Director of Retail Operations

AKIRA • Chicago, IL

4d • $135,000 - $205,000

About The Position

In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors to its first women's clothing boutique in Chicago. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 35+ stores across the United States, as well as a thriving eCommerce business (shopAKIRA.com.) AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand. AKIRA's culture has one very large, distinct difference from other high fashion competitors: Fanatical, Obsessive Attention to the consumer's needs and desires. The core principle for all employees at AKIRA is to Act and Think Like an Owner, and this belief can be reflected across all areas of the company. The Position Director of Retail Operations Location Chicago HQ | Travel: ~50-75% across ~40 stores + new openings Reports to: VP of Retail (or COO) – works closely with Retail Sales Director, Finance, Supply Chain/IT, Visual/Facilities Overview This role is the operational engine behind our store network. You will lead the design, standardization, and execution of store operating systems and processes - enabling our field sales organization to operate at maximum effectiveness. Your mission: deliver operational efficiency, inventory discipline, store readiness and cost control, in partnership with the Director of Retail Sales.

Requirements

• 8–12+ years in multi-unit retail operations (apparel/fast-fashion strongly preferred) with experience scaling systems across 20–50+ stores, ideally 40+.
• Proven track record in operational excellence, inventory management (high SKU environment), store opening execution, process improvement and cost control.
• Strong analytics aptitude: dashboards, root-cause analysis, process mapping, cost modelling.
• Change-agent: thrives in a growth context, partners cross-functionally (Merchandising, IT, Supply Chain) and drives adoption in field.
• Bachelor's required
• Willing to travel 50–75%.
• Collaborative leadership style; able to partner closely with Sales Director and other senior leaders.

Nice To Haves

• MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operational Standards & Playbooks: Define and maintain store operating standards and playbooks (store layout, visual, omni-fulfilment, service, health & safety, loss prevention).
• Lead audit programme: regular store visits, compliance/standards reviews, visual & operations audits, corrective action tracking.
• Build repeatable processes for new opening readiness, remodels, back-of-house workflows, POS/tech enablement.
• Inventory & Supply-Chain Execution: Oversee inventory lifecycle for ~60K+ SKUs across network: on-hand accuracy, replenishment cadence, surplus/aged inventory reduction, vendor/allocator coordination.
• Partner with Merchandising/Allocation to optimise stock depth and breadth; minimise markdown burden, reduce stray/obsolescence, ensure right-fit inventory in stores.
• Manage shrink, returns, chargebacks: lead root-cause analytics and mitigation plans (vendor compliance, store handling, logistics).
• New Store Openings & Scaling: Lead end-to-end opening process: site readiness, fixture/visual set-up, POS/CRM integration, field training, go-live checks, early performance diagnostics.
• Develop a scalable opening model that enables rapid growth (2–3 stores/year), consistent powerhouse launch execution, and quick ramp to chain average.
• Operational Analytics & Cost Control: Establish KPIs: labour cost %, sales per labour hour, shrink %, on-hand accuracy, store downtime, system uptime, store tech adoption.
• Partner with Finance to build budgets (store wages, supplies, travel, facility maintenance) and monitor actuals vs plan; lead cost control and efficiency initiatives.
• Lead continuous-improvement projects: process standardisation, tech automation (StoreForce, workforce management), task elimination, performance optimisation.
• Technology & Systems Enablement: Champion store-technology ecosystem (POS, StoreForce, CRM, workforce/scheduling tools, omni-fulfilment systems) to increase selling time and reduce operational friction.
• Collaborate with IT and eCommerce/CRM teams to ensure store systems are integrated, data flows are accurate, field team visibility is real-time.
• Team Leadership & Field Support: Lead the operations field team (Operations Managers, Visual/Facilities Leads, Opening Project Managers).
• Coach and develop these operations leaders: set development plans, ensure field presence, embed operational best-practices, and build leader bench.
• Travel frequently to stores to build credibility, lead training, audits, and readiness reviews.

Benefits

• AKIRA offers competitive benefits for full time employees, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet, Life, LTD, FSA/HSA/Dependent Care FSA, Flex Transit (CTA), 401(k), and employee discount.
• We are committed to encouraging internal development and providing significant career enrichment opportunities.
• Most importantly, what has propelled AKIRA's growth and success over the years has been the dynamic culture within the company - if you're filled with passion, have a strong desire to get things done, and if you want to go to a place where you know your work matters and where you can implement your ideas and decisions, then AKIRA just might be the place for you.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director