Director of Retail Operations IV

The Director of Retail Operations oversees a large, multi‑unit retail portfolio at Tampa International Airport, managing more than 20 stores and driving $20M–$30M in annual revenue. In this role, you’ll lead sales growth, profitability and daily operational excellence through strong strategic leadership and high team engagement. You’ll ensure an exceptional customer experience across all retail locations while building effective relationships with airport landlords, unions, ACDBE/DBE partners, and key brand stakeholders in a fast‑paced, multi‑brand travel retail environment.

Salary Range: $107,000 - $133,000 Plus Bonus Opportunities!

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily operations across a large multi‑store retail footprint, ensuring all brand, service, and operational standards are consistently met.
• Drive revenue and profit growth by analyzing key performance metrics (sales, margin, labor %, conversion, AOV, UPT, shrink, NPS), managing budgets and forecasts, and taking action to improve results.
• Lead monthly and quarterly business reviews and operations meetings, covering sales performance, promotions, category insights, pricing, and HR initiatives.
• Make strategic decisions around hiring, promotions, and succession planning; build strong, diverse leadership teams and manage performance effectively.
• Ensure consistent execution of opening/closing procedures, cash handling, safety protocols, and all compliance requirements; collaborate with ACDBE partners on reporting and certification needs.
• Build strong relationships with landlords, brand partners, and DBE stakeholders; resolve issues and coordinate facility maintenance and improvement projects.
• Foster a positive workplace culture by championing employee engagement, recognition, and inclusion; coach leaders to support retention, productivity, and team development.
• Partner with the Operations Controller and SVP/VP on P&L management, scenario planning, and long‑term operational strategies.
• Work with Supply Chain, Commercial, and Marketing teams to optimize product assortments and inventory turns; ensure accurate ordering, receiving, and stock integrity.
• Lead vendor management and help resolve supply chain issues while maintaining proficiency in retail systems such as MIV, CrunchTime, and Kronos/UKG.
• Execute planograms, visual merchandising, and product placement strategies to drive sales and maintain brand standards.
• Address complex customer and employee concerns; lead change management initiatives and support the rollout of new technologies to enhance efficiency and experience.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer behavior; apply category management and space optimization best practices across all locations.
• Ensure compliance with union agreements (CBAs), lease obligations, company policies, and regulatory requirements; maintain audit readiness at all times.

Qualifications & Experience

• 8+ years in retail operations, with 3+ years in multi‑unit leadership.
• Proven success leading large teams, managing full P&L, and overseeing portfolios of 20+ stores and $20M+ in annual revenue.
• Strong P&L ownership, budgeting, and KPI analysis (sales/margin, labor, inventory turns, shrink, conversion, NPS).
• Proficient in retail/workforce systems (MIV, CrunchTime, Kronos/UKG).
• Skilled in inventory control, demand planning, receiving, and vendor management.
• Knowledge of category management, planograms, and visual merchandising.
• Advanced Excel and comfort with data dashboards/BI tools.
• Understanding of union environments, CBAs, leases, and ACDBE/DBE requirements.
• Strategic leadership with ability to scale best practices.
• Strong financial acumen and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Effective stakeholder relationship management (landlords, brands, unions, ACDBE partners).
• Ability to lead change and support new technology adoption.