywide updates
• And so much more!

Closing date: We’ll be interviewing as we go along, so we’d encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

 Finisterre is committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. We celebrate difference and encourage everyone to join us and be themselves at work.