Director, Retail NYBG Shop

New York Botanical Garden•New York, NY

1d•$93,000 - $103,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Retail NYBG Shop leads the day-to-day and mid-term strategic management of the NYBG Shop, ensuring it operates as a productive, customer-centered, and financially sound retail business. Reporting to the VP of Retail, E-Commerce & Brand Licensing, the Director translates senior leadership's vision into operational plans, drives performance across the team, and takes ownership of the Shop's commercial results. This role balances strategic thinking with hands-on leadership — overseeing staff, managing budgets, and continuously improving the customer experience while contributing meaningfully to the broader retail growth agenda.

Requirements

10+ years of retail experience, with at least 3–4 years in a management role with direct team and budget responsibility
Proven ability to manage retail operations and contribute to commercial growth goals
Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills with experience developing staff at multiple levels
Comfort working with retail financials — budgets, sales reports, margin, and inventory metrics
Proficiency in Shopify POS and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word)
Flexibility to work rotating weekly schedule, with occasional evenings and holidays per NYBG's programming schedule

Nice To Haves

Horticulture knowledge or enthusiasm for garden/botanical retail is a plus

Responsibilities

Develop and execute seasonal and annual operational plans for the NYBG Shop in alignment with the VP's strategic direction and NYBG's institutional goals
Own the Shop's financial performance, including budget management, expense tracking, sales reporting, and contribution to revenue targets
Lead markdown strategy, inventory turn, open-to-buy planning, and promotional programming to drive sell-through and margin
Identify opportunities to grow sales and improve the customer experience, bringing forward recommendations to the VP on product mix, events, and in-store initiatives
Track and report on key retail metrics, presenting performance insights and action plans to senior leadership on a regular cadence
Oversee all aspects of shop operations including opening and closing procedures, stockroom and delivery workflows, POS system management, and inventory accuracy
Ensure all shop spaces are maintained to NYBG's standards — clean, organized, visually compelling, and on-brand at all times — and work to optimize shop zones and product displays (and related Visitor throughput) based on seasons and exhibitions
Submit and monitor work orders, facilities requests, and vendor coordination to keep operations running smoothly
Maintain working knowledge of all horticultural and non-horticultural products and ensure that knowledge is reflected across the team
Manage and develop a team of retail staff and supervisors, including scheduling, performance management, coaching, and professional development
Address staffing concerns and escalate employee relations matters appropriately in partnership with HR
Build a team culture grounded in accountability, customer service excellence, and NYBG's values
Train staff on new systems, products, procedures, and opportunities as the business evolves