Job Description

Own & grow with a high?performing North East cluster of stores

Linked Shared Venture Partnership - Retail shareholdings available across four stores (plus Audiology)

Locations:

Middlesbrough, Coulby Newham, Blaydon, Gateshead - Team Valley and Audiology

Shares available:

Middlesbrough & Coulby Newham:

25% Retail shares

Blaydon:

28% Retail shares

Gateshead - Team Valley:

28.3% Retail shares

Audiology (linked hub):

12.5%

Structure:

Linked

Retail Director opportunity across all four stores (plus Audiology)

Why this opportunity?

This is a rare chance to invest in an established,

high?performing North East cluster

with strong brand presence, modern refits, low locum reliance, and robust clinical offerings (OCT in all stores, enhanced services). You'll join experienced partners and managers, inheriting resilient retail footfall, deep local ties, and

clear growth levers

in volume and contact lenses--supported by a

central lab

and

call centre

that serve the whole cluster.

The stores at a glance

Middlesbrough (large; town centre)

Territory & setting:

3?mile territory, town centre near bus station; high footfall across

two customer floors

plus a separate

lab floor

(glazing for all cluster stores + Hexham).

Capacity & performance:

500 tests/week

;

10 test rooms

;

Operating Profit -12.5%

;

wait time 2-3 days

.

Services:

OCT;

low?vision service

(only supplier in Teesside); large audiology hub (3 rooms).

Team:

Retail

40-45

; Clinical

12-15

(10 OO, 3 DO, 1 CLO);

no locum

.

Refit:

Completed

April 2024

.

Culture:

Fun, high?performing; strong performance management; people development into partnership.

Coulby Newham (large; retail park)

Territory & setting:

3?mile territory in a shopping centre tied to

Tesco

;

free parking

, highly accessible; no empty units on the park.

Capacity & performance:

350-400 tests/week

;

5 test rooms

(moving to

6

in refit);;

Operating Profit - 20%

;

wait time - 1 week

.

Team:

Retail

15

; Clinical

10

(6 OO, 2 DO, 1 CLO).

Refit:

Designing now

; due

Spring 2026

Customer base:

More affluent, older clientele; strong ATV.

Blaydon (large; pedestrianised high street)

Setting:

Pedestrianised high street tied to

Morrisons

; little direct competition;

free parking

with lift access from parking level; near

McDonald's

.

Capacity & performance:

~

200-250 tests/week

;

3 test rooms

(1 dual);

Operating Profit - 13%

;

wait time 2-3 days

.

Services:

OCT;

enhanced glaucoma

services.

Team:

Retail

12

; Clinical

6

(4 OO, 2 DO).

Refit/Boost:

Boost April 2024

.

Customer base:

Similar to Coulby Newham; draws from nicer parts of Northumberland.

Gateshead - Team Valley (medium; retail park)

Setting:

One?level

retail park

with free parking; part of the

largest retail complex in the North of England

;

bus?only

for public transport.

Capacity & performance:

~

150-200 tests/week

;

5 test rooms

(4 fitted + 1 available; space for

6th & 7th

if needed);

Operating Profit 8%

;

wait time -1 day

.

Services:

OCT;

enhanced glaucoma

services.

Team:

Retail

10

; Clinical

5

(3 OO, 2 DO).

What we're looking for

An experienced optical/retail leader who:


Thrives in

multi?site leadership

and enjoys being

present and involved

on the shop floor. Can drive

volume

,

ATV

, and

contact lens growth

, while elevating

enhanced services

. Invests in

people development

--progressing pathway colleagues into future partners. Brings commercial acumen to scale

Team Valley

and maximise the

Audiology hub

. Aligns to

Specsavers values

and a

high?performance, fun culture

.

Love the North East?

All four locations offer great lifestyle options--including

coastal living

--with strong transport links and vibrant retail centres.

How to apply

Email

Samantha Firth

at samantha.firth@specsavers.com - application closing date - 16th January