About this role
Retail management with your evenings back.
Are you an experienced Retail Store Manager or General Manager looking for a better work-life balance? At Dobbies, our garden centres trade during the day, so late nights are rare. You'll usually only work late for the occasional stock take or seasonal event. You lead a thriving store during the day and get your evenings to yourself.
As General Manager, you'll run one of our garden centre stores. You'll lead a large retail team, drive sales and customer loyalty, keep operational standards high and deliver against commercial targets. If you love retail & Hospitality leadership, developing people and creating a great customer experience, we'd love to hear from you.
Why join Dobbies as a General Manager?
- Work-life balance: daytime trading hours, so your evenings are your own. Late finishes are rare and limited to stock takes or seasonal events.
- Generous annual leave: take your holidays when you want, with limited statutory days off required.
- Uncapped staff discount: 50% off in our restaurants, 25% off in the Garden Centre and 10% off in our food halls.
- Financial wellbeing with Stream: access your earnings before payday, save for the future and get financial advice.
- Health and wellbeing with Retail Trust: confidential support, a virtual GP, free counselling and discounted retail rewards.
- Career development with Dobbies Academy: eLearning and leadership development programmes to keep your career moving.
- A thriving culture: a passionate, diverse team committed to making it work for our customers.
Your responsibilities as General Manager
- Take full ownership of the store, managing budgets, cost controls and P&L to hit commercial targets
- Oversee the whole retail operation, maximising profitable sales and growth while creating a customer-focused environment
- Lead, motivate and develop your team, building a great place to work and a clear development journey for every colleague
- Inspire your team to deliver an outstanding customer experience across the whole store, including the garden centre, restaurant and food hall
- Monitor service levels and coach each team member in the way that suits them best
- Work closely with central support teams on communication, stock supply and replenishment
- Ensure full health and safety compliance and look after the welfare of colleagues and customers
What we're looking for
- Proven retail management experience as a Store Manager, General Manager or Deputy Store Manager in a large-format store, leading multiple direct reports and their teams
- Commercial awareness: a strong understanding of budgets, KPIs, profitability and driving retail sales
- People development: you can spot training needs and coach colleagues at every level to deliver first-class customer service
- Excellent communication: you share what works across the business and keep a close eye on performance
- Adaptability: you respond quickly and enthusiastically to changing priorities, workloads and concepts
- Positive change leadership: you lead your team through every season with care and motivation
*You live our values:we're one team, getting better every day. We bring a smile. We live and breathe gardens. We make it work for our customers.
Experience in garden centres, home and garden retail, DIY, grocery, hospitality or department store management is welcome, but a passion for great retail matters most.
About Dobbies
Dobbies was founded by James Dobbie in 1865. We're the UK's leading garden centre retailer and the only one with stores in every nation of the UK.
Our love of gardens and plants is what makes us special. We champion garden living all year round, with own-brand and branded products, concession partners and services. Many of our stores also have a restaurant or coffee shop where customers can relax over a coffee or a meal.
We run a calendar of events and experiences that bring communities together, and our colleagues and customers raise money for our national charity partner.
We're committed to being a great place to work. We're one team, and we encourage colleagues to be the best version of themselves every day, share their wins and celebrate success. Together, we make it work for our customers.
Apply today to take the next step in your retail management career, with your evenings to yourself.