Regional Operations Manager

Regional Operations Manager 
Circa £85,000 plus company car, private healthcare and more great benefits (Work Level 4)
Remote role with significant travel across Northamptonshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and West London, and occasionally travelling to our Manchester office

We're looking for a Regional Operations Manager to join our Food Retail team and help us deliver great results across Northamptonshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and West London.

Leading a team of Operations Managers, you'll use your strong commercial knowledge and understanding of the local market to support store performance, identify opportunities for growth and create great experiences for our colleagues, customers and member-owners. It's a varied and influential role, with the chance to make a real impact across a large and diverse retail operation while bringing our Pure Convenience strategy to life.

Why this role matters

This is a significant leadership opportunity within one of the UK's most competitive retail environments. You'll have the scope to influence performance across a large-scale operation, lead through change and make a visible impact on thousands of colleagues and millions of customer interactions each year. We're looking for someone who can bring strong commercial thinking, inspire others to succeed and create an inclusive culture where people feel supported to perform at their best. If you're passionate about developing people, improving results and making a difference across a whole region, this is a role where you can have real impact.

What you’ll do  

•    Lead a large-scale retail region with an annual turnover of around £500 million and circa 150 stores
•    Manage, coach and support a team of up to six Operations Managers, with responsibility for around 2,000 colleagues across the region
•    Use your understanding of the Northamptonshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and West London region's stores, communities and markets to identify commercial opportunities and drive performance
•    Set clear expectations and success measures that enable operational excellence across multiple locations
•    Lead sustainable improvements that strengthen commercial outcomes and customer experience
•    Protect our colleagues, customers and brand through effective risk management and decision making
•    Build strong relationships with key partners and stakeholders to support business priorities
•    Role model Co-op values and behaviours, creating an inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

•    Significant food retail experience and a strong understanding of operating in a fast-paced retail environment
•    Experience working in a field-based role, managing conflicting priorities and remote teams across a large region or a portfolio of activity
•    A proven track record of improving commercial performance and leading large-scale, high-turnover operations
•    Experience leading senior teams and developing others to achieve strong business results
•    The ability to influence and work effectively with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, providing feedback to support functions to improve store operations
•    Strong judgement and decision-making skills, with the ability to respond to complex and challenging situations
•    A passion for personal development and helping others grow and succeed
•    Good commercial knowledge and understanding of the Northamptonshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and West London region

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
•    A company car or £6,000 car allowance – WL4 only
•    Private healthcare – WL 4 & 5 only
•    Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) – Manchester based roles only
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
•    24/7 colleague support service 
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion

Please note that we may close applications for this role early.

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes between 45-60 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.