Vice President, Asset Protection & Safety

About The Team

The Loss Prevention & Safety department at PetSmart includes leaders and certified practitioners focused on workplace health & safety, food safety and pet health & safety compliance; as well as asset protection and investigations across stores, distribution centers, digital and corporate offices. In partnership with leaders across the business, we keep the pack safe while enabling Anything for Pets!

About The Location

Collaborative Work Environment: At PetSmart, teamwork and connection are core to how we thrive. This role is based at our Phoenix Home Office, with an expectation of working a minimum of four days in the office each week. In a standard work week, associates may work up to one remote “flex day” (with leader approval). Our hybrid approach is designed to foster strong collaboration while also supporting flexibility and individual success.

About The Job

Vice President, Asset Protection & Safety

What You’ll Do

• Lead Enterprise AP&S Strategy

  • Set and execute PetSmart’s enterprise AP&S strategy aligned with business priorities and financial objectives.
  • Identify emerging risks and use data, analytics, and field insights to prioritize resources and investments.
  • Advise executive leadership on significant AP&S risks, incidents, trends, and opportunities.
  • Ensure programs effectively mitigate risk while remaining practical and scalable for the business.

• Lead Field Asset Protection & Safety

  • Set AP&S strategy and expectations across PetSmart’s store network.
  • Maintain strong connectivity to stores and field leaders to understand operational realities and emerging risks.
  • Ensure policies, programs, and tools support effective store execution and positive associate, customer, and pet experiences.
  • Partner with Store Operations to reduce losses and improve business performance.

• Protect Associates, Customers & Pets

  • Lead enterprise safety strategies focused on reducing workplace injuries, customer incidents, and critical risks.
  • Provide oversight for workplace violence prevention, threats, critical incidents, and emergency response.
  • Lead Pet Health & Safety strategy and oversight, including pet safety investigations, risk identification, and corrective actions.
  • Partners across Operations, Services, Legal, Human Resources, and Risk to address systemic issues and strengthen standards.

• Reduce Loss & Protect the Business

  • Lead strategies to reduce retail loss, theft, organized retail crime, fraud, and operational loss.
  • Oversee internal and external investigations, eCommerce fraud, and enterprise physical security.
  • Use analytics, technology, and field intelligence to identify risks and improve program effectiveness.
  • Build strong partnerships with law enforcement, industry organizations, and external partners.
  • Drive Compliance & Enterprise Risk Reduction
  • Lead governance for safety, regulatory compliance, DC AP&S support, and applicable food safety responsibilities.
  • Partner cross-functionally to identify trends, address root causes, and strengthen enterprise risk controls.

  • Build a High-Performing Organization

    • Lead and develop a geographically dispersed AP&S organization.
    • Establish clear priorities, accountability, and succession plans.
    • Build strong senior leadership capability and an AP&S organization viewed as a trusted business partner.

  What You’ll Bring

  • 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within a large, multi-unit retail organization.
  • Deep retail and store operations experience is essential, with firsthand understanding of how enterprise decisions affect field execution.
  • Significant leadership experience across Asset Protection, Loss Prevention, Safety, Investigations, Security, Store Operations, Enterprise Risk, corporate office security, or related functions.
  • Proven success by reducing loss, improving safety, mitigating risk, and driving business performance.
  • Knowledge of investigations, fraud, organized retail crime, physical security, workplace safety, and regulatory compliance.
  • Proven ability to influence executive leadership and cross-functional partners.
  • Experience leading senior leaders and large, geographically dispersed teams.
  • Ability and willingness to travel regularly to PetSmart stores, distribution centers, and other company locations.

  Additional Job Considerations

  • This role requires collaboration, teamwork, and face-to-face interaction with colleagues, leaders, and/or clients.
  • Being in the office ensures access to leaders, cross-functional partners, and resources necessary to make timely decisions and drive results.
  • On-site presence in accordance with our FlexSmart policy supports our culture of innovation, mentorship, and engagement, which is integral to our success in developing the best team.

  About The Culture

  PetSmart provides an equal opportunity for all associates and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.