Vice President of Retail Operations - Canada (Duty-Free)

Opportunity, growth, and meaningful rewards! We offer: 

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Generous paid time off (vacation, flex or sick)
• Holiday pay
• RRSP Retirement Savings Plan
• Company paid life insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee discounts across all company brands
• Employee assistance program
• Training and exciting career growth opportunities
• Referral program – refer a friend and earn a bonus
• *Benefits may vary by position so ask your recruiter for details. 

Competitive Pay Range: $211,300.00 to $281,700.00

Purpose:

The VP of Retail Operations – Canada Duty Free is responsible for is responsible for developing, adopting, and translating the strategic vision of Avolta Destination 2027, in alignment with the Executive Vice President of Duty Free Retail Operations, into regional execution by developing and implementing commercial and operational plans that drive sales, spend per passenger growth, gross margin expansion, EBITDA performance, net working capital for cash flow optimization, and consistent operational and brand standards across their assigned geography. Operating within a luxury travel environment serving sophisticated global travelers, this role achieves results through an operations leadership team, premium brand and landlord partnerships, and a sustained focus on an elevated team of associates and customer experience.

Essential Functions:

• Owns the full scope of Canada’s Duty Free retail operations across all airports; accountable for the performance, commercial and standards, and results of all locations and the leaders responsible for them while ensuring full adoption and consistent execution of Avolta’s global operating model across the region
• Oversees regional P&L and NWC performance, holding Duty Free leaders accountable for location-level financial KPIs and results; leverages Avolta Insights trends and other business intelligence to analyze trends, identify risks and opportunities, and partner with location and cross-functional leaders to develop and execute success plans that deliver sales, SPP, gross margin expansion, NWC, and EBITDA growth through productivity, cost discipline, as well as commercial, marketing, and digital execution
• Leads with a business owner mindset across all operational, financial, and people decisions; fosters a diverse, inclusive, high performing team spanning multiple layers of location leadership with a focus on people development, growth, and operational excellence
• Partners with global and regional commercial platforms to implement the commercial plan within the region including SPP acceleration, promotions, category and brand selection, and in-store execution; leverages passenger behavior and category dynamics to optimize assortment, drive basket size, and improve margin performance
• Drives pricing execution in alignment with the global pricing platform; ensures Duty Free prices are accurately implemented and validated across all locations
• Actively develops the knowledge and capabilities of leaders and associates at every level while building a culture of coaching, engagement, and trust that drives consistent performance across the region
• Cultivates and sustains high value relationships with landlords, airport authorities, ACDBE and JV partners, and premium brand partners; in coordination with Finance, partners with both global and regional Commercial, Digital, Marketing, and Business Development teams to support new bids, contract extensions, and redevelopments that strengthen the company’s commercial position in the region
• Maintains a clear and current view of regional financial and commercial performance; holds leaders accountable to results, coaches for improvement, and positions the region to capitalize on opportunities as they emerge
• Leads the regional execution of flagship airport transformations and redevelopment projects in collaboration with Design & Construction and Category teams; monitors store openings, closings, and refurbishments, ensuring projects are delivered on time and aligned to brand standards
• Champions the adoption and full utilization of Club Avolta and digital tools; drives customer engagement, loyalty, and SPP growth through data-informed decision making and commercial innovation
• Leverages deep knowledge of the global travel retail industry – including Duty Free, luxury consumer goods, and the international travel – to anticipate market shifts, protect the company’s competitive position, and drive sustained growth for Avolta’s Duty Free business
• Partners with Supply Chain and Commercial teams to manage product life cycle, seasonal markdowns, and exit strategies that optimize cash flow and NWC

Reporting Relationship:  The Vice President of Retail Operations – Duty Free  reports to the Executive Vice President of Retail Operations – Duty Free

Major Interdependencies: Commercial and Category Management, Business Development, Design & Construction, Master Data, Digital, Marketing & Communications, Supply Chain, Finance, Operations Performance, Operations Services, People & Culture, Legal, IT/POS, Pricing, PMO

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment:

Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 12 years:

• In a leadership role: Requires 7 years of experience leading a senior level operations team engaged in developing and executing retail operations programs
• In a technical role: Requires 12 years of experience engaged in developing and delivering retail operations programs, including direct accountability for multi-unit or regional P&L performance
• A bachelor’s degree in a program related to the functional area can count for 2 of the twelve-year requirement
• An MBA or a master’s level degree in a program related to the functional area can count for an additional 2 years of the twelve-year requirement

Industry experience: 5+ years of travel retail Duty Free experience in a multi-brand luxury environment serving an international, culturally diverse clientele with elevated service expectations

Specialized Training:

• 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, including beauty, liquor, tobacco, confectionery, and luxury specialty goods, with knowledge of licensing, labeling, route-to-market, and applicable federal and state requirements.
• Understanding of ACDBE regulatory requirements and obligations

Specialized Skills, Competencies & Traits:

• Strong financial acumen with proven ownership of regional P&L performance, including budget development, variance analysis, expense optimization, KPI management, and disciplined resource allocation
• Exceptional communicator with the ability to translate regional realities, risks, and opportunities into clear executive-level insights, while cascading strategy, expectations, and standards to drive store-level execution and behavioral change
• Proven ability to lead and hold accountable a retail operations organization, including area, boutique, and store-level leadership, while ensuring operational standards, performance expectations, and timely resolution of gaps
• Deep knowledge of the global retail and Duty Free industry, including luxury consumer goods, premium brand management, and the expectations of sophisticated international travelers; able to ensure compliance and consistency across brand standards
• Strong track record managing high-visibility relationships with public and private stakeholders, including city councils, airport authorities, developers, landlords, DBEs, unions, and joint venture partners
• Advanced business acumen and strategic mindset, with the ability to assess the long-term impact of operational decisions and support organizational goals
• Demonstrated ability to balance the needs of the business, complex stakeholders, employee populations, and individual circumstances
• Proven success creating positive work environments through coaching, development, and team leadership

Location & Travel

• Must reside within close proximity to Toronto, Canada to minimize travel time, distance, and expense
• Ability to travel up to 70%

Avolta, including Dufry, HMSHost Corporation, Hudson, and affiliates (“the Company”), is an equal opportunity employer. It is the Company’s policy to ensure equal employment opportunity in all aspects of employment and to comply with anti-discrimination laws and regulations. The Company prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and provides equal opportunities to applicants and team members without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, age, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions and lactation), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, national origin, disability, military service and veteran status, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances (referred to as “protected characteristics”).