Deputy Manager

Whsmithcareers; Oxford; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company is looking for a Deputy Manager in Oxford to support the Shop Manager by leading a high-performing team and ensuring excellent customer service. Responsibilities include training colleagues, maintaining standards, and fully complying with food safety regulations. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership experience in a retail environment, strong organizational skills, and a passion for delivering an exceptional customer experience. In return, the company offers competitive rewards, employee discounts, and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Free meal and drink per shift

Employee pension scheme

Staff discounts

33 days holiday including bank holidays

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a leadership role as a Deputy Manager, Supervisor, or Team Leader.
• Strong expertise in delivering excellent customer service.
• Solid background working in a food-to-go/retail environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the Shop Manager in leading the team.
• Coach and develop high-performing team.
• Ensure compliance with food safety requirements.

Skills

Customer service excellence

Leadership experience

Food safety compliance

Organizational skills

Team motivation

Job description

WHSmith are proud and excited to launch our new partnership with a popular food-to-go bakery, bringing even greater choice, convenience, and service to our customers. We’re now looking for a Deputy Manager to support the Shop Manager in leading and motivating the team to deliver fast, friendly, and consistently high-quality service.

Our teams work hard to support both customers and colleagues, offering our fantastic products to everyone on life’s many journeys. No two days are ever the same, but a typical day may include a variety of the following.

What being a Deputy Manager is all about:

• Supporting the Shop Manager in leading the team to deliver amazing results and maintaining excellent standards of the shop.
• Coaching a high performing team to achieve great sales results.
• Supporting the Shop Manager with recruitment, training/development and colleague engagement.
• Keeping a close eye on payroll controls, waste controls and customer service standards.
• Rolling your sleeves up and getting involved in food preparation as well as serving customers.
• Maintaining a clean, well-stocked and welcoming shop, creating a sense of pride within the store, ensuring the customer experience and facilities are of a good standard.
• Playing a key role in making sure that your colleagues are supported, setting measurable targets which are reviewed regularly.

What our Shop Leadership Team would love to see:

• Proven experience in a leadership role as a Deputy Manager, Supervisor or Team Leader.
• Strong expertise in delivering excellent customer service.
• Solid background working in a food-to-go/retail environment.
• Confident in delivering all food-safety requirements, ensuring full compliance and robust due-diligence practices.
• Ability to energise, influence and motivate the team to deliver exception service and performance.
• Strong organisation skills with a proactive approach and the ability to prioritise well in a fast-paced food to go /retail environment.
• Ability to build strong relationships and communicate clearly and engagingly at all levels of seniority.

How we reward teams:

We know you’ll work hard to make the shop a success and keep our customers happy, with every shift we’ll provide a free meal and drink. As well as your salary, pension scheme, holidays (Management - 33 days including bank holidays) staff discounts, we’ll reward you with a range of deals from retail partners that will help you save money and make memories, whether a delicious meal, an adventurous day out, or tickets to see the latest blockbuster.

Whatever the future brings, our Employee Assistance Programme will support you with help and guidance for your wellbeing whether physical, mental or financial.

About us:

WHSmith has a remarkable heritage, and we are growing particularly in our airports, hospitals, rail stations and motorway services. Our aim is simple, to offer our products to everyone on any of life’s journeys. Our InMotion brand, a leading digital accessories business, continues to grow and develop, offering an amazing customer experience with all the latest tech. We have created great partnerships with the likes of M&S, Costa Coffee and other food-to-go businesses, ‘broaden our offering’ to our customers throughout the UK. That’s why, as we continue our journey, our aim is simple: to make every one of life’s journeys better!

WHSmith are proud to be an inclusive employer, we want our colleagues to feel welcome, and free to be themselves with us.