Vice President Retail Operations

Advantage Sales & Marketing dba Advantage Solutions•Chicago, IL

2d•Remote

About The Position

The Vice President, Retail Operations leads the development, coordination, management, oversight, and evaluation of the organization’s retail services business. As a member of the leadership team, the Vice President participates in strategic planning, performance management, budgeting and forecasting, operational excellence initiatives, and organizational development. The role oversees Operations, Sales, and Finance functions within the business unit, with responsibility for exceptional client service and retailer partnerships. It establishes and maintains relationships with retailers and clients, focusing on measurable business results and strong program execution. The Vice President supports organizational growth by identifying external services Retail Operations can offer, pursuing new opportunities, aligning resources, and fostering communication with supported business units. The role oversees P&L performance and business unit resources to meet EBITDA objectives, leads process-efficiency efforts, and manages budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance initiatives. The role recruits, develops, retains, and engages talent; builds high-performing teams; assesses team strengths and development needs; and carries out performance management, including development plans, coaching, feedback, performance improvement plans, and succession planning. Direct reports are hired, trained, coached, guided, directed, and developed; the role may also delegate work and mentor indirect reports. Travel and driving are essential functions, with travel up to 50% of the time. Work is performed primarily in an office environment and may require extended periods of sitting, telephone use, computer data entry, and lifting up to 10 pounds.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
At least 8 years of experience in sales, consumer packaged goods, food brokerage, merchandising, retail operations, or a related industry.
At least 8 years of successful experience managing P&L, budgeting and forecasting, client relationships and expectations, and cross-functional business teams.
Ability to develop and execute strategic business growth plans.
Strong strategic thinking, planning, organizational, prioritization, and project management skills.
Demonstrated leadership and people-development capabilities, including directing, coaching, mentoring, influencing, delegating, training, and evaluating teams.
Strong analytical, research, and data-driven decision-making skills.
Excellent customer service orientation and interpersonal and relationship-building skills with retailers, suppliers, clients, and business partners.
Strong understanding of merchandising, retail, and consumer packaged goods industries.
Well-organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing business needs and priorities.
Ability to travel and drive as essential functions of the position, with travel up to 50% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or MBA, or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

Identify services Retail Operations can provide externally and develop strategies to pursue those opportunities.
Ensure training and development programs support efficient, compliant operations and align leaders around organizational objectives.
Direct teams in securing organizational resources and support for business initiatives.
Foster open, regular communication with supported business units to assess needs and adjust resources.
Oversee P&L performance and business unit resources to achieve EBITDA objectives.
Lead the identification and implementation of operational and process efficiencies.
Align resources with business growth objectives and coordinate with senior leadership to achieve financial goals.
Manage budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance initiatives.
Recruit, develop, retain, and engage talent using company-wide processes, tools, and resources.
Build high-performing teams with complementary skill sets and assess team strengths and development opportunities.
Coach employees and manage performance, including development discussions, Individual Development Plans, ongoing feedback, Performance Improvement Plans, and succession planning.
Promote accountability, engagement, and a pay-for-performance culture.
Hire, retain, train, coach, guide, direct, and develop direct reports.
Delegate work and provide guidance, direction, mentorship, and coaching to indirect reports.
Maintain strong relationships with retailers and clients and deliver measurable business results and effective program execution.
Travel and drive as required, including travel up to 50% of the time.