Retail Store Operations Director jobs in the United States

About Us:

WH Smith is a leading global travel retailer with over 1,700 stores across 30 countries worldwide. WHSmith North America, incorporating Marshall Retail Group (MRG) and InMotion, represents over half of the Company’s international store estate, with a collection of attractive, successful specialty retail stores located in airports and resorts across North America.

Marshall Retail Group prides itself on creating unique experiences for customers by developing distinctive retail store concepts that feature and highlight the local culture, community, and lifestyle of the cities in which they are located. InMotion Entertainment Group is the largest airport-based electronics retailer in travel locations globally, with access and insight into the latest technologies for business and leisure travelers, InMotion offers lifestyle products and electronics that include a wide breadth of headphones, mobile power, Bluetooth speakers and travel accessories.

Job Summary: The Director of Store Operations& Initiatives  is responsible for designing and implementing best practices, strategic initiatives, and identifying opportunities for savings and efficiencies through data- driven decisions and analytical problem solving.  The role will initiate, lead and guide WHSmith’s operations projects and planning; and be responsible for leading roll-outs during implementation to the field.

• Identify, drive creation and direct the implementation of Prototype and Process Improvements including quality initiatives, process change initiatives and other Lean initiatives to enable the field to meet and exceed business plan. Lead large-scope projects with regional and national impact.
• Build and execute productivity plans through forecast reviews, determining productivity requirements, and trend analytics.
• Identify and implement both industry and WHSmith’s best practices to improve chain business practices, efficiency, and execution.
• Direct the implementation of projects that optimize profitability and productivity for stores. Formulate implementations to address new and emerging business opportunities.

• Collaborate, secure support, and implement cross-functional programs to meet business objectives from all pyramids:  Allocation, Distribution, Merchandising, Visual, HR, Operations, Store Planning, Safety & Risk, and Finance.
• Regularly visit stores and field partners to evaluate systems and identify opportunities for expense savings and process improvements.
• Train the stores team on process and policies; build consistencies across the field.
• Assist with the process of new store openings, relocations, and closures.
• Provide vision, direction and support to field teams during roll-outs. Build training materials to facilitate understanding of store systems.
• Ensure linkage between strategy and operational Best practices.
• Supervise changes to current operations programs through communication; develop training programs and create procedures, guides, forms, and reports to address the operational needs of the field.
• Analyze and assure quality of data collection.
• Streamline processes through analyzing strategy, uncovering obstacles and creating solutions that yield results.
• Analyze and communicate high level cost/benefit for targeted initiatives.
• Interfaces with all levels of management and is responsible for building consensus around all changes, issues, and rollout plans. Works with senior management to ensure store execution is driven through operational initiatives.
• Manages implementation of policies, procedures and rollouts in partnership with other departments. Responsible for identifying impact, piloting, measuring, communicating, and developing training materials and collateral as needed.