Vice President - Retail Construction & Field Execution

Job Description

Vice President of Retail Construction & Field Execution

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Confidential Search | Neverland Worldwide

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Neverland Worldwide is conducting a confidential executive search on behalf of a large national retail services organization seeking a Vice President of Strategic Services with significant experience leading retail construction, new-store fixturing, store remodels, fixture installations, overnight installation programs, and multi-site field execution. The strongest fit has experience with traveling teams and the ability to set new store fixtures and run full merchandising remodels.

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This is a high-level leadership position for an executive who understands both the strategic demands of running a national operation and the realities of executing complex retail programs inside stores. The ideal candidate has led large, distributed teams and managed complex, multi-location programs while remaining actively engaged with the field teams responsible for delivering the work.

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This is not a desk-only executive role. The right leader will spend significant time traveling to stores and working alongside field crews, installation teams, and field leadership. They will build a strong bridge between executive leadership, client stakeholders, and the boots-on-the-ground teams—ensuring the people executing the work have the support, communication, resources, and direction they need to succeed.

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Candidates should bring direct experience with retail construction, new-store fixturing, overnight installations, remodels, rollouts, or similar construction-related retail programs. Experience in merchandising or retail services is valuable, but this role requires meaningful hands-on knowledge of installation and field execution.

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About the Role

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The Vice President of Strategic Services will lead large-scale retail programs spanning multiple markets and store locations. Programs may include new-store openings and fixturing, store remodels, refreshes, fixture installations, overnight installs, resets, site surveys, store mapping, site readiness, punch lists, closeout processes, and other complex field initiatives.

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This executive will be responsible for connecting strategy with execution. They will work closely with clients, internal operations, project leadership, field managers, installation crews, labor partners, and executive stakeholders to ensure programs are delivered safely, profitably, consistently, and on schedule.

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A major priority will be establishing a strong presence in the field. The VP will regularly visit stores, observe installation work firsthand, engage directly with crews, identify operational challenges, and work with field leaders to improve execution. They must be comfortable moving between executive-level client conversations, financial and operational planning, and practical discussions with teams working overnight installations and demanding store schedules.

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The ideal candidate is an approachable, accountable leader who earns the trust of both senior stakeholders and frontline teams. They know that strong field performance comes from more than processes and dashboards—it comes from clear expectations, capable leadership, effective communication, and an executive who understands what is happening at the store level.

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What You'll Lead

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• National field and project leadership: Lead a large, distributed field and project organization supporting complex retail construction, new-store fixturing, remodel, rollout, and installation programs.
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• Hands-on field engagement: Travel to store locations and work alongside field teams regularly, observing execution, understanding challenges, and helping resolve issues directly.
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• Installation crew leadership: Provide direction and support to traveling installation crews performing new-store fixturing, overnight installations, remodels, and other multi-location programs.
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• Program execution: Oversee new-store setups, fixture installations, store remodels, refreshes, resets, site surveys, store mapping, site readiness, punch lists, and closeouts.
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• Bridge between leadership and the field: Build strong relationships between executive leadership, project management, field management, and frontline crews. Ensure field feedback informs operational decisions and that expectations are communicated clearly in both directions.
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• Field leadership development: Support and develop project executives, directors, project managers, field managers, supervisors, coordinators, and installation teams.
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• Client partnership: Build trusted relationships with national retail clients across construction, store development, operations, merchandising, procurement, and executive leadership.
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• Operational systems and accountability: Develop and improve systems for project planning, labor deployment, scheduling, field communication, quality assurance, issue escalation, documentation, and client reporting.
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• Quality, safety, and productivity: Establish and reinforce standards that support safe work, consistent execution, schedule adherence, labor productivity, and high-quality results across all locations.
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• Financial performance: Oversee budgeting, forecasting, labor modeling, cost control, margin improvement, and program profitability.
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• Performance measurement: Establish meaningful KPIs, project dashboards, reporting cadences, and performance standards that connect executive visibility with actual field conditions.
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• Problem-solving and continuous improvement: Identify recurring issues through store visits and field feedback, then work with the organization to implement practical, scalable solutions.
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• Vendor and labor partner management: Evaluate subcontractors, third-party labor partners, vendors, market conditions, project costs, and operational risks.
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• Organizational development: Partner with Human Resources on field leadership practices, employee relations, performance management, compliance, and training.
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• Strategic growth: Help expand the organization's capabilities, strengthen client confidence, improve execution at scale, and position the company to win and deliver larger national programs.
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What We're Looking For

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• 10+ years of leadership experience in retail construction, store development, new-store fixturing, retail remodels, fixture installation, construction services, or closely related field execution.
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• Prior senior leadership experience as a Vice President, Senior Director, Head of Operations, Head of Construction Services, Head of Field Operations, or in a comparable role.
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• Direct experience leading traveling installation crews and field teams , ideally supporting new-store fixturing, overnight installations, remodels, or other time-sensitive retail programs.
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• A demonstrated ability to lead a national or multi-state operation while remaining engaged with day-to-day field execution.
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• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, visit stores regularly, and spend meaningful time working alongside field teams.
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• Strong understanding of retail installation and construction workflows, including site readiness, fixture installation, labor planning, scheduling, field supervision, issue resolution, punch lists, and closeout processes.
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• Experience managing high-volume, multi-location programs for national or regional retailers.
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• The ability to move comfortably between executive-level strategy, client relationships, financial oversight, and practical conversations with installation crews.
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• A leadership style that builds trust, accountability, and communication across all levels of an organization.
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• Demonstrated success improving field performance, execution standards, quality, productivity, schedule adherence, and client satisfaction.
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• Strong financial and operational acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, labor productivity, margin management, and project profitability.
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• Experience managing third-party labor partners, subcontractors, vendors, or distributed workforce models.
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• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, problem-solving, and relationship-management skills.
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• An entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate independently, make sound decisions, and build structure in a fast-moving environment.
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• Bachelor's degree in construction management, business, operations, engineering, or a related field preferred.
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Preferred Background

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Ideal candidates may come from organizations involved in:

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• Retail construction services and store development
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• New-store openings, buildouts, and fixturing
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• Traveling installation crews and overnight installation programs
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• Store remodels, refreshes, and fixture rollouts
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• Retail project management and construction services
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• National field execution and installation companies
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• Retail facilities or store development organizations
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• Construction-adjacent retail services
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• Large-scale retail merchandising organizations with substantial construction, installation, or remodel responsibilities
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Experience in merchandising, resets, or general retail services can be valuable, but candidates must also demonstrate direct experience with complex installation, construction, remodel, or new-store execution programs.

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The strongest candidates will be executives who have led from the front: leaders who can build scalable systems and manage financial performance while also walking stores, talking with crews, understanding installation challenges firsthand, and turning field insights into better results for clients and employees.

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Position Details

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Location: Remote-based, with extensive travel to retail stores and project locations across the United States.

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Travel: Approximately 75%. The leader is expected to be in the field with installation crews most weeks, including regular store visits, project-site engagement, client meetings, and internal leadership meetings.

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Employment: Full-time, salaried, benefits eligible.

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Search Type: Confidential executive search.

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Confidential Search

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Neverland Worldwide is managing this search on behalf of its client. The company's name will not be disclosed publicly in the job posting.

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Qualified candidates will receive additional information about the organization during the initial conversation with Neverland Worldwide. All inquiries and applications will be handled confidentially.