Head of Retail Stores & Operations

Head Of Retail Stores & Operations

At Backcountry, our mission is to connect people to their passions. Our four online stores—Backcountry, Competitive Cyclist, MotoSport and, SteepandCheap—aim to supply our customers with the gear, knowledge, and inspiration necessary to get out there and chase down life's greatest moments. We do this by providing the biggest and best assortment of premium outdoor products, superior shopping experience, personalized Gearhead expertise, lightning-fast and accurate fulfillment, and inspirational, informative, and community-centered content.

As our Head Of Retail Stores & Operations, you will own the full retail organization at Backcountry — leading store performance, culture, talent, and P&L across every location in the portfolio. This role exists to bridge the gap between field execution and corporate strategy, ensuring store teams have what they need to deliver exceptional customer experiences while hitting ambitious financial targets. You will serve as the senior voice of the field, influencing decisions across Merchandising, Marketing, Finance, and HR to keep the retail organization moving in one direction.

Success at six months looks like a clear-eyed view of where each store stands, a set of defined priorities for the next 12 months, and a leadership team that is aligned, accountable, and energized. At 12 months, you will have driven measurable sales growth and margin improvement, elevated the talent and training infrastructure, and established yourself as a trusted cross-functional partner at HQ.

This is a lean team. You will own a lot, move fast, and make decisions with full end-to-end responsibility.

Travel: Frequent store visits required, must be based in Utah (Salt Lake City area)

Schedule: Flexible, including nights, weekends, and holidays

Physical: Ability to lift a minimum of 50 lbs.

What You'll Do:

Strategic Leadership

• Set the vision and standards for retail operations, challenging teams to innovate and execute with discipline.
• Hold field leaders accountable to goals, timelines, and brand standards across all locations.
• Partner cross-functionally with Merchandising, Pricing, Marketing, Finance, and HR to align store execution with company strategy.
• Leverage AI tools to enhance operational planning, accelerate decision-making, and drive efficiency across the field organization.
• Represent and promote Backcountry's brand and values in local communities, fostering authentic connections with outdoor enthusiasts, local organizations, and brand partners to deepen customer loyalty and regional presence.

Financial Management

• Own retail P&L — budgeting, forecasting, payroll, inventory, and operational efficiency.
• Drive top-line sales growth and bottom-line profitability with a data-informed approach.
• Monitor and respond to financial performance across the portfolio with urgency and precision.
• Apply AI-powered analytics to identify trends, surface risks, and prioritize action across the portfolio.

Performance & Customer Experience

• Define clear KPIs, equip teams with the right tools, and drive consistent achievement of goals.
• Champion a customer-obsessed culture that drives loyalty, conversion, and an exceptional in-store experience.
• Ensure store execution aligns with broader customer service and sales growth initiatives.
• Use AI-driven insights to anticipate customer needs, optimize the in-store experience, and improve conversion.

Talent & Development

• Recruit, develop, and retain top talent with a focus on high performance and succession planning.
• Build innovative training programs that empower managers to lead effective teams and elevate store performance.
• Champion diversity and inclusion across hiring, development, and team culture.

Communication & Culture

• Foster open, transparent communication across all levels of the organization.
• Encourage feedback loops that drive continuous improvement in operations and experience.
• Model Backcountry's core values through visible, accessible leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of multi-unit retail leadership with direct ownership across budgeting, forecasting, and operational efficiency.
• Proven track record of driving sales growth and profitability across a multi-unit retail portfolio.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and hold remote teams accountable.
• Clear, concise communicator across all levels of the business.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, SharePoint, Forms) and POS systems.
• Comfortable adopting and championing AI tools to improve team productivity and operational outcomes.
• Ability to build and maintain strong internal and external partnerships.
• Must be based in Utah (Salt Lake City area)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in outdoor, sporting goods, or specialty retail strongly preferred.
• Proficiency in Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Drive).
• Familiarity with retail workforce management or inventory management platforms.
• Experience leading retail expansion, remodels, or store opening initiatives.

Why Join: The people who do best here are builders. They take ownership, move fast, and want to see the direct impact of their work.

• Direct Impact on the Brand: You will own Backcountry's entire retail footprint — every store's performance, culture, and customer experience runs through you. Your decisions show up on the P&L and in the communities we serve.
• Room to Build and Evolve: Backcountry's retail organization is growing and investing. You will have the latitude to reshape how the field operates, introduce new tools, and build the talent infrastructure that defines the next chapter.
• Full Ownership, No Hand-Holding: This is a senior leadership seat with real authority. You will set the direction, hold the accountability, and have the support of a cross-functional leadership team that wants the retail org to win.
• Competitive Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) with company match, generous PTO, employee discounts across Backcountry brands, and access to gear and outdoor experiences that match the lifestyle we celebrate.

Interview Process:

1. Recruiter Screen: A conversation to discuss your background, what you are looking for, and whether this role is the right fit.
2. Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper discussion with the Senior Vice President of Stores covering your retail leadership philosophy, P&L experience, and approach to building high-performing field teams.
3. Cross-Functional Panel: Conversations with key partners across Merchandising, Finance, and HR to assess strategic alignment and cross-functional collaboration style.
4. In-Person Interview: A visit to our Salt Lake City area office and store locations to meet the team, see the operation firsthand, and present your vision for the retail organization.
5. Reference Checks: Conducted in parallel with the final stages where possible.
6. Offer: We move quickly for the right candidate.