Job Overview:
The Director of Store Operations has full responsibility for the stores within their district, with clear ownership of people, process, and performance. This leader develops high-performing store leadership teams who create exceptional customer experiences through associates who are friendly, responsive, knowledgeable, and committed to serving both customers and the communities they support. This role ensures consistent execution of company standards, merchandising strategies, operational processes, and financial objectives while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, recognition, and continuous improvement. Through regular store visits, hands-on coaching, performance management, and strong cross-functional partnerships, the Director of Store Operations builds leadership capability, drives operational excellence, enhances customer experience, and delivers sustainable sales, profit, and operational results.
Job Responsibilities:
Core Responsibilities
- Own overall performance for assigned stores, with accountability for people leadership, customer experience, operational excellence, merchandising execution, financial performance, and compliance with company policies and applicable laws.
- Spend 80% or more of the workweek in stores coaching, developing, and supporting Store Directors and leadership teams; inspecting execution, removing barriers, and ensuring consistent achievement of company standards and business objectives.
- Build and develop high-performing teams by coaching, mentoring, succession planning, performance management, talent development, recognition, and accountability for Store Directors, Assistant Store Directors, Department Managers, and emerging leaders.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, recognition, and continuous improvement through open communication, active listening, and consistent leadership presence.
- Ensure stores consistently deliver exceptional customer experience by maintaining high standards for cleanliness, freshness, in-stock conditions, merchandising, signage, and overall store presentation while reflecting the unique needs of the local community.
- Establish clear expectations and accountability for Store Directors and leadership teams, ensuring priorities, responsibilities, execution routines, and follow-up processes are consistently understood and delivered.
- Drive disciplined execution of company operating standards, merchandising strategies, marketing initiatives, labor management, inventory controls, shrink reduction, food safety requirements, and customer service expectations.
- Analyze sales, profit and loss performance, labor, shrink, inventory, customer feedback, and operational metrics to identify trends, determine root causes, and implement action plans that improve business results.
- Hold Store Directors accountable for achieving or exceeding sales, profitability, labor, shrink, inventory, customer satisfaction, and associate engagement goals.
- Partner with Merchandising, Marketing, Human Resources, Asset Protection, Supply Chain, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to align priorities, resolve operational challenges, and support company and banner objectives.
- Monitor competitive activity, customer expectations, market trends, and community needs to identify opportunities that strengthen execution, customer loyalty, and business performance.
Additional Responsibilities
- Conduct regular store visits and operational reviews to assess customer experience, associate engagement, merchandising execution, operational standards, in-stock conditions, freshness, cleanliness, safety, and overall store performance.
- Develop, review, and monitor store action plans that address operational opportunities, financial performance, staffing, training, customer feedback, and execution priorities.
- Support new store openings, remodels, leadership transitions, and other strategic initiatives by ensuring operational readiness, leadership alignment, and excellence.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with support partners, suppliers, community organizations, and local agencies while representing the company with professionalism and integrity.
- Champion company, banner, and store-specific community engagement initiatives that strengthen customer relationships and reinforce the company's presence in the communities it serves.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements:
Education/ Certifications:
- Bachelor's degree in business preferred.
Experience:
- Five or more years of progressive retail grocery leadership experience required; Store Director, District Manager, or multi-unit operations leadership experience preferred.
Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities:
- Possess strong written, verbal, listening, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate clearly across store teams, support teams, vendors, and community partners.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through others, motivate teams, develop talent, build engagement, and create a culture of accountability, recognition, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
- Strong working knowledge of retail grocery operations, merchandising execution, labor management, shrink control, inventory management, food safety, customer service, and store financials.
- Possess analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret sales, P&L, labor, shrink, customer feedback, and operational data and translate findings into effective action plans.
- Ability to set clear direction, prioritize work, follow up consistently, and hold Store Directors and store leadership teams accountable for achieving company goals.
- Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on store engagement, influencing execution while developing leaders who can sustain results.
Work Environment:
Onsite Role:
- This position requires the associate to perform all duties at one of our UNFI locations, such as a distribution center or office.
Travel (minor):
- In-metro and out-of-metro travel is required up to 80% for this position.
Physical Environment/Demands:
Office Roles:
- Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
- Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
- Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday.
- Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by the employees assigned to this job. All employees must comply with Company policy and applicable laws. The responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified may vary within each department and/or location.
Compensation: UNFI anticipates paying the above-referenced pay rate (or within the above-referenced pay range) for this position. Actual Pay, where applicable, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements. UNFI is committed to transparency in pay in compliance with applicable state and local laws.
Benefits: For Washington positions (or positions that may be performed remotely from Washington), https://www.unfi.com/jobs-more-info-wa.html for Washington-specific paid time off details.
Candidates hired into this position will also be eligible to participate in the following benefits programs: Paid Time Off; Sick Time; paid holidays and parental leave; 401K Program; medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death/dismemberment insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance program, Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of these programs, and subject to any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements.
UNFI's compensation, benefits, and paid time off policies are subject to change in the Company's sole discretion, consistent with applicable law. This job posting should not be construed as an offer of employment with certain terms, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed minimum.
Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act .
