Store Operations Director @ Georgia Aquarium

Event Network•Atlanta, GA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Store Operations Director partners with the General Manager to lead daily operations at the Georgia Aquarium Gift Shops, drive financial performance, develop talent, and deliver exceptional guest experiences. This highly visible, hands-on, guest-facing role requires an active presence on the sales floor to monitor operations, coach team members in real time, ensure exceptional guest service, and maintain sales, merchandising, and operational standards. In partnership with the GM, the Director works toward sales, per-capita spending, EBITDA, payroll, inventory, and expense goals while building and retaining a high-performing team. The role calls for strong business acumen, sound decision-making, and visible leadership in a fast-paced, high-traffic environment. The ideal candidate has experience managing high-volume retail operations generating $10 million–$15 million or more in annual sales, as well as multi-unit retail leadership experience.

Requirements

At least five years of retail management experience, with responsibility for store operations, team leadership, and financial performance.
Experience managing high-volume retail operations generating $10 million–$15 million or more in annual sales.
Multi-unit retail leadership experience, including driving results, developing leaders, and maintaining operational consistency across multiple locations or business units.
Strong understanding of retail financial performance, including sales, EBITDA, payroll, operating expenses, inventory, and shrink.
Demonstrated success in merchandising, sales growth, labor management, and operational execution.
Ability to recruit, coach, motivate, and retain high-performing teams.
Strong guest-service and sales-leadership skills, including maintaining a visible sales-floor presence, monitoring daily execution, and coaching in real time.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook, and ability to analyze sales reports, track budgets and performance metrics, prepare business documents, and communicate effectively.
Experience with point-of-sale systems, retail reporting tools, inventory management systems, and workforce scheduling platforms.
Strong analytical, interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-traffic retail environment while managing competing priorities.
Open availability to meet business needs, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak attendance periods.
Growth mindset and commitment to continuous improvement, adaptability, and developing personal and team capabilities; proactively challenges the status quo, embraces change, learns from setbacks, and turns ideas into strategies that strengthen results and elevate the guest experience.

Responsibilities

Maintain an active, visible presence on the sales floor and lead daily execution, keeping the store guest-ready during operating hours.
Monitor team performance, guest engagement, staffing coverage, merchandising, cleanliness, and store conditions in real time.
Direct, coach, and support Assistant Directors, Sales Leads, and team members to meet service expectations, sales goals, and operational standards.
Engage with guests, model exceptional service, and promptly and professionally resolve escalated concerns.
Adjust team deployment and priorities in response to guest traffic, business volume, and changing operational needs.
Conduct floor walks and communicate priorities, performance expectations, and follow-up actions to the team.
Partner with the GM to achieve sales, per-capita, EBITDA, payroll, inventory, and expense targets.
Monitor daily sales and key performance indicators, identify improvement opportunities, and implement strategies to improve conversion, transaction value, sales productivity, profitability, and operational efficiency.
Coach selling behaviors, product knowledge, suggestive selling, and effective merchandising.
Manage staffing and labor deployment in line with guest traffic and business needs while maintaining service standards.
Recruit, train, coach, and develop Assistant Directors, Sales Leads, and team members.
Set expectations, give real-time feedback, recognize strong performance, and address performance gaps promptly.
Position team members to support guest needs, sales opportunities, and daily priorities; foster teamwork, accountability, inclusion, and continuous development.
Partner with the GM and HR on employee relations and performance matters.
Maintain merchandise presentation, replenishment, promotional execution, and store recovery standards throughout the day.
Monitor inventory availability, stockroom support, cash-handling procedures, and loss-prevention practices.
Support register operations, including returns, price overrides, and other authorized transactions, as needed.
Identify and resolve operational issues quickly to minimize disruption to guests and business performance.
Partner with the GM, Georgia Aquarium representatives, and internal support teams to execute priorities and improve results.
Communicate daily performance, operational concerns, staffing needs, and business opportunities to Store Leadership, and follow up on operational and team matters.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Basic life and AD&D insurance
Long-term disability insurance
Voluntary life and AD&D insurance, short-term disability (for employees outside CA, NY, NJ, HI, RI, and Puerto Rico), accident insurance, critical illness insurance, hospital indemnity, and pet insurance
401(k) retirement plan
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Vacation accrual and sick leave
Nine paid holidays
Profit-sharing bonus plan
25% employee discount at company stores
Separate discount program offering savings on brand-name products, services, travel, entertainment, tickets, and more