Director of Retail

Location: Amityville

Position: Director of Retail

Location: Los Angeles, CA or New York, NY (with travel as needed)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: 180000

Overview:

We are seeking a dynamic, growth-minded Director of Retail to lead the launch and expansion of a new retail footprint. This leader will be responsible for opening 3-4 new stores in key markets this year, including Los Angeles, New York, Mall of America, and one additional major market. The locations are already identified; the focus for this role is operational excellence in new store openings, team building, and delivering a premium, brand-forward in-store experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end new store openings for 3-4 locations in the first year, ensuring on-time and on-budget launches.

• Develop and implement retail launch plans, including timelines, staffing plans, training, merchandising, and operational set-up.

• Partner cross-functionally with leadership, marketing, operations, and merchandising to translate brand vision into an elevated in-store experience.

• Recruit, hire, and develop high-performing store leadership teams focused on service, sales, and brand storytelling.

• Establish and optimize store operating procedures, KPIs, and performance standards for all new locations.

• Analyze store performance, traffic, and conversion to drive continuous improvement and inform future openings.

• Ensure consistent brand presentation, visual merchandising, and customer experience across all stores.

• Travel regularly between stores and corporate stakeholders to support openings and ongoing performance.

Ideal Background & Profile:

• Proven experience opening and scaling new retail stores (must-have), ideally in premium or contemporary, high-growth brands.

• Background with newer, modern, or experiential retail brands in the vein of performance, athleisure, or digitally native concepts

• Track record of building and leading multi-store teams in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

• Strong operational acumen with hands-on experience in store launch playbooks, staffing, training, and retail operations.

• Comfortable working in a nimble, entrepreneurial environment where processes are still being built and refined.

• Leadership style that is modern, collaborative, and agile; able to attract and retain top store talent.

• History of long tenure at a single legacy retailer

Requirements:

• Significant multi-store retail leadership experience with direct responsibility for opening new locations.

• Based in Los Angeles or New York, or willing to relocate to one of these hubs.

• Ability and willingness to travel as needed to support store launches and ongoing operations (including Mall of America and other markets).

• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.

• Proven ability to deliver results in sales growth, operational efficiency, and customer experience.