General Manager (Operations & Strategy)

Our client, a leading multi-site supermarket and retail group, is seeking to appoint a General Manager to provide senior executive leadership and drive the next phase of organizational maturity and growth.

The Role

● Overall executive accountability for defining and delivering the group’s operational and commercial strategy across all supermarket formats, ensuring sustainable profitability and scalability.

● Full P&L and operational ownership of supermarkets and head office functions, with direct executive oversight of Operations, Procurement, IT, and Marketing.

● Strategic leadership of supermarket operations with a strong emphasis on category management, margin optimization, space productivity, pricing architecture, and stock control/shrinkage management.

● Driving the transition from an entrepreneurial operating model to a disciplined, process-driven organization. This includes embedding clear accountability, decision rights, and reporting structures.

● Executive leadership of the organizational agenda, ensuring a robust structure, succession planning, and a performance-led culture. You will champion the HR frameworks to ensure we attract and retain the right talent.

● Sponsorship and enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), internal controls, and governance frameworks to ensure consistency and compliance across all stores.

● Maintaining a visible and effective executive presence on the shop floor and within the procurement function, providing decisive leadership and mentoring senior managers.

● Executive partnership with the Head of IT to define and deliver the group’s technology and data strategy, strengthening operational visibility and decision-making capability.

● Collaboration with Marketing to define customer and commercial strategies, ensuring initiatives are fully aligned with operational capacity (e.g. stock availability) and deliver measurable ROI.

● Oversight of regulatory, food safety, and health and safety compliance, proactively managing risk and reputational exposure.

● Providing the Board with clear performance reporting, strategic insight, and forward-looking recommendations to support informed governance.

Requirements

• Senior leadership experience within large-scale supermarket operations, preferably within a recognized retail chain.
• Proven track record of full P&L ownership and execution of commercial strategy at an executive level.
• Strong hands-on expertise in fresh food operations, category management, and supply chain logistics.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large workforces within complex, multi-location environments.
• Experience in transforming family-run or entrepreneurial businesses into structured corporate entities is highly desirable.
• Exceptional people leadership skills, with experience leading senior management teams
• Strong commercial, financial, and analytical capability.

Job Reference: KS871