Vice President of Retail Operations - Canada Duty Free

Dufry Careers • Trent Lakes, ON

13d • CA$211,300 - CA$281,700 • Onsite

About The Position

The VP of Retail Operations – Canada Duty Free is responsible for developing, adopting, and translating the strategic vision of Avolta Destination 2027 into regional execution. This involves creating and implementing commercial and operational plans to drive sales, increase spend per passenger, expand gross margin, improve EBITDA performance, and optimize net working capital for cash flow. The role ensures consistent operational and brand standards across the assigned geography within a luxury travel environment. The position achieves results through an operations leadership team, premium brand and landlord partnerships, and a focus on developing associates and enhancing the customer experience.

Requirements

• Combination of education and professional experience exceeding 12 years.
• 7 years of experience leading a senior-level operations team in developing and executing retail operations programs.
• 12 years of experience in developing and delivering retail operations programs, with direct accountability for multi-unit or regional P&L performance.
• A bachelor’s degree in a related field can count for 2 years of the twelve-year requirement.
• An MBA or master’s degree in a related field can count for an additional 2 years of the twelve-year requirement.
• 5+ years of travel retail Duty Free experience in a multi-brand luxury environment serving an international, culturally diverse clientele.
• Working knowledge of customs, border, import/export, Duty Free, tax-exempt sales, bonded inventory, supply chain and distribution compliance, and related internal audit requirements.
• Strong understanding of the regulatory landscape across Duty Free categories (beauty, liquor, tobacco, confectionery, luxury specialty goods), including licensing, labeling, route-to-market, and federal/state requirements.
• Understanding of ACDBE regulatory requirements and obligations.
• Strong financial acumen with proven ownership of regional P&L performance, including budget development, variance analysis, expense optimization, KPI management, and resource allocation.
• Exceptional communicator with the ability to translate regional insights to executive-level and cascade strategy to store-level execution.
• Proven ability to lead and hold accountable a retail operations organization, including area, boutique, and store-level leadership.
• Deep knowledge of the global retail and Duty Free industry, including luxury consumer goods, premium brand management, and international traveler expectations.
• Strong track record managing high-visibility relationships with public and private stakeholders.
• Advanced business acumen and strategic mindset.
• Demonstrated ability to balance business needs, stakeholders, employee populations, and individual circumstances.
• Proven success creating positive work environments through coaching, development, and team leadership.

Nice To Haves

• Must reside within close proximity to Toronto, Canada.

Responsibilities

• Owns the full scope of Canada’s Duty Free retail operations across all airports, ensuring performance, commercial standards, and results while driving adoption of Avolta’s global operating model.
• Oversees regional P&L and NWC performance, holding leaders accountable for financial KPIs and leveraging business intelligence to analyze trends, identify opportunities, and develop success plans.
• Leads with a business owner mindset, fostering a diverse, inclusive, high-performing team focused on people development and operational excellence.
• Partners with global and regional commercial platforms to implement the commercial plan, including SPP acceleration, promotions, and category/brand selection.
• Drives pricing execution in alignment with the global pricing platform, ensuring accuracy across all locations.
• Develops leaders and associates, building a culture of coaching, engagement, and trust to drive consistent performance.
• Cultivates relationships with landlords, airport authorities, ACDBE and JV partners, and premium brand partners, supporting new bids and contract extensions.
• Maintains a clear view of regional financial and commercial performance, holding leaders accountable and positioning the region for opportunities.
• Leads regional execution of flagship airport transformations and redevelopment projects, monitoring store openings, closings, and refurbishments.
• Champions the adoption and utilization of Club Avolta and digital tools to drive customer engagement and SPP growth.
• Leverages deep knowledge of the global travel retail industry to anticipate market shifts and drive sustained growth.
• Partners with Supply Chain and Commercial teams to manage product life cycle, markdowns, and exit strategies to optimize cash flow.

What This Job Offers

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