Head of Retail

Location: New York, NY (with travel as needed)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: 180000

Our client is 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. 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.

• 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.
• 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

• Significant multi-store retail leadership experience with direct responsibility for opening new locations.
• Based in New York,
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed to support store launches and ongoing operations.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to deliver results in sales growth, operational efficiency, and customer experience.