Retail & Operations Manager – Brennans Pharmacy Letterkenny
Brennans Pharmacy Group
Letterkenny, County Donegal
Starting package: €50,000–€60,000, depending on experience and capability, plus meaningful performance-related bonus. A higher overall package is available for an exceptional, highly experienced candidate.
Permanent | Full-time | Onsite
IMPORTANT – HOW TO APPLY: Please apply by emailing your CV and covering note to Brian at [email protected]. Applications submitted through the Indeed “Apply Now” button will not be reviewed.
An Exciting Retail Leadership Opportunity in the North West
A Personal Message from Fergus Brennan
I founded Brennan's Pharmacy in Buncrana in 1992. Thirty-four years on, we operate four community pharmacies across Donegal, alongside a growing eCommerce business.
We're now looking for an exceptional Retail & Operations Manager to help shape the next stage of our growth.
This is one of the most important appointments we've made in recent years, and I've given this hire a lot of thought. I'm looking for someone who enjoys leading from the shop floor, developing people, improving standards and growing a business — but also someone who wants real ownership: clear responsibility for results, the authority to make decisions and the accountability to follow things through.
Initially, your focus will be leading our Letterkenny pharmacy. As you establish yourself, I hope you'll become one of the key operational leaders within Brennan's Pharmacy Group, helping shape our people, culture, retail standards and future growth.
Our preferred candidate will bring meaningful experience of community pharmacy retail or pharmacy management, together with strong commercial and people-leadership ability. However, we're also very interested in exceptional retail leaders from other relevant sectors who believe they can bring something distinctive to our business.
If you're looking for the opportunity to make a genuine difference within an ambitious independent business, I'd be pleased to hear from you.
Fergus Brennan
Founder & Managing Director
About the Opportunity
Brennan's Pharmacy Letterkenny is our newest pharmacy and represents a significant growth opportunity for our business.
The pharmacy is located in the new Dunnes Stores phase of Letterkenny Retail Park, a busy retail destination recording more than 100,000 vehicle entries per month.
It also sits adjacent to Sonas Medical, a newly opened, independently owned and operated GP practice. Its location, together with the continued development of our Letterkenny business, creates significant opportunity to grow footfall, strengthen our skincare, wellness and OTC categories, build deeper customer relationships and continue developing an ambitious independent pharmacy retail business in the North West.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can take ownership of front-of-shop retail performance while bringing strong operational leadership to the business.
You'll improve standards, develop the retail team, strengthen day-to-day routines and bring a consistent commercial focus to the store.
You'll be on the shop floor with customers, leading by example. You'll be the person who knows why a customer might reach for Caudalie over La Roche-Posay, who notices when the Pestle & Mortar display needs refreshing, and who recognises when a customer browsing the wellness section needs a knowledgeable conversation rather than a hard sell.
Your primary responsibility will initially be the success of our Letterkenny pharmacy. As the role develops, we anticipate that approximately one to two days each week will be devoted to wider group responsibilities, including recruitment, people development, rota planning, operational projects, retail standards and commercial initiatives across Brennan's Pharmacy Group.
For someone with the capability and ambition to grow with us, there is a clear pathway for this role to develop into broader operational leadership across Brennans Pharmacy Group.
This role will involve travel between our Donegal locations. A company vehicle will be available for work-related travel, and approved business travel expenses will be covered by the company.
The successful candidate will lead the retail side of the Letterkenny store, working closely with the pharmacy team to deliver a professional, joined-up experience for every patient and customer. The prescription, clinical and healthcare side of the pharmacy is led by our Supervising Pharmacists.
About Brennans Pharmacy
Brennans Pharmacy Group is an independently owned, family-run pharmacy business founded in Buncrana in 1992.
Today we operate four community pharmacies across County Donegal alongside a growing eCommerce business.
For more than three decades we've been part of our local communities, and we take that responsibility seriously — in how we serve our patients and customers, how we treat our colleagues, and how we run our business.
Our mission is to help our patients and customers live healthier, happier lives — and to feel and look their best.
Our vision is to be the most trusted local pharmacy of choice, and employer of choice, in the communities we serve.
Our core values - Integrity, Respect, Compassion, Excellence, Community and Teamwork - guide how we work and the decisions we make.
Why This Role Matters
Letterkenny is our newest pharmacy and represents an important growth opportunity within Brennan's Pharmacy Group.
With more than 100,000 vehicle entries each month into this phase of Letterkenny Retail Park, an expanding skincare and wellness offering, a growing customer base and a newly opened independent GP practice adjacent to the pharmacy, we believe there is significant potential to continue improving both the customer experience and commercial performance.
At the same time, we're continuing to strengthen the wider Brennan's Pharmacy Group. We're looking for someone who enjoys developing people, improving systems, strengthening operational disciplines and helping build an even stronger independent business.
Success in this role will be measured by:
- Growing retail sales and profitability.
- Raising standards throughout the store.
- Building a confident, engaged retail team.
- Delivering an outstanding customer experience.
- Bringing ideas, energy and leadership to the wider business.
What You'll Be Responsible For :
Letterkenny Retail Leadership
You'll:
- Lead from the shop floor and set the standard for customer service.
- Take ownership of retail sales, gross margin and cost control.
- Use sales data, KPIs and performance reports to guide decisions.
- Build stronger daily and weekly operating routines.
- Lead, coach and develop the retail team.
- Improve merchandising, promotions and in-store presentation.
- Drive growth across OTC, skincare, wellness and front-of-shop categories.
- Maintain excellent standards of stock control, housekeeping and retail execution.
- Build strong relationships with the pharmacy team to deliver an outstanding customer experience.
- Identify opportunities, solve problems and follow improvements through to completion.
Wider Leadership & Operations
Working closely with the Managing Director, you'll also help strengthen the wider Brennan's Pharmacy Group by:
- Supporting recruitment, interviewing and selection.
- Helping onboard, coach and develop colleagues.
- Supporting rota planning and workforce organisation.
- Contributing to HR processes, performance management and people development.
- Promoting consistent retail standards across all pharmacy locations.
- Leading or contributing to operational improvement projects.
- Supporting supplier relationships, product sourcing and commercial initiatives.
- Working alongside our marketing activity to maximise retail opportunities.
- Supporting the continued growth of Brennan's eCommerce business.
- Helping identify opportunities to improve efficiency, customer experience and profitability across the group.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone with at least three years' experience in commercially accountable retail or operational management and a proven ability to deliver results.
Our preference is for someone with strong community pharmacy experience who already understands the particular combination of healthcare, retail, customer service, people and commercial performance that makes a great independent pharmacy work.
You might currently be a pharmacy retail manager, store manager, operations manager, experienced pharmacy technician or another pharmacy professional who has developed significant commercial and people-management experience.
Pharmacy experience is strongly preferred but is not essential. We will also seriously consider outstanding candidates from beauty, skincare, wellness, premium retail or other customer-focused management environments who can demonstrate strong commercial results and leadership capability.
You'll be comfortable with:
- Commercial performance and KPIs.
- Sales, margin and profitability.
- Team leadership and coaching.
- Recruitment and people development.
- Operational organisation and planning.
- Merchandising and promotions.
- Customer service excellence.
- Holding yourself and others accountable.
Outstanding retail depends on people, consistency and care.
The right person is likely to be:
- Commercially minded.
- Organised and standards-driven.
- Practical and resilient.
- Warm, approachable and customer-focused.
- Calm under pressure.
- Comfortable making decisions.
- A confident leader who enjoys developing people.
- Curious, proactive and continually looking for ways to improve.
You'll also be someone who builds trust with customers, colleagues and the wider Brennan's Pharmacy team.
An interest in premium skincare, wellness and beauty brands is important. Familiarity with brands such as La Roche-Posay, Caudalie, Pestle & Mortar, VOYA, UpCircle, Revive and Dr Vegan would be an advantage, although full product and OTC training will be provided.
Cultural fit matters. We want someone who believes what we believe and is drawn to our culture. For those new to pharmacy, this is an opportunity to join a sector we believe will play an increasing role in healthcare and our communities — and make a real difference in people's lives.
This role may particularly suit someone with experience in:
- Community pharmacy retail or pharmacy management.
- Pharmacy operations.
- Beauty, skincare or cosmetics.
- Health, wellness or lifestyle retail.
- Premium customer-focused retail.
- Multi-site or area management.
- Retail operations or business improvement.
Applications from commercially minded pharmacists are welcome. Remuneration will reflect experience, capability and the contribution the successful candidate can make.
A full, clean driving licence is required because of the wider group responsibilities associated with the role.
Why This Role May Suit You
This role offers considerably more scope than a traditional Store Manager position while remaining firmly rooted in practical retail leadership.
You'll have genuine influence — initially over the success of our Letterkenny pharmacy and, as the role develops, increasingly over how retail and operations develop across Brennan's Pharmacy Group.
You'll work directly with the Founder & Managing Director, contribute to important business decisions and have the opportunity to shape people, standards, systems and future growth.
For someone with the capability and ambition to grow with us, there is genuine scope for the role to develop into broader operational leadership across the group.
As an independent pharmacy group, good ideas can be implemented quickly. You'll have clear areas of responsibility, genuine decision-making authority and the autonomy to improve how things are done — alongside clear expectations, agreed objectives and support when you need it.
If you're looking for a role where you'll be trusted, listened to and given the opportunity to make a lasting contribution, we'd love to hear from you.
Package
We're offering a package that reflects the importance of this appointment.
- Starting package: €50,000–€60,000, depending on experience and capability.
- Meaningful performance-related bonus linked to agreed commercial, customer service and operational objectives.
- Company vehicle available for work-related travel between locations.
- Approved work-related travel expenses covered by the company.
- Ongoing coaching, support and professional development.
- Formal role, responsibility and remuneration review as the position develops and wider group responsibilities increase.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Employee discount.
- Bike to Work Scheme.
- Company events.
- On-site parking.
A higher overall remuneration package is available for an exceptional, highly experienced candidate with a proven track record of delivering outstanding commercial results.
Selection Process
We're committed to making the right appointment - for the successful candidate, our team and our business.
Our recruitment process is designed to identify people with strong judgement, commercial ability, leadership potential and cultural fit.
The process will typically include:
- Review of your CV and covering note.
- A short online aptitude assessment.
- Structured in-person interviews.
- Reference checks before appointment.
The aptitude assessment isn't about pharmacy knowledge. It's simply one part of helping us understand how you think, solve problems and approach new situations.
How to Apply
IMPORTANT: Applications submitted through the Indeed “Apply Now” button will not be reviewed.
To apply for this position, please email your CV and covering note directly to Brian at [email protected].
We're asking all candidates to apply by email so that we can review your CV and covering note together and give you the opportunity to demonstrate your relevant experience properly.
Please include:
- One example of how you improved performance, customer experience, sales or standards in a previous role.
- Why this opportunity interests you now.
- What strengths and experience you believe you would bring to Brennan's Pharmacy Letterkenny.
- If you come from outside pharmacy retail, tell us about your interest in skincare, wellness or OTC products, including one specific example of helping a customer make a better or more informed product choice.
Please write your covering note in your own words using real examples from your experience. We're much more interested in practical evidence than polished generic applications.
Applications submitted through Indeed “Apply Now” will not form part of the recruitment process. Please apply by email to [email protected].
All applications received by email will be acknowledged, although only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Essential Requirements
- Full-time, permanent position.
- Based primarily in Letterkenny, County Donegal.
- Reliable commute to Letterkenny or willingness to relocate before starting.
- Full clean driving licence.
- Legal right to work in Ireland, or eligibility to obtain the necessary employment permission.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
- Bike to Work Scheme
- Company pension
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: €50,000.00-€60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bike to work scheme
- Company pension
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work authorisation:
Work Location: In person
