Sam Jackson
Leicester,Leicestershire
Summary
Dynamic and results-oriented Retail Commercial Operations Director with extensive experience in senior leadership roles, including buying, store operations, and HR management within the retail sector. Proven expertise in driving profitability, optimizing operations, and developing high-performing teams across national scales. Adept at leveraging data-driven insights, managing P&L, and delivering innovative strategies that enhance customer experiences and sustain business growth.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
National Buying Director
Aldi Stores Ltd
Atherstone, Warwickshire
02.2024 - Current
- Direct the national buying strategy for a retail business with annual revenue of £480million.
- Negotiate supplier agreements to achieve category margins while maintaining product quality and availability.
- Oversee the introduction of new product categories, increasing overall market share.
- Collaborate with marketing and merchandising teams to develop innovative promotional campaigns that boosted category sales by.
- Streamlined procurement processes to reduce lead times and increase product availability.
Store Operations Director
Aldi Stores Ltd
North West, Cheshire, Merseyside, North Wales
01.2018 - 02.2024
- Led operations across 40 stores in the North West, achieving consistent revenue growth and increasing market share.
- Cultivated a high-performance culture across regional teams, achieving the highest team engagement scores in the company (96%).
- Delivered leadership training programs for regional and store managers, enhancing succession planning of all Store colleague roles.
- Directed strategic initiatives to standardize operations, to improve the store experience whilst delivering a balanced cost base.
- National responsibility for Aldi's food waste strategy delivering charity donation programmes across the UK store estate.
National HR Director
Aldi Stores Ltd
Bolton, Lancashire
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Directed HR strategies for the UK workforce across Store Operations and Logistics, focusing on talent development, and succession planning.
- Implemented performance management systems that improved employee engagement scores and generated stability across the UK workforce during a period of high growth.
- Introduced cost-effective training programs to enhanced skills and target specific areas for improved colleague knowledge (e.g. Health & Safety).
Area Manager
Aldi Stores Ltd
Hertfordshire
09.2011 - 12.2015
- Managed daily operations for 7 stores within London and Hertfordshire, achieving consistent sales performance during a period of high business growth.
- Conducted regular performance reviews, coaching store managers to achieve KPIs and improve operational standards.
- Coordinated significant cost stability strategies across multiple sites to improve the cost of goods sold whilst increasing revenue.
- Coordinated new store openings, ensuring they met operational and financial targets within tight deadlines.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Management & Economics
University of Birmingham
Birmingham 09.2008 - 07.2011
Skills
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- P&L Management
- Retail Operations Excellence
- Talent Management & Leadership Development
- Change Management & Technology Integration
- Commercial Strategy Development
- National Buying & Merchandising
- Inventory & Stock Optimization
- Employee Engagement & Retention
- Data Analysis & KPI Tracking
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Affiliations
- Sports - Football, Golf and Running
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
National Buying Director
Aldi Stores Ltd
02.2024 - Current
Store Operations Director
Aldi Stores Ltd
01.2018 - 02.2024
National HR Director
Aldi Stores Ltd
01.2015 - 01.2018
Area Manager
Aldi Stores Ltd
09.2011 - 12.2015
Bachelor of Science - Business Management & Economics
University of Birmingham
09.2008 - 07.2011
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