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. 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 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 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 #J-18808-Ljbffr The Workshop LA