Retail Director

Job duties vary for retail directors based on the retail business they’re in and the number of stores they oversee.

These core responsibilities, however, are essentially the same in all retail environments:

Manage Employees

• Retail directors recruit, interview, and train employees to work in retail stores.
• They’re also responsible for managing and terminating employees when necessary.
• This duty includes providing regular employee evaluations, promotions, and wage increases for those who excel at their jobs.

Analyze Sales Reports and Strategies

• Retail directors analyze daily sales reports to note which items are selling well and which are not, in addition to discerning profit margins for each item.
• They also design marketing and sales strategies and present them to upper management.
• This includes designing and setting up in-store sales displays.

Monitor Staff Operations

• Retail directors manage employee payroll and coordinate staff work schedules to ensure all shifts are covered.
• They also monitor employee occupational health, turnover, and job satisfaction.
• When problems are noted, retail directors speak with employees to find out how to help them become more satisfied with their jobs.

Manage Inventory

• Retail directors are responsible for maintaining inventory areas and ordering new items as needed.
• This includes creating regular inventory reports and writing purchase plans for upcoming seasons to make suggestions about items that should be stocked in stores.

Open and Close Stores

• Retail directors are responsible for store openings and closings, either by following opening and closing procedures themselves or assigning a team member to manage these tasks.

Communicate with Sales Department

• Retail directors regularly communicate with regional sales managers and district sales managers regarding sales reports, marketing campaigns, and day-to-day store operations.