Department Manager

Job description

DEPARTMENT MANAGER - FULL TIME - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Who We Are: Inspired by a shared love of fashion, sneakers and the surrounding culture, END. was founded in Newcastle upon Tyne back in 2005. Our first UK store brought together a curated mix of celebrated designers and emerging brands, many of which were previously hard to find outside of London. From day one, we’ve nurtured a community of like-minded individuals united by a love for this ever-evolving culture. Today, END. serves over 2 million customers worldwide through a seamless blend of online and physical retail. Our industry-leading stores in Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, London, and Milan reflect our commitment to innovation, influence, and inspiration. We offer a carefully curated selection of menswear, womenswear, sneakers, homeware, and lifestyle products to a global audience. At the heart of END. is our customer and it’s our people and culture that make the difference. With over 600 employees across our HQ, offices, and retail locations, our customer-first mindset continues to guide everything we do. The Role: The Department Manager leads the commercial and operational success of their assigned department, ensuring the delivery of exceptional customer experiences, strong sales performance, and consistent operational standards. As a senior leader within the store, the Department Manager drives team development, champions brand values, and contributes to strategic store performance. The role also acts as a key deputy for Store Management when required. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be doing: Commercial Delivery • Drive departmental sales performance and achieve KPIs through strategic planning and daily commercial focus. • Analyse performance data to identify opportunities, trends, and actions for improvement. • Build a strong clienteling culture that supports long-term customer loyalty and consistent revenue growth. Customer Experience • Ensure the team delivers a world-class service aligned to END.’s brand expectations. • Embed a customer-first mindset across the department, ensuring every interaction is professional, engaging, and solution-focused. Team Leadership • Lead, motivate, and develop team members through effective coaching, training, and performance management. • Foster a collaborative and inclusive working environment, promoting teamwork and clear communication. • Allocate resources effectively, ensuring optimal coverage and productivity. Operational Excellence • Oversee day-to-day operations within the department, ensuring compliance with all retail processes, stock management, and store standards. • Maintain exceptional visual merchandising, ensuring products are presented in line with guidelines and commercial priorities. • Uphold high levels of loss prevention awareness and drive adherence to security protocols. Store Leadership • Act as deputy for the Store Manager and Assistant Store Manager when required, supporting store-wide operational and people leadership. • Contribute to overall store strategy and decision-making, representing departmental insights, challenges, and opportunities. Health & Safety • Ensure a safe environment for both customers and employees by adhering to legislation and internal policies. • Promote a proactive safety culture throughout the department. Who we’re looking for: Significant experience in retail leadership within a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. Strong understanding of retail operations, commercial levers, and departmental performance drivers. Confident leader with the ability to influence, motivate, and develop teams. Experience coordinating workloads, delegating tasks, and ensuring delivery to high standards. Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage colleagues, customers, and stakeholders. High level of attention to detail and ability to maintain consistency in standards across multiple operational areas Besides a competitive salary and an engaging and inclusive work place we can offer you: 28 days holiday (including bank holidays) 40 Hours per week Holiday trading (Buy or sell 3 days) Your birthday off Access to Employee Assistance Programme Healthcare Cashback Plan Moments that matter gifts (Weddings and Babies) A pension that both you and the company contribute to Generous staff discount Opportunities for professional development and career progression And so much more…. We know that great talent comes in many forms. So even if you don’t meet every single criteria, we would still love to hear from you. If you’re passionate, driven, and believe you can contribute to our future success, we encourage you to apply. Please note: Employment is conditional upon having the legal right to work in the UK for the role offered.