District Director of Store Operations - Retail
About the role
The Director of Store Operations oversees the stores within their district, focusing on people leadership, customer experience, operational excellence, merchandising execution, financial performance, and compliance with company policies and laws.
Responsibilities
Own overall performance for assigned stores, with accountability for people leadership, customer experience, operational excellence, merchandising execution, financial performance, and compliance with company policies and applicable laws.
Spend 80% or more of the workweek in stores coaching, developing, and supporting Store Directors and leadership teams; inspecting execution, removing barriers, and ensuring consistent achievement of company standards and business objectives.
Build and develop high-performing teams by coaching, mentoring, succession planning, performance management, talent development, recognition, and accountability for Store Directors, Assistant Store Directors, Department Managers, and emerging leaders.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, recognition, and continuous improvement through open communication, active listening, and consistent leadership presence.
Ensure stores consistently deliver exceptional customer experience by maintaining high standards for cleanliness, freshness, in-stock conditions, merchandising, signage, and overall store presentation while reflecting the unique needs of the local community.
Establish clear expectations and accountability for Store Directors and leadership teams, ensuring priorities, responsibilities, execution routines, and follow-up processes are consistently understood and delivered.
Drive disciplined execution of company operating standards, merchandising strategies, marketing initiatives, labor management, inventory controls, shrink reduction, food safety requirements, and customer service expectations.
Analyze sales, profit and loss performance, labor, shrink, inventory, customer feedback, and operational metrics to identify trends, determine root causes, and implement action plans that improve business results.
Hold Store Directors accountable for achieving or exceeding sales, profitability, labor, shrink, inventory, customer satisfaction, and associate engagement goals.
Partner with Merchandising, Marketing, Human Resources, Asset Protection, Supply Chain, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to align priorities, resolve operational challenges, and support company and banner objectives.
Monitor competitive activity, customer expectations, market trends, and community needs to identify opportunities that strengthen execution, customer loyalty, and business performance.
Requirements
Education/ Certifications: Bachelor's degree in business preferred.
Experience: Five or more years of progressive retail grocery leadership experience required; Store Director, District Manager, or multi-unit operations leadership experience preferred.
Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities: Possess strong written, verbal, listening, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate clearly across store teams, support teams, vendors, and community partners.
Demonstrated ability to lead through others, motivate teams, develop talent, build engagement, and create a culture of accountability, recognition, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Strong working knowledge of retail grocery operations, merchandising execution, labor management, shrink control, inventory management, food safety, customer service, and store financials.
Possess analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret sales, P&L, labor, shrink, customer feedback, and operational data and translate findings into effective action plans.
Ability to set clear direction, prioritize work, follow up consistently, and hold Store Directors and store leadership teams accountable for achieving company goals.
Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on store engagement, influencing execution while developing leaders who can sustain results.