Born on South Molton Street, London in 1971, Molton Brown is an icon of uniquely British style. Today, Molton Brown is one of the leading global brands in Kao´s global cosmetics portfolio. Growing from small-scale artisans into the international fragrance brand it is today, its pioneering presence is felt in our stores and websites, travel retail, luxury department stores and the most esteemed hotels around the world.

Expertly blended in London, Molton Brown’s signature fragrances, bath and shower gels, home and hand care luxuries have claimed iconic status. Kao and Molton Brown have a passion for integrity, for craftsmanship, for artistry and for giving our consumers the ultimate, quality experience.

The role

We’re seeking an experienced Area Manager to oversee a portfolio of 16 Stores and Outlets across London and the South of the UK. Reporting to the Head of Retail, you’ll be responsible for providing strong leadership, clear direction, and ongoing motivation to store management teams to help achieve net sales and profitability targets. You’ll also play a key role in ensuring each store delivers an exceptional, luxury customer experience by effectively leveraging company tools and resources. This is a field-based role, typically involving store visits four days per week, with one day dedicated to administrative work from home or a designated office.

What You Will Do

• Provide leadership and direction to store management teams, inspiring them to align with the company vision and deliver on sales, business profit, and customer experience.
• Manage and motivate store teams to deliver their KPIs through coaching, performance management, and clear target setting.
• Develop store management teams and individuals through regular visits and conversations—observing performance, identifying areas for improvement, and facilitating growth using the resources available within MB, including colleagues and the DLA.
• Create tailored strategies for each store to drive sales, based on team strengths and opportunities, and covering market trends, customer base, local marketing and events, visual merchandising, and competition.
• Proactively manage recruitment, onboarding, and succession planning to minimize vacancies and attract talented individuals to the business.
• Coach and reinforce retail fundamentals, including customer service, visual merchandising, payroll, and cost management.
• Hold regular team meetings to communicate company objectives, track progress, and highlight short-term milestones necessary for each store to contribute to overall goals. Use these sessions to gather feedback and help influence central functions on issues impacting store performance and ability to deliver sales and business profit.

What we can offer you:

• A competitive salary and bonus structure
• 50% staff discount to use on all of your favourite Molton Brown products
• 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays
• A day off for your birthday!
• Free product allocation every quarter up to 5 Molton Brown eligible items!
• Access to discounts/cashbacks from high street retailers
• Enhanced family leave
• Private Medical / Healthcare Plan
• Wellbeing Support
• Season Ticket Loans / Cycle To Work Scheme
• Company Pension Scheme
• Ongoing development and the opportunity to enhance your skills
• A company where your voice will be heard and your opinion matters!
• Exclusive access to our e-Learning platform (including access to qualifications, certifications and memberships)

What You Will Need

• Educated to A-Level standard, ideally with a degree
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in retail, with at least 3 years in a senior store management or equivalent role (e.g. Retail Operations, Training, or Visual Merchandising)
• Proven track record in people and team management over 3+ years
• Strong leadership and people development skills
• Excellent team player and communicator
• Commercially aware with a customer-first mindset
• Organised, with good planning and time management
• Decisive and able to manage long-term objectives
• Basic Excel proficiency

Molton Brown is part of Kao founded in Japan in 1887, Kao is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives with our high-quality products and services to create a Kirei Life for all – a beautiful life that respects the needs of our consumers and customers as well as the planet. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. As a company driven by purpose and strong corporate values, we pride ourselves to be listed among the World´s Most Ethical Companies since 17 consecutive years. Our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, guides us in everything we do – acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation and treating each other with trust and respect.

How we work: Having been selected among the World´s Most Ethical Companies for 17 consecutive years, we are a company with a purpose and strong corporate values. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. At Kao, each employee can actively shape their job and their career. We work collaboratively to achieve our common goals, always aiming to deliver the best for our customers.

What we offer: A friendly and flexible work environment with competitive salaries, benefits package, ongoing development and the opportunity to enhance your skills and deliver tangible results. At Kao your voice will be heard. Your opinion really counts. We believe that change comes from taking opportunities into your own hands, so we value and reward entrepreneurial thinking and innovation.

Hiring Process: Kao embraces the diversity and the individual personalities of its people because we believe it is diversity that makes us strong. This is why we welcome applications from all areas of the global community.

Want to learn more: If you feel you are as unique as our products and want to find out why 33,000 people across the globe opted for a career with us please visit https://www.kao.com/emea/en/

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