Director of Retail Operations

Job Summary

The Director of Retail Operations leads all operational, financial, and strategic aspects of our four science and ocean-themed gift stores. This leadership role is responsible for building a unified retail strategy, mentoring a team of store managers and associates, and ensuring consistent delivery of exceptional guestexperiences. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Retail, this individual will elevate operational systems, optimize inventory flow, align merchandising with seasonal and mission-based themes, and drive top-line growth while stewarding the organization’s values and customer promise. The ideal candidate brings extensive multi-unit retail leadership experience, is data- and detail-driven, and thrives in a hands-on, collaborative environment.

Core Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Oversee the daily operations of all four retail locations to ensure consistency, efficiency, and


• Develop and implement standardized policies and procedures, including opening/closing routines, visualmerchandising guidelines, and guest service


• Conduct regular site visits to evaluate store performance, staff engagement, and brand
  


• Implement systems to enhance workflow, communication, and in-store

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead, coach, and support a team of store managers and full-/part-time associates across multiple locations.


• Set performance expectations and hold team members accountable through regular reviews and


• Foster a high-performance culture centered around guest satisfaction, conservation, education, and operational excellence.


• Identify staffing needs and support recruitment, training, and retention

Sales Growth & Guest Experience

• In collaboration with the VP of Retail, analyze sales performance by


• Develop and execute sales-driving initiatives, product launches, and promotional


• Champion a guest-centric approach to retail, ensuring team members consistently deliver friendly, informed, and inspiring service.


• Working with merchandiser, monitors and adjusts visual merchandising to reflect brand storytelling, seasonality, and mission-based themes.

Inventory Management & Merchandising

• Partner with the buying team to ensure accurate inventory forecasting and efficient


• Oversee inventory controls including receiving, transfers, stock accuracy, and annual physical


• Lead seasonal planning and execution for displays, signage, and featured merchandise across all

Strategic Planning & Financial Oversight

• Assist with annual budget creation and manage store-level financials, payroll, and cost control


• Track KPIs across all locations to inform decisions and identify opportunities for


• Support the VP of Retail with long-term planning around store expansion, technology upgrades, and brand evolution.


• Coordinate special projects, including new store openings, pop-ups, and partnership

Required Qualifications

• 5–8+ years of progressive experience in retail leadership, including oversight of multiple store locations.


• Proven ability to lead and motivate diverse retail teams while achieving operational


• Strong analytical skills and a data-driven mindset for evaluating sales, trends, and store


• Proficiency in retail tools and systems (POS, scheduling software, inventory management).


• Outstanding interpersonal, written, and verbal communication


• Highly organized with a proactive, solutions-oriented


• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel regularly between store

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in museum, science center, aquarium, or conservation-based retail


• Background in visual merchandising, product presentation, or brand


• Deep passion for marine life, sustainability, and education-based retail

Physical Demands + Work Environment

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The successful candidate must be comfortable working in a dynamic and physically active environment, including indoor and outdoor settings. The employee is regularly required to:

• Sit, stand, walk, reach, talk, and hear


• Frequently climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl


• Lift and/or move up to 30 pounds


• Have specific vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depthperception, and ability to adjust focus

Additional Information

This is a salaried, exempt position. Hours will vary depending on retail demands and scheduled events. The successful candidate may be required to perform tasks beyond the scope of this job description as requested by leadership. All new team members undergo a 3-month introductory evaluation, with annual performance reviews thereafter. This recruitment may also be used to fill future openings.

About Us

Founded in 1983, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a leading cultural and environmental attraction in SouthFlorida, open to the public free of charge. The Center is a global leader in sea turtle rehabilitation,research, and ocean conservation education. Annually, LMC reaches more than 900,000 guests withtransformational STEM education programs and partners with nearly 200 organizations in over 16countries. In 2022, the Center opened its expanded27,500-square-foot facility, increasing its capacity forexhibits, learning, and conservation.