The Role
The Head of Stores leads Athleta's retail organization, driving store performance, customer experience, and operational excellence while fostering a high-performing culture.
Summary Generated by Built In
About the RoleThe Head of Stores for Athleta leads the brand’s retail organization across North America, driving exceptional store performance, customer experience, and operational excellence. This role is pivotal in delivering on Athleta’s purpose of inspiring women and girls to build confidence, strength, and belonging through movement.
Reporting directly to the Athleta Brand President & CEO, the Head of Stores is a key member of the Athleta Leadership Team and oversees Field Leadership, Store Operations, and Visual Merchandising. This leader champions an elevated, purpose-driven store experience that brings Athleta’s mission to life—uniting performance and lifestyle through product, community, and connection.
The Head of Stores builds and inspires a high-performing field team that leads with heart, acts with agility, and performs with accountability. By cultivating a culture grounded in inclusion, empowerment, and collaboration, this leader drives profitable growth, operational excellence, and a seamless brand experience across every store.
At Athleta, how we reach our results is just as important as the results themselves. This leader models our values-based leadership behaviors, ensuring that teams operate with integrity, collaboration, and shared success.
Salary Range: $330,000 - $370,000 USD
Employee pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, experience, skill level, competencies and work location. We will meet minimum wage or minimum of the pay range (whichever is higher) based on city, county and state requirements.What You'll Do
Reporting directly to the Athleta Brand President & CEO, the Head of Stores is a key member of the Athleta Leadership Team and oversees Field Leadership, Store Operations, and Visual Merchandising. This leader champions an elevated, purpose-driven store experience that brings Athleta’s mission to life—uniting performance and lifestyle through product, community, and connection.
The Head of Stores builds and inspires a high-performing field team that leads with heart, acts with agility, and performs with accountability. By cultivating a culture grounded in inclusion, empowerment, and collaboration, this leader drives profitable growth, operational excellence, and a seamless brand experience across every store.
At Athleta, how we reach our results is just as important as the results themselves. This leader models our values-based leadership behaviors, ensuring that teams operate with integrity, collaboration, and shared success.
Salary Range: $330,000 - $370,000 USD
Employee pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, experience, skill level, competencies and work location. We will meet minimum wage or minimum of the pay range (whichever is higher) based on city, county and state requirements.What You'll Do
- Lead and evolve a customer-obsessed store strategy that fosters belonging, confidence, and connection for women and girls.
- In partnership with Head of Digital, develop and execute a multi-year strategy for omni-channel growth aligned with Athleta’s long-range brand plan.
- Lead key strategic initiatives that modernize the store and omni-channel customer journey, champion customer experience innovation, transform the retail environment and strengthen Athleta’s position as a purpose-driven performance lifestyle brand.
- Drive an integrated store strategy that aligns business priorities, operational excellence, and customer experience through influential partnership across Real Estate, Sourcing, Service, WFM, Tech, Visual Merch, etc.
- Ensure operational excellence and brand consistency across all stores, leveraging data and feedback to continuously enhance the in-store experience and exceed customer expectations.
- Develop innovative in-store experiences that inspire movement and community, creating meaningful connections that extend beyond transactions.
- Drive a high-performance culture that celebrates inclusivity, accountability, and motivates and inspires teams to deliver beyond expected results.
- Champion continuous improvement and innovation in store operations, leveraging technology, insights, and best practices to optimize performance.
- Influence product, marketing, and brand strategy to meet the needs of the customer and omni business.
- Build and sustain a strong, diverse, and inspired field organization through intentional leadership, mentorship, and succession planning.
- Collaborate across the Athleta and Gap Inc. ecosystem to ensure that the right tools, processes, and resources are in place to enable success.
- Measure and assess the impact of major initiatives, adapting as needed to deliver sustainable results.
- 15+ years of progressive field and retail leadership experience in high-performance, multi-unit environments.
- Proven ability to connect operational excellence with brand purpose and customer experience.
- Demonstrated success leading transformation and driving results in complex, fast-paced settings.
- Deep understanding of customer behaviors and passion for delivering human, holistic, and inspiring omni-channel experiences through retail.
- Experience developing diverse, high-performing teams through coaching, mentorship, and inclusive leadership.
- Strong ability to build alignment and trust across cross-functional and corporate partners.
- Openness to feedback, curiosity about new ideas, and ability to translate insights into action.
- Willingness to travel and work across varied schedules to meet the needs of a dynamic retail business.
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The Company
What We Do
In 1969, Don and Doris Fisher opened the first Gap store on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco. They wanted to make it easier to find a great pair of jeans, and they did. Their denim and records store was a hit, and it grew to become one of the world’s most iconic brands.
Today we’re represented in more than 1400 stores in over 40 countries, and online. We have headquarters in New York, London, Shanghai, Tokyo, and, of course, San Francisco.
Our unique aesthetic is optimistic cool, elevated American style. Our clothes are crafted with care, with focused attention to thoughtful design. We believe in staying true to our heritage while creating what’s next.
Don and Doris Fisher always wanted to “do more than sell clothes.” They wanted to support the people who ran their company, to be active in their communities, and to have a positive impact on the world. Their vision helped transform retail, and we’re still following their lead.
We stand for freedom and possibility for all; we champion diverse ideas that transcend generations, geographies and genders.
