Vice President of Retail in Mandan, North Dakota at Easter Seals Goodwill ND Inc

Title: Vice President of Retail

Reports to: President & CEO Effective date: 2026

FLSA status: Exempt

General summary:
The Vice President of Retail serves as the architect of Easterseals Goodwill North Dakota’s retail enterprise — responsible for delivering consistent, measurable growth across all stores, e-commerce, donation centers, warehouse, and transportation operations. This executive drives a high-performance culture built on accountability, operational discipline, and mission-driven profitability.
Acting as both strategist and operator, the VP of Retail establishes clear revenue and expense expectations monthly, quarterly, and annually — then ensures execution through data-driven management, standardized systems, and empowered local leadership. This role demands a balance of strategic foresight, retail discipline, and operational rigor, similar to leaders from top-performing big-box environments.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Financial Accountability

▪Develop and execute a multi-year retail growth strategy with measurable KPIs for revenue, expense control, and profitability.
▪Establish and manage monthly, quarterly, and annual performance targets by store and department, holding teams accountable through dashboards and performance reviews.
▪Partner with Finance to manage and forecast multi-million-dollar budgets, ensuring profitability within ±3% of target.
▪Lead quarterly business reviews (QBRs) to assess results, implement corrective actions, and ensure alignment with organizational goals.

Operational Excellence, SOP Development & Standardization

▪Create, implement, and maintain comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all areas of retail — including store operations, donations, logistics, warehouse, transportation, merchandising, and customer service.
▪Ensure all SOPs are documented, easily accessible, and consistently applied to drive efficiency, compliance, and brand consistency statewide.
▪Streamline and standardize all retail operations — including opening/closing procedures, inventory flow, point-of-sale processes, and safety protocols.
▪Oversee facilities management, camera and security systems, IT infrastructure, and asset protection programs to ensure efficient, compliant, and safe operations.
▪Implement standardized training and operational checklists tied directly to SOPs to ensure 100% compliance with company standards.
▪Launch continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost control, productivity, and store presentation.

Team Leadership, Training & Empowerment

▪Build a high-performing retail leadership team (District Managers, Store Managers, and Department Leads) that takes ownership of their results.
▪Develop and implement standardized onboarding and training programs from frontline employees through management.
▪Empower store and department leaders to understand, track, and own their KPIs — including sales, donations, expenses, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
▪Partner with HR to establish leadership development pipelines, recognition programs, and staff appreciation initiatives to strengthen engagement and retention.

Merchandising, Logistics, & Product Lifecycle Management

▪Oversee the full product lifecycle — from donation intake and processing to sales floor presentation and end-of-life recycling.
▪Optimize logistics operations for maximum efficiency in transportation, warehousing, and product turnaround time.
▪Maintain strong quality and merchandising standards that reflect brand integrity and community impact.

Customer & Mission Impact

▪Ensure consistent excellent customer experience across all stores through training, feedback loops, and performance metrics.
▪Drive mission awareness across the retail enterprise, ensuring employees and customers understand how retail success fuels community programs and employment opportunities.

Job criteria:

Education & experience
▪Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree in Business Administration, Retail Management, Finance, or related field preferred.
▪Minimum 5+ years of progressive, results-driven leadership experience in business development and retail operations, with a proven ability to lead teams, drive performance, and deliver measurable growth.
▪Training in or willingness to become training Goodwill Industries International Donation Goods Retail Model.

Knowledge, skills, & abilities

Leadership Competencies
▪Strategic Execution: Turns strategy into measurable, operational reality.
▪Operational Mastery: Deep understanding of retail operations, logistics, and facilities management.
▪SOP & Systems Thinking: Builds frameworks and documentation that ensure consistency, accountability, and scalability.
▪People Leadership: Coaches and empowers teams to take ownership of results.
▪Financial Stewardship: Expert in driving profitability through disciplined management.
▪Innovation & Improvement: Constantly refines systems and processes for efficiency.
▪Mission Alignment: Balances business performance with social impact.

Performance & KPI Expectations
The VP of Retail will be evaluated on measurable outcomes, including:

▪Category Target/KPI
▪Revenue Growth 8-12% year-over-year growth across retail portfolio
▪Expense Control Maintain within ±3% of approved annual budget
▪Store Productivity 10%+ improvement in underperforming stores within 90 days
▪Donations/Production 100% of production targets met; maintain 50%+ textile sell-through
▪Customer Experience 90%+ satisfaction rating and annual complaint reduction
▪Staff Engagement 90-day retention of new hires >85%; store-level vacancy <15%
▪Safety and Compliance 100% adherence to safety, loss prevention, and facility audits
▪Leadership Development Year-over-year increase in internal promotions and leadership training completion
▪SOP Compliance All retail locations achieving 100% adherence to documented SOPs by year-end

Working conditions
(The mental and physical demands described here 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.)

Why this Role Matters
Easterseals Goodwill North Dakota’s retail operations are the economic engine that powers our mission — helping individuals with disabilities and barriers to employment gain independence and opportunity. The Vice President of Retail will ensure that this enterprise operates with the same excellence, efficiency, and accountability as the best in the retail industry, while staying true to our mission of transforming lives through the power of work.