Associate Director of Retail Operations

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Auxiliary Services, the Associate Director of Retail Operations is accountable for end-to-end retail performance, driving operational excellence, commercial results, and scalable execution across all channels. This role serves as the single point of accountability for retail operations, including P&L performance, staffing, merchandising discipline, stock management, and customer experience delivery, while leading General Managers across all retail poles with full responsibility for performance, people, and day-to-day operations. As the operational counterpart to the Associate Director of Retail Design, the role ensures creative concepts are executable, translates vision into clear operational plans, and partners closely with Branding & Museum Design to coordinate structured handovers and consistent execution. In addition, the Associate Director of Retail Operations sets departmental objectives, delegates assignments to subordinates, and applies policies and practices that shape operational priorities and overall retail performance.

Major Job Responsibilities

• Own the retail P&L in its entirety, including sales performance, gross margin, operating expenses, payroll, and inventory efficiency across physical stores and e-commerce
• Lead, develop, and hold accountable General Managers responsible for store operations, inventory management, e-commerce, and merchandising/buying
• Establish and maintain operational standards across both retail locations – the Getty Center and the Getty Villa – ensuring consistency in execution, service quality, and customer experience
• Oversee all merchandising and buying activity, including assortment planning, product selection, open-to-buy management, inventory allocation, and replenishment
• Drive e-commerce performance and support the development of a broader omnichannel retail strategy in partnership with senior leadership
• Manage inventory flow end-to-end, including planning, stock accuracy, turns, logistics, and fulfillment operations
• Develop and implement staffing models, scheduling strategies, and workforce planning aligned with visitor traffic patterns, seasonal peaks, and operational demands
• Lead all people management functions across the retail team, including hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and professional development
• Partner closely with the Associate Director of Retail Design to ensure creative concepts and visual merchandising strategies are operationally executable and consistently implemented
• Establish clear operating policies, procedures, and performance metrics that build a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Collaborate cross-functionally with finance, marketing, publications, and exhibition teams to align retail operations with broader institutional priorities and programming

Qualifications

• 8–12 years of progressive retail leadership experience, with a minimum of 3–5 years in a role with full P&L responsibility across multiple retail functions
• Proven track record of owning and operating a retail business end-to-end, with hands‑on experience spanning store operations, buying and planning, inventory management, and people leadership
• Experience managing or meaningfully contributing to an e‑commerce business; familiarity with omnichannel retail strategy a strong plus
• Demonstrated ability to build, develop, and hold accountable high-performing teams through periods of organizational change or operational transformation
• Financially rigorous, with a strong command of retail P&L mechanics including sales, margin, labor costs, and inventory productivity
• Proficiency with retail systems and standard business software; familiarity with enterprise financial platforms such as PeopleSoft or SAP a plus
• Based in or willing to relocate to the Los Angeles area; the role is predominantly onsite across the Getty Center and Getty Villa

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Hands‑on and present; as comfortable on the floor as in a planning meeting
• Skilled at leading people through change with patience, confidence, and clarity
• Commercially rigorous with a genuine commitment to the customer experience
• Builds trust and strong working relationships across complex, cross‑functional environments
• Thrives in ambiguity and adapts easily as structures and strategies evolve
• Connected to Getty's cultural mission and the role retail plays in it

Benefits and Perks

Here are just some examples that Getty offers/provides for full‑time employees:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage, starting on date of hire. Getty pays 75%-95% of the premium, depending on the plan selected.
• 403(b) Employee investment retirement plan – with up to 5% Getty Match
• Getty contribution of 6%, on behalf of employee, to 401(a) retirement account
• Educational assistance and professional development
• Paid Vacation, Sick, and Personal days
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Many positions have bi‑weekly off‑Fridays
• On‑site Fitness Center at Getty Center
• Community service opportunities

To learn more about our comprehensive benefits and long list of perks, go to Getty HR .