Position: Director of Retail
Location: Los Angeles, CA or New York, NY (with travel as needed)
Employment Type: Full-Time
Compensation: 180000
Overview:
We are seeking a dynamic, growth-minded Director of Retail to lead the launch and expansion of a new retail footprint. This leader will be responsible for opening 3–4 new stores in key markets this year, including Los Angeles, New York, Mall of America, and one additional major market. The locations are already identified; the focus for this role is operational excellence in new store openings, team building, and delivering a premium, brand-forward in-store experience.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead end-to-end new store openings for 3–4 locations in the first year, ensuring on-time and on-budget launches.
- Develop and implement retail launch plans, including timelines, staffing plans, training, merchandising, and operational set-up.
- Partner cross-functionally with leadership, marketing, operations, and merchandising to translate brand vision into an elevated in-store experience.
- Recruit, hire, and develop high-performing store leadership teams focused on service, sales, and brand storytelling.
- Establish and optimize store operating procedures, KPIs, and performance standards for all new locations.
- Analyze store performance, traffic, and conversion to drive continuous improvement and inform future openings.
- Ensure consistent brand presentation, visual merchandising, and customer experience across all stores.
- Travel regularly between stores and corporate stakeholders to support openings and ongoing performance.
Ideal Background & Profile:
- Proven experience opening and scaling new retail stores (must-have), ideally in premium or contemporary, high-growth brands.
- Background with newer, modern, or experiential retail brands in the vein of performance, athleisure, or digitally native concepts
- Track record of building and leading multi-store teams in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
- Strong operational acumen with hands-on experience in store launch playbooks, staffing, training, and retail operations.
- Comfortable working in a nimble, entrepreneurial environment where processes are still being built and refined.
- Leadership style that is modern, collaborative, and agile; able to attract and retain top store talent.
- History of long tenure at a single legacy retailer
Requirements:
- Significant multi-store retail leadership experience with direct responsibility for opening new locations.
- Based in Los Angeles or New York, or willing to relocate to one of these hubs.
- Ability and willingness to travel as needed to support store launches and ongoing operations (including Mall of America and other markets).
- Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
- Proven ability to deliver results in sales growth, operational efficiency, and customer experience.
