Assistant Store Development Manager

About the role

The Assistant Store Development Manager supports the end‑to‑end development of our retail network. You will work closely with legal, finance, operations and external partners to ensure leases, projects and risk management are executed efficiently and in line with commercial objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage all lease‑related activities, from documentation and negotiation preparation to execution, coordinating with internal stakeholders and legal advisors.
• Negotiate lease terms independently, aiming for commercially optimal outcomes while balancing operational and legal considerations.
• Build and maintain strong landlord relationships across the portfolio, proactively resolving issues and identifying opportunities.
• Conduct feasibility studies, site evaluations and financial analyses to support new store openings, renewals and network optimisation.
• Prepare and present business cases for board approval, providing clear commercial rationale and risk assessment.
• Oversee store development documentation and governance, ensuring accuracy, completeness and compliance.
• Partner with Project Managers to deliver end‑to‑end store development, including planning, design coordination, contract finalisation, procurement and construction progress control.
• Manage store‑related insurance matters, policy renewals and ad‑hoc coverage, ensuring compliance with lease requirements.
• Drive cross‑functional alignment across Store Development, Legal, Finance, Operations and external stakeholders to ensure efficient execution of leases and projects.

Required profile

• Proven ability to lead lease negotiations independently and achieve commercially optimal outcomes.
• Good understanding of legal and contractual frameworks, with the capacity to interpret lease agreements and identify key risks.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship‑building capability across internal functions and external partners.
• Ability to work collaboratively across cross‑functional teams while driving outcomes and ensuring accountability.
• Strong commercial acumen and business logic to assess deals and evaluate incentives.

Required skills