Director of Retail Operations

This rapidly growing DTC lifestyle brand is seeking a Director of Retail Operations to build the operational foundation for its expanding retail business. Reporting closely to executive leadership, this highly visible role will oversee the day-to-day performance of the existing flagship while developing the systems, playbooks, training programs, reporting structure, and operational standards needed to support future store openings and pop-up activations. The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial retail leader who has experience building scalable processes from the ground up, owning store P&Ls, managing retail teams, and partnering cross-functionally with marketing, creative, inventory, ecommerce, and finance to deliver an exceptional customer experience. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a fast-growing retail organization by balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution in a dynamic, high-growth environment. Located in the SF Valley.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Foundation

• Conduct a full operational audit of the existing LA store: POS systems, inventory management, loss prevention, security tagging, and store flow
• Build and implement the Retail Playbook: store standards, policies, guidelines, and cultural expectations aligned to the brand
• Establish and own in-store systems and workflows that create consistency and scalability from day one
• Oversee daily store operations and serve as the primary operational point of contact between the store and HQ

Team Leadership & Development

• Train, develop, and hold the Store Manager accountable, setting clear KPIs, performance expectations, and a structured feedback cadence
• Build a training framework for all store roles that can be replicated as the team grows
• Own the hiring framework for future store staff as the business expands

Financial Reporting & Strategy

• Develop and maintain the retail operating P&L framework, providing visibility into store profitability, operating expenses, labor performance, and future expansion opportunities.
• Develop a weekly and monthly reporting structure that connects store-level performance data to HQ leadership in a clear, actionable format
• Identify and communicate trends, risks, and opportunities to leadership with strategic recommendations

Retail Expansion

• Lead the planning and operational execution of a pop-up store in New York - from site setup and staffing to systems, standards, and close-out
• Oversee operations for event pop-up activations, working cross-functionally with marketing and creative to deliver brand-consistent, well-run experiences
• Build a portable, documented Store Launch Packet - the replication toolkit that allows every future location to open on a proven foundation
• Support site evaluation and pre-opening planning for permanent Store 2 and beyond

Merchandising & Customer Experience

• Partner with a Visual Merchandiser to align in-store presentation with new product drops and brand creative direction
• Develop a long-term in-store strategy covering product drops, inventory cadence, seasonal planning, and the overall customer journey

QUALIFICATIONS

What We're Looking For

• 5-10 years of retail operations experience, ideally with a DTC, lifestyle, or apparel brand
• Has owned a store P&L - built it, managed it, and presented it to leadership
• Proven track record opening or restructuring a retail store from the ground up
• Deep hands-on experience with POS systems, inventory management, loss prevention, and store-level systems
• Experience managing or developing a store manager and frontline retail team
• Has built operational playbooks, training frameworks, and SOPs that outlasted their time in the role
• Comfortable working across functions - collaborating with marketing, creative, and finance to get things done
• Experience managing or executing pop-up retail or event-based retail activations is a strong plus
• Willingness to travel, including time in New York for the planned NYC pop-up

Who You Are

• A builder at heart who can move seamlessly between high-level planning and day-to-day operational execution
• Strategic and yet hands-on builder mindset
• High standards, high accountability
• Brand-native - you strive to understand the customer, the culture, and why both matter to how the store runs
• Excited by the early stage, not intimidated by it - you see the opportunity in ambiguity