Store Manager - CoE (Non-Optom)

Flagship Store Manager (Non-Optom)

Contract: Permanent Shift pattern: Weekday and weekend working – 37.5 Hour Contract Location: Milton Keynes

As a Flagship Store Manager, you'll act as a role model within Boots Opticians, championing our values, leading by example and helping shape the standards that define our business. We're looking for an experienced, people-focused and commercially minded Experience Manager to join Boots Opticians within one of our largest flagship store. This role will play an important part in leading and developing our teams across the region, with a particular focus on creating brilliant customer and patient experiences, driving performance and maintaining high standards. This opportunity is aimed specifically at experienced leaders who are ready to bring their leadership skills to Boots Opticians. Experience within optics, optometry or a regulated healthcare environment would be highly desirable, alongside a genuine passion for delivering outstanding care.

Your training and onboarding journey will be based at our Aylesbury store, where you'll gain hands-on experience, build relationships with our teams and develop a strong understanding of the Boots Opticians business and operating model. Following successful completion of training, you will be permanently based at our Boots Opticians Flagship store located at Milton Keynes. Flexibility to travel during your training and development period will therefore be essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and develop colleagues to deliver exceptional customer and patient experiences.
• Build strong, engaged teams where expectations are clear and people take ownership for their performance.
• Support the delivery of commercial and operational performance across Boots Opticians locations.
• Champion the Boots Opticians brand and ensure our customers and patients receive a consistently brilliant experience.
• Build strong relationships with colleagues and understand what motivates them, where they need support and where they can develop.
• Manage performance effectively, addressing issues early, fairly and directly.
• Coach and develop colleagues, creating a culture where people feel supported, challenged and able to thrive.
• Maintain high standards across customer experience, operational processes and ways of working.
• Work collaboratively with Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians and wider store teams to create a joined-up experience.
• Be visible and hands-on, supporting teams across the region and adapting your approach to different locations and team needs.
• Use insight and performance information to identify opportunities and drive continuous improvement.
• Be curious and open to new ways of working, looking for opportunities to improve the experience for our customers, patients and colleagues every day.
• Support the successful implementation of Boots Opticians initiatives and strategy across the region.

What You'll Need To Have (Our Must-Haves)

• Significant experience in a leadership or management role within a busy, customer-focused environment.
• A proven track record of leading, coaching and developing teams.
• Strong commercial and operational awareness, with experience of driving performance and implementing strategy.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work with colleagues at all levels.
• A clear, consistent leadership style that builds accountability, engagement and a strong team culture.
• Experience managing performance and having honest, sometimes challenging, conversations.
• A calm, flexible and resilient approach, with the ability to adapt quickly across different teams and locations.
• A genuine passion for delivering outstanding customer and patient experiences.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• A willingness and ability to travel during the training and onboarding programme based in Newbury.
• A passion for learning, with the drive to develop your own knowledge and support others to grow.

It would be great if you also have:

• Experience working within optics, optometry, optical retail or healthcare.
• Experience working within a regulated environment.
• Knowledge of optical services, patient journeys or the wider optics sector.
• Experience working alongside clinical professionals or multidisciplinary teams.
• Previous experience leading across multiple locations or supporting geographically dispersed teams.
• Confidence using technology, digital tools and performance data to improve ways of working.
• A relevant optical, healthcare or leadership qualification.

Where Your Brilliance Can Take You

At Boots Opticians, your career can be as ambitious as you are. As an Experience Leader / Manager, you'll have the opportunity to build your leadership capability while developing a strong understanding of the Boots Opticians business. You'll work alongside experienced leaders and clinical colleagues, giving you exposure to different teams, locations and ways of working across the region. Whether you want to continue developing your leadership career within Boots Opticians, progress into larger or more complex leadership roles, or explore opportunities across our wider Boots business, there are plenty of opportunities to grow. We have field-based and leadership roles that influence operations, customer experience, resourcing, colleague development and performance across multiple locations, as well as opportunities beyond our stores and practices. If you're looking to broaden your career, Boots also offers opportunities across our Nottingham Support Office in areas including Commercial, HR, Marketing, Buying, Strategy, Finance and Supply Chain. Whatever path you choose, we'll give you the tools, training and support to be brilliant with Boots and build a career you can be proud of.

Rewards Designed For You

• Boots Retirement Savings Plan
• Generous employee discount across Boots and partner brands for you and a family member
• Discretionary annual bonus
• 38 days annual leave
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave pay, and a gift card for those expecting or adopting
• Flexible benefits scheme, including holiday buying, gym discounts, life assurance and more
• 24/7 counselling and wellbeing support through TELUS Health, our Employee Assistance Programme

There's lots more in our benefits and discounts, MyBoots - there to give you that little lift in your everyday. Find out more about Boots rewards Exclusions may apply; eligible roles only. Please note that any salary estimates provided on third-party sites are not endorsed by Boots and may not be accurate. A bit about us At Boots, we're proud to be an equal opportunity employer, creating a place where everyone feels welcome, supported...