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Store Manager Designate

On-site in Kent·Added 16 days ago

Vision Express

202 open roles

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Overview

Job details

Permanent contract
Per the ad.

Benefits

33 days holiday
Per the ad, which doesn’t say whether bank holidays are on top.

Skills

Nice to have

Retail

Requirements

What we're looking for

• Previous retail management, assistant manager, or store manager experience
• Strong commercial awareness and leadership skills
• Experience coaching and developing colleagues
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities
• A customer-focused approach and passion for retail
• Flexibility to travel across the Kent region when required

Pay & benefits

What you'll get

• Free eyewear annually from day one
• Monthly bonus scheme of up to £1,030
• Family & friends discounts of up to 75% plus free eye tests
• 33 days holiday, with buy and sell options
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunities to support the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation
• Excellent career development opportunities across Vision Express

The role

Are you an experienced retail leader looking for your next Store Manager opportunity in Kent? Do you enjoy developing teams, delivering exceptional customer service, and driving commercial performance?

We're looking for a Store Manager Designate to join Vision Express in Kent on a permanent basis. This role will initially provide maternity cover in our Dover store, before moving into long-term area support across Kent. It's a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious retail manager looking to build experience across multiple locations while preparing for their next Store Manager position.

This role offers exposure to a variety of store environments, allowing you to further develop your leadership skills and broaden your retail management experience.

What you'll do

About the Role

As a Store Manager Designate, you'll:

• Initially lead and support our Dover store during a maternity cover period
• Take ownership of store performance, customer experience, and team engagement
• Lead, coach, and develop high-performing retail teams
• Drive sales performance and commercial growth
• Deliver outstanding customer service and patient care
• Manage store operations, compliance, and company standards
• Support stores across Kent as business needs require
• Work closely with experienced Store Managers and regional leaders

About Vision Express

Vision Express is an optical retailer providing eyecare and eyewear, offering eye tests, prescription glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses both online and through its store network. The company has grown from a single store in 1988 to over 590 stores in the UK, Ireland and Jersey.

Its product range spans designer and exclusive eyewear brands, contact lenses, AI glasses such as Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta, and Nuance Audio hearing glasses, alongside services including advanced eye tests, OCT 3D eye scans and contact lens appointments. The company also operates manufacturing and lab functions, with around 250 colleagues in its Tech Centre and over 200 in its Store Support Centre.

Industry: Optical retail
In the UK: Ruddington, Nottingham
Website: visionexpress.com

Good to know if you are moving

Early careers pathways include Apprenticeships, Pre-Registration Optometrist programmes and Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) placements.
Teams include Optometry, Stores, Manufacturing, Joint Venture Partner and Store Support Centre.

In their own words

About the company & team

At Vision Express, we operate over 550 stores across the UK and Ireland and are committed to developing future leaders. If you're looking for a Store Manager job in Kent and want the opportunity to gain experience in both a store leadership role and wider regional support position, we'd love to hear from you.

All open roles at Vision Express