Associate Director of Store Operations

Description

JOB SUMMARY:

The Associate Director of Store Operations (ADSO) leads multi-site  thrift store operations with full accountability for sales growth, financial  performance, labor efficiency, operational compliance, merchandising execution, and management development to ensure sustainable retail growth while advancing the organization’s mission to serve neighbors in need. The ADSO ensures consistent retail standards, operational efficiency, and disciplined performance management across all locations. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:          

Store & Operations Leadership

• Support the efficiency, effectiveness, and financial performance of all thrift store operations to achieve sales, margin, and productivity goals.
• Implement operational procedures and retail best practices to drive sales, productivity, and customer service.
• Own and drive store performance metrics (sales, labor, inventory turn, shrink, and expenses).  
• Partner with store leadership to identify root causes of underperformance and implement structured action plans to achieve measurable improvement.     
• Conduct regular site visits and floor presence to coach management teams and address operational challenges in real time.
• Oversee compliance with all organizational policies, safety standards, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Champion safe, organized, and customer-ready sales floors, backrooms, and production spaces.

Personnel & Team Management

• Supervise managers and leaders of retail operations.
• Hire, train, coach, and motivate managerial staff to maintain profitable, service-oriented operations.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback and development to management staff. Set clear expectations and hold leaders accountable for results through performance reviews and coaching.
• Address employee relations issues, including disciplinary actions, in partnership with leadership and Human Resources (HR)
• Develop and retain highly skilled retail management staff through strategic recruitment, hiring, training, coaching, and mentoring to cultivate strong store leadership that delivers exceptional customer service, maximizes sales, and achieves profitable, sales-driven retail operations.
• Manage employee relations and disciplinary matters in accordance with employment laws and organizational policies
• Set challenging and realistic goals for program success and personal professional growth. Demonstrate accountability and responsibility for achieving goals and results. 

Merchandising & Sales

• Oversee store donation intake, processing, pricing, and merchandising of donated goods to help maximize sell-through and revenue.
• Assist the Senior Director of Retail Operations (SDRO) in managing the distribution and allocation of merchandise across store locations.
• Maintain high standards for store appearance, safety, merchandising, and customer/donor experience.
• Collaborate on marketing and promotional efforts to support store traffic and revenue growth.

Strategic & Organizational Support

• Assist with policy development, ongoing/continuous planning, and operational improvements.
• Monitor key performance indicators and operational metrics to guide decision-making.
• Represent Retail Operations at leadership, committee, board, and regional meetings as assigned.
• Mentor supervisors and support succession planning and leadership development.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Financial & Administrative

• Collaborate with SDRO and Accounting to ensure accurate handling of store income, reporting, and reconciliation.
• Assist in developing and managing the annual Retail Operations budget, capital plans and special projects.
• Accurately monitor and document operational processes, inventory, and distribution metrics at a store level.

Facilities Maintenance

• Assist in oversight of maintenance of buildings, equipment, and operational assets.
• Coordinate vendors, contractors, and trucking logistics to ensure efficient operations at locations assigned and assist with other retail operation efficiencies.
• Identify repair, improvement, and capital project needs.
• Manage the safety plans for the six traditional merchandised thrift stores.
• Report facility issues and coordinate repairs with the appropriate personnel. 
• Conduct regular safety audits and ensure corrective action plans are implemented in compliance with OSHA standards and internal safety policies, and ensure compliance with state/local building, fire, and safety codes.     

Mission & Community Impact

• Integrate the Society of St. Vincent de Paul mission into daily store operations.
• Prioritize the distribution of goods through voucher and assistance programs for neighbors in need.
• Support equity, inclusion, and cultural competency goals across all SVdP operations. 
• Represent SVdP in the community by maintaining professional conduct and modeling organizational values.
• Adhere to the Safeguarding Policy by ensuring timely completion of mandatory training, staying updated on relevant training modules, and undergoing the necessary background checks to maintain compliance.
• Ensure compassionate, respectful service to customers, donors, volunteers, and clients.
• Participate in an atmosphere of teamwork and collaboration, listening, fostering dialogue, and facilitating joint problem-solving while supporting an inclusive and equitable organization.
• Actively contributes to a more equitable and inclusive organization.
• Build authentic relationships across lines of difference, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, ability, gender identity, citizenship status, or other identities.

Technology & Systems

• Assist with oversight of POS systems, telecommunications, ISP services, and managed IT vendors.
• Support the implementation of operational technology improvements.

Staff Development & Collaboration

• Mentor supervisory staff and support workforce planning.
• Assist with compensation recommendations and employee development initiatives.
• Partner with internal departments to ensure operational alignment.
• Play an integral role in fostering a culture of equity and inclusion within the organization.
• Responsible for completing other duties/responsibilities as assigned by the SDRO or Executive Director.

Leadership Representation

• Attend Diocesan, Regional, and National meetings as needed.
• Represent Retail Operations at staff, committee, and board meetings as a representative or backup for the SDRO in their absence.

Daily assignments will rotate based on staffing and operational needs. An individual in this position must successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS & KEYS TO SUCCESS:

This position requires frequent communication and assistance among numerous departments. Therefore, this individual must have:

• Minimum of 5 years’ progressive supervisory or management experience and 2 years’ retail management experience with multi-site or high-volume operations preferred.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations and demonstrate critical thinking skills for decision-making. 
• Ability to work varied shifts (including early morning, late evening, weekends).
• Capable of making accurate judgments of acceptable items for resale-based donation acceptance list, quality control information received during training or current needs of the stores
• Ability to use quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate program success, goal progress, member engagement, community needs or other related areas.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences, both publicly and privately.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate and effectively interact with people across cultures, ranges of ability, ethnicities, and races. 
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building skills.
• Knowledge of merchandising, inventory control, and retail financial metrics.
• Experience managing budgets and analyzing business performance data. 
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Keep SDRO and other managers informed of safety concerns, problems, supplies needed, and whatever is essential to the smooth running and safety of the organization's retail operations.
• Perform additional duties consistent with the scope and level of the position as assigned.
• Demonstrated success working in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Continual learner, willing to seek additional opportunities to gain experience, knowledge and skills. Must be able to fulfill job duties/responsibilities with minimal direction.
• Proven analytics skills, including research and evaluation.
• Ability to understand trends in data, visualize their impact, and assist Directors and other leaders in using data to support growth and improve processes and/or performance
• This position requires the ability to perform mathematical calculations necessary to manage a retail operation, prioritize and execute responsibilities, and the critical thinking skills necessary for good decision-making.  In addition, this position requires familiarity with basic computer skills. 
• Strong proficiency of Windows operating system, Microsoft Office Suite and Google applications required. 
• Must manage deadlines well, planning and fulfilling responsibilities with minimal direction, prioritizing daily and immediate tasks.
• Demonstrate the implementation of best practices as required by the SVdP Safeguarding policy when interacting with children and vulnerable adults.
• For the safety of the clients SVdP serves and as per the Safeguarding Policy, this position requires successfully completing a criminal background check.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

The mental and physical requirements described here represent those that an individual must meet to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. While performing the duties of this job:

• Must have the ability to maintain professional, patient and courteous interactions with a diverse base of customers, donors, clients and other SVdP staff.
• This position requires the ability to effectively communicate a wide variety of information to employees, customers, and clients. Good listening, verbal and written skills are required.
• Must have the ability to work with a culturally and socially diverse population as represented by the employees, customers, and clients of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
• Must frequently stand, walk, talk and hear, use hands to handle or touch products, tools, or controls. 
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance and up to 75 pounds with assistance from equipment or another person. 
• Ability to twist, turn, crouch, stoop, and squat repeatedly throughout the workday.
• Ability to sit for long periods of time 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. 
• Must be able to follow instructions and work autonomously on assigned job duties
• Must be able to work assigned shifts consistently and reliably
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation and must meet insurability requirements under the organization's policy. 

The working environment may contain dust, debris, or allergens commonly associated with pre-owned clothing, furniture, and household goods. Certain areas of the facilities are only partially climate-controlled.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The District Council of Madison, Inc., Society of St. Vincent de Paul does not and shall not discriminate in our employment, services and volunteerism on the basis of age, race, color, disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, arrest record, conviction record, military service, or use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer’s premises during nonworking hours, or any characteristic protected by applicable local, state and federal law. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, and vendors. Although the District Council of Madison, Inc., Society of St. Vincent de Paul does not generally consider religion in either hiring or the services it provides, because we are a Catholic charity, requiring liaison with the Catholic Church and its members, certain positions involving such liaisons are reserved for members of the Catholic Church. The District Council of Madison, Inc., Society of St. Vincent de Paul reserves the right to consider whether the conduct reflected in a criminal conviction demonstrates an incompatibility with the responsibilities of the specific job for which an applicant is applying.

FULL-TIME JOB BENEFITS

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Employer paid long-term disability and term life insurance
• Voluntary short-term disability and life insurance coverage available
• Employee 403(b) retirement savings plan and an employer-sponsored SEP-IRA
• Employee assistance program
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and paid sick time off

EQUITY

St. Vincent de Paul has a vision for a deeply inclusive environment for our membership, staff, and volunteers. To foster a culture of belonging while providing equitable service delivery above and beyond Equal Opportunity requirements, SVdP candidates must be committed to cultural competency growth and work within diverse teams. SVdP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SCHEDULE: 

45 hrs./wk. Flex schedule, based on departments and business needs