Executive Director of Retail Operations - Seattle Tacoma International Airport

Purpose: The Executive Director of Retail Operations at Seattle Tacoma International Airport leads complex, multi-concept retail operations generating $100M+ in annual revenue within a single airport location. This role owns enterprise-level sales growth, profitability, and operational excellence through strategic leadership, disciplined execution, and high employee engagement. The Executive Director manages diverse retail concepts of varying sizes and complexity while ensuring exceptional customer experience and fostering strong relationships with landlords, unions, ACDBE/DBE partners, and brand stakeholders. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Provide strategic leadership for large-scale, multi-concept retail operations with full P&L accountability exceeding $100M. 

• Partner with SVP/VP of Retail Operations to set revenue, expense, and profit goals; analyze KPIs and implement corrective actions to achieve financial targets. 

• Lead enterprise-level business reviews and operational meetings covering sales, category performance, promotions, and HR initiatives. 

• Make executive-level decisions on hiring, succession planning, and talent development; build diverse, high-performing leadership teams. 

• Ensure consistent execution of operational standards, opening/closing procedures, and compliance across all concepts; collaborate with ACDBE partners on reporting and certification. 

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with landlords, brand partners, and DBE stakeholders; negotiate and resolve complex issues. 

• Champion employee engagement, recognition, and inclusion programs; coach senior leaders to drive culture and retention. 

• Collaborate with Finance, Supply Chain, and Marketing to optimize assortments, inventory turns, and promotional strategies. 

• Oversee vendor management, receiving processes, and supply chain issue resolution; ensure leadership proficiency in enterprise systems (MIV, CrunchTime, Kronos/UKG). 

• Drive execution of planograms, visual merchandising, and product placement strategies across multiple concepts. 

• Resolve escalated customer and associate issues; lead change management and technology adoption initiatives. 

• Monitor market trends, competitive landscape, and consumer behavior to inform strategic decisions; ensure compliance with category management and space optimization principles. 

• Uphold union agreements (CBAs), lease obligations, and regulatory requirements; maintain audit readiness and operational compliance. 

Qualifications 

Education & Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (preferred; counts for 3 of the 12-year requirement). 

• Minimum 12 years of progressive retail operations experience, including 7+ years in senior multi-unit leadership roles. 

• Proven success managing $100M+ revenue portfolios and leading large, diverse teams across multiple retail concepts. 

Technical Skills 

• Advanced financial acumen with expertise in enterprise-level P&L management, forecasting, and KPI analysis. 

• Proficiency in retail and workforce systems: MIV, CrunchTime, Kronos/UKG (or similar). 

• Expertise in inventory control, demand planning, and vendor management across multiple concepts. 

• Strong knowledge of category management, planogram execution, and visual merchandising standards. 

• Advanced proficiency in MS Excel and BI tools for data-driven decision-making. 

• Familiarity with union environments, CBAs, lease agreements, and ACDBE/DBE compliance requirements. 

Competencies 

• Enterprise Leadership: Sets vision and drives execution across large-scale, multi-concept operations. 

• Strategic & Financial Acumen: Interprets complex P&L statements and KPIs to deliver sustainable growth. 

• Operational Excellence: Builds process discipline and continuous improvement culture across diverse concepts. 

• Stakeholder Influence: Engages landlords, brands, unions, and ACDBE partners with credibility and solutions orientation. 

• People & Culture Leadership: Develops senior leaders, drives engagement, and fosters inclusive environments. 

• Decision Quality: Solves complex challenges with data-driven, strategic judgment. 

• Executive Communication: Influences at all levels; simplifies complexity for alignment and execution. 

• Change Leadership: Champions technology adoption and process innovation to enhance efficiency and customer experience. 

Schedule & Reporting 

• Reports directly to the Senior Vice President/Vice President of Retail Operations. 

• Works a varied, rotating schedule, including early mornings, peak periods, and closing shifts to ensure operational oversight. 

• Weekend and holiday availability required based on business needs. 

• Regular on-site presence across multiple concept locations to maintain standards and engage leadership teams.