Management Cover – Southern Region (Multiple Locations)

About the role

Lawsons, the UK’s leading independent supplier of fencing, timber and building materials, is seeking a Management Cover professional for its Southern Region. You will provide temporary leadership across multiple branches, ensuring smooth day‑to‑day operations, strong customer service and commercial performance during periods of absence, peak demand or transition.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver interim management cover for branch managers, overseeing daily operations, team leadership and customer service.
• Drive sales, margins and gross profit, supporting colleagues to meet commercial targets.
• Coach, develop and support branch teams, ensuring consistent application of company standards, merchandising and service practices.
• Manage staffing, rotas and performance, conduct briefings, 1:1s and assist with recruitment as needed.
• Oversee health & safety, stock control and loss prevention, ensuring compliance with policies and legal requirements.
• Liaise with depot, yard and delivery teams to guarantee efficient order fulfilment and timely deliveries.
• Monitor and report branch performance, provide actionable feedback and recommend improvements.
• Support local marketing and promotional activities, ensuring effective merchandising and point‑of‑sale implementation.

Required profile

• Proven people‑management experience in a retail or branch environment.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to drive sales and profitability.
• Willingness to travel across the Southern region and adapt to different branch settings.
• Excellent communication and problem‑solving skills.

Required skills

What we offer

• Competitive salary (£35,000‑£36,000 per year).
• 27 days’ holiday plus UK Bank Holidays and a celebration day.
• Pension scheme, death in service benefit and employee assistance programme.
• Comprehensive onboarding, training and career development opportunities.
• Opportunity to work across multiple branches and broaden management experience.