Travel Field Operations - Director of South

Closing Date for Applications will be Friday the 25th of September 2026.

 

Director of South

  

Location	South Division, Travel UK
Contract Type	Permanent
Brand	Travel UK
Salary	Competitive

 

At WHSmith, our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones who go the extra mile for our customers and enable our growth. We are looking for a Director of South to provide strategic leadership across all WHSmith Travel stores within the South Division of Travel UK.

 

You will lead and inspire the field leadership team to deliver strong sales performance through their people, while creating and sustaining an inclusive culture that makes WHSmith a great place to work.

 

A key part of the role is building strong, authentic and influential relationships with landlords and other external partners, ensuring WHSmith is the travel retailer they choose to work with.

 

What you will be doing:

 

• Develop and execute strategies through the Field Leadership team to achieve sales, profit and growth targets.
• Identify opportunities for expansion and market penetration, collaborating with key Support Centre teams to deliver them.
• Analyse and share market trends and competitor activity to keep the division ahead of potential competition.
• Attract, retain and develop a people-focused, high-performing Field Leadership team, with clear goals, effective performance reviews and meaningful development plans.
• Foster and role-model a positive, inclusive culture, lead key employee engagement activities, and consistently demonstrate the WHSmith Values and Leadership Behaviours.

• Take full accountability for divisional budgets, cost control, profitability and delivery against key performance indicators.
• Implement strategies that maximise profit and minimise losses without compromising operational excellence or customer satisfaction.
• Ensure all stores operate efficiently and comply with WHSmith policies and processes.
• Oversee inventory management, supply chain and stock replenishment, working collaboratively with the Central Operations Director and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive operational excellence in merchandising and visual presentation.

• Ensure consistently high standards of customer service and brand presentation across every store.
• Implement customer satisfaction programmes, resolve escalated issues and collaborate to improve brand standards.
• Ensure full compliance with WHSmith policies, legal requirements and health and safety regulations.
• Deliver effective shrinkage, theft-prevention and colleague welfare initiatives, ensuring health and safety procedures protect colleagues and customers.

• Develop and maintain excellent, influential relationships with external stakeholders to create opportunities and establish WHSmith as the primary partner in each location.
• Build strong relationships with LHR and GSL so WHSmith remains the preferred travel retail partner.
• Resolve and escalate stakeholder concerns efficiently, collaborating with Support Centre functions to deliver solutions and improvements.
• Act as the bridge between the Service Centre and stores, representing the voice of colleagues and customers.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and provide regular reports and updates to the Executive Leadership Team.

What we are looking for:   

• A proven strategic retail leader with experience leading large, multi-site operations through a senior field leadership team.
• A strong commercial track record of delivering sales, profit and growth targets, with full budget accountability.
• An inspiring people leader who can attract, retain and develop high-performing teams and build an inclusive, engaging culture.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the credibility to build authentic relationships with landlords, partners and senior leaders.
• Strong operational judgement, with a clear understanding of customer experience, brand standards, compliance, risk and health and safety.
• Highly collaborative and an effective communicator, able to connect stores and the Service Centre while representing colleagues and customers.
• A visible role model for the WHSmith Values and Leadership Behaviours, comfortable operating at pace and navigating complexity.

How we reward our teams: 

 

• Competitive salary  

• Annual bonus based on company and personal performance 

• Hybrid working model from home and in the office 

• 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday 

• Finish at 4pm on a Friday 
• Competitive pension contribution 

• Staff discount card for stores and online 

 

About us: 

 

Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 12,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.  

 

For UK and International Travel our mission is simple - to create value for our stakeholders by providing a platform for global brands responsible for essentials and technology in airports (including our InMotion stores), hospitals, rail stations and other markets. Our office is based in a buzzing part of London close to Liverpool Street Station. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture at all levels. It’s perfect for people who are happy to use their initiative and embrace life outside their comfort zone. 

 

At WHSmith, we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here. 

 

We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help!