Join us and help shape the future of our Food stores

At Heart of England Co-operative Society, we’re proud to serve our communities through our network of convenience food stores. We’re now looking for an experienced Area Manager to work alongside our Head of Store Operations to deliver our Food strategy, drive performance, and inspire our store teams to deliver exceptional service every day.

This is a key leadership role with responsibility for developing Store Managers, improving commercial performance, and ensuring our stores remain safe, efficient and at the heart of the communities we serve.

About the role

As Area Manager, you will lead and support a portfolio of food stores, ensuring strong operational standards, commercial success and a culture where colleagues thrive. You’ll act as a visible role model, coach and mentor to Store Managers, helping them achieve outstanding results while living our values and behaviours.

Key responsibilities

Leadership & People

• Implement and embed the Society’s Food Strategy across your area

• Coach, mentor and support Store Managers to drive performance and develop their teams

• Create and deliver structured people development and succession plans with HR

• Support recruitment, training and performance management across your stores

• Promote a positive culture that celebrates success and strengthens collaboration

• Lead by example through regular store visits, coaching and hands-on support

• Deputise for other Area Managers when required

Operational Excellence

• Ensure stores operate safely, efficiently and in full compliance with legislation and Society policies

• Drive continuous improvement and successfully implement new initiatives

• Oversee new store openings and refits with the Senior Management team

• Encourage strong community engagement across all stores

Financial & Commercial Performance

• Support the Head of Store Operations in monitoring divisional financial performance

• Help Store Managers manage costs including stock loss, wastage and payroll

• Analyse turnover and promotional activity to identify growth opportunities

• Contribute to business planning, budgeting and delivery of targets

• Ensure compliance with all policies and processes across the area

Customer Experience

• Inspire store teams to deliver exceptional customer service and store standards

• Keep up to date with convenience retail trends and share insights across the division

• Drive effective merchandising, point of sale and store layout improvements

About you

We’re looking for a commercially minded, people-focused retail leader who can motivate large teams and deliver results.

Essential:

• Experience in a multi-site retail management role, preferably within food convenience.

• Proven experience in a senior retail management role

• Strong leadership and coaching skills

• Experience developing high-performing teams and succession planning

• Excellent communication and influencing skills

• Commercial and analytical mindset with sound financial awareness

• Experience managing employee relations issues such as disciplinaries and grievances

• Strong organisational and time-management skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

You’ll also be:

• Passionate about convenience retail

• A confident decision maker who can win hearts and minds

• Calm under pressure and highly driven

• A natural leader who motivates and engages others

Qualifications: A-level (or equivalent) plus higher education qualification (HND/Diploma) or equivalent experience.

Why join us?

• £52,000 salary

• Company car

• Be part of a values-driven, community-focused co-operative

• Colleague Discount 10% plus double discount on 4-weekly pay weekend

• Pension scheme 3.3% employer contribution

• 30 days holiday (incl bank holidays) rising with length of service

• FAB furniture discount of 15%

• Enhanced maternity pay

• Enhanced redundancy pay

• Discounts and savings platform – My Staff Shop

• Wagestream

• EAP with GP Access – referrals, prescription service, GP consultations, phone and in-person counselling

• Refer A Friend Scheme

• Long Service Award

• Support for eye care

• Financial and Wellbeing support from: Co-op Credit Union, Grocery Aid

• Life Insurance 2 x salary

• Health Assured Bereavement Support

• Health Assured Wellbeing Services, including My Healthy Advantage mobile app

• ZGP24 Service providing video and phone consultations, open referrals and prescription service

• Crisis 24 – Worldwide security and health information service

• Terminal illness support

If you would like the opportunity to shape the future of our Food division, and to be part of a values-driven, community-focused co-operative, then apply today!

The closing date for this role is Sunday 8th March.