Sr. Area Loss Prevention Manager

Our values start with our people, join a team that values you! 

Bring your talents to Ross, our leading off-price retail chain with over 2,200 stores, and a strong track record of success and growth. Our focus has always been bringing our customers a constant stream of high-quality brands and on-trend merchandise at extraordinary savings. All while providing a fun and exciting treasure hunt experience.

As part of our team, you will experience:

• Success . Our winning team pursues excellence while learning and evolving
• Career growth . We develop industry leading talent because Ross grows when our people grow
• Teamwork . We work together to solve the hard problems and find the right solution
• Our commitment to Diversity, Equality & Inclusion, and our community. We celebrate the backgrounds, identities, and ideas of those who work and shop with us because our differences make us stronger. We strive to be a positive force in our community.

Our Corporate headquarters are in Dublin, CA, we have 3 buying offices in key markets in New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston, and 8 distribution centers nationwide. With 2023 revenues of $20.4 billion, we are a Fortune 500 company who is committed to providing an inclusive work environment with continuous learning opportunities and development for our teams.

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Area Loss Prevention Manager (ALPM) is responsible for protecting the assets of Ross Stores, Inc. while achieving shortage and safety goals for assigned stores/district(s)/area. This is done by managing, promoting, and directing all Loss Prevention initiatives and programs within the assigned group of stores and by developing and maintaining strong partnerships at the store, district, and zone levels. Through effective Operations and Human Resources partnerships, the ALPM implements company-driven shortage and safety solutions while providing regular direction and leadership to minimize operational shortage, mitigate theft and fraud, and maintain safe and secure environments for Ross associates and customers. At times, the ALPM will also work with other cross-functional groups to ensure integrated solutions positively impact shortage control and accident reduction initiatives. In partnership with Store Managers, ALPMs share supervisory responsibility for store-based Loss Prevention associates (Store Protection Specialists or SPS) and are involved in the ongoing hiring, training, development, and performance management of this team. Periodically, ALPMs may need to support the response to, recovery from, and future prevention of serious incidents within assigned market.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Minimizing Operational Shortage

• Achieve shortage reduction goals for assigned stores, districts, or areas.
• Understand and respond to shortage processes (e.g., CNS, MOS, Front-End Operations, MPT) and analytics.
• Identify shortage risks through regular review of indicator reports; partner with stores to develop action plans to address and minimize operational shortage.
• Ensure all Loss Prevention shortage audits are conducted consistently and objectively, with a focus on continuous improvement through partnership and training.
• Coach, train, and influence store leadership and associates on best practice execution to minimize operational shortage.
• Promote shortage awareness through store programs (e.g., Shortage Highway) and ensure the current Loss Prevention Awareness Center is visible to associates.
• Support assigned stores, districts, or areas during annual and/or semi-annual inventory processes.
• Strictly adhere to all budget guidelines established for assigned stores, districts, or areas.

Mitigating Theft & Fraud

• Aggressively identify, investigate, and resolve internal and external theft and fraud, striving to minimize loss to the company and address emerging theft and fraud trends.
• Maximize utilization of all available merchandise protection tools and resources, including EAS, domes, alarm equipment, fitting room controls, and Shortage Highway, to address loss throughout the company.
• Ensure consistent execution of deterrence resources and tools to proactively combat external loss.
• Leverage exception and store reporting systems to identify theft activity, including cash shortages, in assigned stores.
• Drive resolution and case closure for all internal and external investigations, including timely follow-up on internal leads from the Corporate Investigative Analyst team, Alertline process, and external intelligence from retailers and law enforcement regarding market theft trends.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality throughout internal investigations; partner with store and district leadership and Human Resources to address associate behavior and take corrective action.
• Drive an impactful and effective SPS program by participating in store efforts to hire, train, and develop SPS associates in assigned stores, districts, or areas.
• Maintain accurate records and reports of identified theft activity and related follow-up; communicate reporting as necessary.
• Drive store-level awareness of theft and fraud techniques, as well as prevention tools and resources, to mitigate future impact and loss.
• Provide expertise on physical security and loss prevention systems during new store openings, remodels, and expansions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (cont.)

Maintaining a Safe & Secure Environment

• Drive achievement of accident reduction goals for General Liability (GL) and Workers' Compensation (WC) within assigned stores, districts, or areas.
• Conduct regular Loss Prevention safety audits to ensure compliance with accident prevention standards, critical incident programs, and safety requirements.
• Promote a safety-first culture through regular store audits, support of safety incentive programs, and participation in accident-free milestone celebrations.
• Participate in store and district conference calls to increase awareness of safety initiatives and emergency response procedures.
• Execute effective crisis management and incident response; coach and train store leadership and associates on investigation findings, opportunities for improvement, and prevention techniques.
• Provide physical security expertise and ensure proper functionality of store-based security technologies, including alarms, CCTV systems, and Intellex.
• Regularly evaluate building integrity and partner with store management to address equipment failures and facility concerns.

Developing Great Teams & Partnerships

• Train store leadership, associates, Operations partners, and Human Resources partners on current Loss Prevention initiatives and programs.
• Assist store leadership in promoting awareness campaigns related to shortage control and safety measures; participate in key store meetings and recognition activities.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with corporate Loss Prevention partners and field-based peers; share market trends and provide feedback on current and proposed initiatives.
• Foster partnerships with internal organizations to drive integrated solutions supporting shortage control and accident reduction efforts.
• Promote a performance management culture by identifying opportunities for improvement in individual, team, and store performance; influence positive behavioral change before issues become ingrained.
• Participate in recruiting and hiring top talent for store-based Loss Prevention positions; support onboarding, training, development, and performance management of SPS associates in partnership with store management.
• Promote effective internal communication through regular Store Protection Specialist conference calls and participation in store rally meetings.
• Establish and maintain relationships with external business partners, including law enforcement agencies, retail theft organizations, and other retail Loss Prevention departments.
• Assist in the development and updating of training materials and awareness session content.
• Perform other duties, responsibilities, and special projects as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

Manages Work Processes

Business Acumen

Plans, Aligns & Prioritizes

Builds Talent

Collaboration

Leading by Example

Communicates Effectively

Ensures Accountability & Execution

QUALIFICATIONS & SPECIAL SKILLS REQUIRED

• Experience in driving successful loss prevention, shortage control, accident reduction and fraud prevention programs.
• Self-motivated individual who can be successful in a fast-paced environment, with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong presentation skills.
• Must demonstrate the ability to be flexible and adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent analytical skills and demonstrated ability to solve problems.
• Proven ability to make good decisions under pressure.
• Excellent organizational skills, detail-oriented.
• Maintains confidentiality concerning all information and projects.
• Values and exhibits the highest level of personal integrity. 
• Must have proficiency in and knowledge of computer software including MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of and previous experience with Loss Prevention technologies (including CCTV systems and exception reporting systems) is advantageous.

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATIONS

• BA degree or greater preferred, preferably in Business or Criminal Justice, or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years directly-related, multi-unit Loss Prevention and/or Retail work experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Job requires ability to work in an office environment, primarily on a computer

Requires sitting, standing, walking, hearing, talking on the telephone, attending in-person meetings, typing, and working with paper/files, etc

Consistent timeliness and regular attendance

Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically

Must be able to travel

Must be able to stand for prolonged periods of time (up to 8 hours per day)

Frequent computer work required (up to 8 hours), involving repetitive arm/hand motions from keyboarding

This role requires regular in-office presence, including to engage in in-person team interaction, meetings and collaboration, client support, mentoring, coaching, and/or feedback

However, this role can perform duties effectively using a combination of in-office and remote work

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Shared supervisory responsibility for up to 75 store-based Loss Prevention associates (Store Protection Specialists or SPS) within assigned stores/district(s)/area.

DISCLAIMER

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at management’s discretion.

Ross is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. We believe that it is an essential part of the Company’s overall commitment to attract, hire and develop a strong, talented and diverse workforce. Ross is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.