Deputy Retail Manager
| Posting date: | 17 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £35,537 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 03 March 2026 |
| Location: | London, London, SW7 2DD |
| Company: | Science Museum Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | SMG03434_1771330639 |
Summary
Are you the kind of leader who energises a team, sets the pace on the shop floor, and thrives on turning a fast-moving, ever-changing environment into a high-performing success story?
About us
The Science Museum Group is here to inspire futures. We aim to grow visitors 'science capital' and engagement with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Maths. The Science Museum, hosts the largest Retail offering within the group and acts as the flagship store, bringing in approx. £4m per year.
Our impressive two-floor main shop offers an inspiring and diverse range of STEAM-related products for all ages. This is complemented by specialist retail spaces linked to some of our most popular galleries, including Space and Wonderlab, creating unique retail experiences that connect directly to our exhibitions and visitor journey.
Our Retail Team plays a vital role in bringing the museum experience to life beyond the gallery. From curated exhibition ranges such as Horrible Science to innovative collections like Future of Food, we collaborate with buyers, suppliers and internal teams to ensure our retail offer is creative, commercial and accessible at every touchpoint of a visitor's experience.
We are now looking for a Deputy Retail Manager to join us on a permanent, full-time basis at the Science Museum.
This role supports a 7-day operation, working a 2-week rotating pattern including every other weekend, evening events, and bank holidays during peak periods.
About the role
As Deputy Retail Manager, you will support the Retail Manager in leading and inspiring a large, high-performing Retail Sales Team across multiple stores and retail units.
You'll be a visible, hands-on leader, driving sales performance, elevating customer experience, and ensuring operational excellence across both shop floor and stockroom. You will take ownership of key areas of the retail operation, using insight and initiative to continuously improve standards and results.
This is a fast-paced, varied and exciting role where no two days are the same.
At the Science Museum, we champion entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation and our retail operation is no exception. You'll have the opportunity to shape performance, influence visual merchandising decisions, and contribute to an evolving retail offer that supports our mission to inspire futures.
About you
We are keen to see applications from experienced people leaders who know how to motivate, develop and empower a team to deliver consistently high standards.
Commercially astute, you're confident using KPIs and sales data to inform decisions, drive performance and spot opportunities for growth. You understand what good looks like and you know how to bring others with you to achieve it.
You're an excellent communicator with strong listening skills, able to build trusted relationships with colleagues, stakeholders and customers alike. Organised, adaptable and solutions-focused, you thrive in a dynamic environment where leadership presence truly matters.
Most importantly, you're excited by the opportunity to combine commercial success with meaningful impact, contributing to an organisation that values inclusion, creativity and inspiring the next generation.
Don't feel you meet all the criteria? We welcome you to apply even if your experience doesn't match directly. With your transferable skills, you could be the right candidate for this, or other opportunities that we have.
Applying
View the Vacancy Information Pack listed under 'Attachments' on the vacancy listing on our website for more details about the role and the application process or click 'Apply Online' to submit an application.
What we offer
Working with a world-leading museum group that offers access to truly unique environments and collections, you'll benefit from the perks listed below, as well as full support for life events such as parental and adoption leave, sickness, and career breaks.
- Meaningful work. We're a mission-led organisation where the work you do supports us in Inspiring Futures.
- Career growth. We offer enhanced support with personal and professional development.
- Work/life balance. We offer 27 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, along with flexible policies which support you and your home life.
- Health & Dental Insurance. Extra peace of mind, from day one.
- All our colleagues can access an employee assistance programme, access to the Unmind app, and other wellbeing support.
- Colleague networks. Our colleague-led networks are an informal forum for colleagues to come together to discuss topics of shared interest and lived experience. They create a space for people to exchange ideas, discuss best practice, socialise and build a sense of community.
- Enhanced contributory pension. To support you in saving for the future.
- Interest-free loans. When you need a little extra cash for life events or home improvements.
- Great discounts. Free entry to exhibitions, discounts in our shops, cafes, and access to other museums in the NMDC network.
Open for All is one of the Science Museum Group's five core values and sets out our important aspiration to be a place for everyone. We are working hard to understand our organisation better and to develop a culture that recognises and values different backgrounds, mindsets, skills, experience, knowledge, and expertise. By having greater diversity, we believe that we will be a stronger and better organisation, capable to continue to Inspire Futures.