Director Of Retail Performance

AKIRA Director/VP of Retail Performance - Management Consulting Background

AKIRA opened its first women's clothing boutique in Chicago in 2002. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 30+ stores across the US, as well as a thriving ecommerce business. AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand. AKIRA’s culture has a distinct difference from other fast-fashion competitors: the core principle for all employees is to Act and Think Like an Owner, and this belief is reflected across all areas of the company.

The secret to AKIRA’s retail success is maintaining a strong sales and service culture. Each store has an outstanding commission-based sales team, with the Store Managers being the best salespeople in their stores. This is a rare opportunity to play a key leadership role in the ongoing success and scaling of one of the fastest growing fashion retailers in the country.

Overview:

AKIRA is looking for a Director of Retail Performance. This role will be responsible for analyzing the retail business, creating processes, and delivering specific transformational projects to increase sales, build efficiencies, support our company culture, and improve scalability. After driving some project successes and building relationships with the existing leadership teams, we expect that the right candidate can pivot into a VP of Retail position and fully oversee all aspects of the Retail operation in partnership with our Director of Stores.

The ideal candidate for this role comes from a management consulting background and possesses exceptionally strong problem solving capabilities, solid leadership skills, and out-of-the-box creativity. We are not trying to replicate existing corporate structures - we want to forge our own path that revolves around the belief that the people are the foundation of our success.

Location:

Chicago, IL

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with merchandising team to ensure the right product assortment for the retail business
• Collaborate with Talent Team and Senior Managers to attract, identify, hire, and retain top level talent; assess talent and succession plans
• Collaborate with marketing and e-commerce to deliver omnichannel experiences to our customers
• Analyze the existing retail business - this requires behind-the-spreadsheets analysis as well as a significant amount of time shadowing and interacting in stores
• Initially own several key projects for improvement in the retail arena, including: implementation of new store technology/tools, implementing updated training models, etc.
• Collaborate with other leaders across the organization to review, revamp, and reinforce processes and training
• Identify areas of improvement and build plans/processes around those ideas
• Create, implement, and enforce processes to achieve overall efficiency throughout all stores regarding sales, visuals, and operations
• Collaborate with with payroll and other departments to manage store labor and other costs
• Create cohesion with other departments across the organization, including e-Commerce, Merchandising, HR, Finance, IT, Maintenance, etc. to bring about the best outcomes for the company as a whole
• Identify key objectives to drive sales and lead in the strategy and execution of of those initiatives

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree is required, MBA or similar degree highly preferred
• Flexible schedule & ability to travel - some days will be in-office analytical days, and other days will require your strong presence in stores, in meetings, etc.
• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical abilities
• Strong understanding of retail operations highly preferred
• Experience managing overall sales processes, setting appropriate metrics for sales funnel management and establishing performance benchmarks
• Strong computer/analytical skills - expert in Excel; ability to pick up new software quickly
• A strong work ethic, willing to work in the trenches as the business demands - including peak selling hours, evenings, and weekends
• Proven understanding of the principles of leadership and management
• 3+ years of experience in a Management Consulting firm, ideally with progression in a leadership program
• The strongest verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to successfully work through cross functional relationships
• Ability to travel, work, and partner with DMs throughout all existing and future AKIRA stores

Benefits and Perks:

AKIRA offers competitive benefits for full time employees, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, FSA/HSA, 401(k), and employee discount. We are committed to encouraging internal development and providing significant career enrichment opportunities. Most importantly, what has propelled AKIRA’s growth and success over the years has been the dynamic culture within the company - if you’re filled with passion, have a strong desire to get things done, and if you want to go to a place where you know your work matters and where you can implement your ideas and decisions, then AKIRA just might be the place for you.

Job Type: Full Time, On-site