Director, Retail Operations
BrainWorks has partnered with a $2B+ multi-state retail organization with more than 500 locations and 8,000+ employees to identify a Director, Retail Operations. This highly visible role will serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, building and leading a centralized performance optimization function that translates enterprise-wide data into actionable operational insights. The Director will partner across Store Operations, Digital, Marketing, HR, and Finance to benchmark performance, identify high-impact improvement opportunities, and shape initiatives that drive operational excellence, innovation, and long-term growth. The ideal candidate brings deep retail performance expertise, strong analytical rigor, and the ability to influence executive decision-making through clear, data-backed insights.What You’ll DoBuild and lead the Performance Optimization function as a central hub for operational insightsAnalyze store and company performance to identify trends, patterns, and improvement opportunitiesBenchmark against industry best practices and leverage AI-enabled market intelligence toolsMonitor emerging retail and technology innovations, including labor optimization, predictive inventory, and personalizationDeliver clear, executive-ready insights and opportunity assessments that influence enterprise prioritiesPartner with operations and cross-functional teams to validate feasibility and ensure data integrityProvide objective, data-backed recommendations to shape high-impact initiativesBrief senior leadership regularly on findings, competitive comparisons, and forward-looking scenariosGuide and support team members conducting data analysis and opportunity explorationWhat You’ll Bring10+ years of experience in retail operations, strategy, performance improvement, or business analyticsProven ability to translate complex data into strategic insights for senior leadersExperience with benchmarking, dashboard development, and external market analysisDeep understanding of retail performance levers including pricing, promotions, labor, throughput, and customer experienceFamiliarity with AI applications and emerging retail technologiesExceptional communication skills with the ability to craft concise, executive-level narrativesBachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferredKey CompetenciesStrong analytical rigor and intellectual curiosityStrategic thinking grounded in operational realitiesInfluence and stakeholder engagement at senior levelsResults orientation with clarity and actionabilityKnowledge of evolving retail trends and technologiesAbility to guide others in data analysis, process optimization, and technology evaluationWhy JoinThis is a rare opportunity to build a new enterprise capability within a large-scale retail organization. The role offers executive visibility, cross-functional influence, and the chance to shape a performance-driven operating model that will meaningfully impact growth and competitive positioning.BrainWorks is a leading executive search firm that delivers exceptional talent to fuel your business growth. Our Industrial Practice specializes in placing top-performing candidates in mid to senior-level executive roles across companies ranging from Fortune 500 organizations to mid-sized firms in manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, and operations.Our Industrial recruiters have deep expertise and a thorough understanding of current trends and industry challenges. We excel in executive searches for roles such as CEOs, COOs, VPs, Directors, and Senior Managers.Recognized as a Top 50 Hunt Scanlon executive search firm, BrainWorks prides itself on quality, speed and results, delivered through our proven process refined over 30 years. When you partner with BrainWorks, you’ll gain trusted insights and industry expertise from consultants who are committed to your organization’s success. Visit us at brainworksinc.com.Industry 1: AutomotiveIndustry 2: RetailIndustry 3:Job ID: 42558522674Category: IndustrialLocation: Bend, OR