Director of Retail Operations [The Broad]

JOB TITLE Director of Retail Operations
REPORTS TO Deputy Director
CLASSIFICATION Full-time, exempt
DATE AVAILABLE Immediately
DATE POSTED January 14, 2015
BACKGROUND
In 2010, Eli and Edythe Broad announced plans to open The Broad, a new, public museum of contemporary art on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles (opening fall 2015). Designed by world-renowned architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the museum will be a 120,000 square foot, three-level facility, and will include approximately 50,000 square feet of gallery space on two floors, a lecture hall for up to 200 people, and a public lobby with display space and a museum shop. The project will include a state-of-the-art archive, study and art storage space that will be available to scholars and curators who want to research works in the collection and borrow artworks for their institutions through The Broad Art Foundation’s worldwide lending program. The museum will be adjacent to luminary cultural institutions such as the Music Center of Los Angeles and Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Colburn School of Music, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, forming a remarkable locus of culture in Southern California.

The museum’s exhibition programming will focus on the contents of the renowned contemporary art collections of Eli and Edythe Broad, which feature in total 2,000 artworks by more than 200 artists and unparalleled, in-depth groupings of works by select artists such as Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Cindy Sherman, Jean-Michel Basquiat and many others.

The Broads created The Broad Art Foundation in 1984 as a pioneering lending library for contemporary artworks. Dedicated to increasing access to contemporary art for audiences worldwide, the foundation has made over 8,000 loans to more than 500 museums and galleries around the world. In addition to The Broad Art Foundation’s works, the loan program also makes available art from The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Collection. Together, the Broad collections are among the most prominent collections of postwar and contemporary art in the world. For more information on The Broad Art Foundation, please visit www.broadartfoundation.org.

POSITION SUMMARY
The director of retail operations objective is to operate a dynamic, profitable retail operation that supports the goals of The Broad to expand public access to and engagement with contemporary art, with a focus on the artists in the collection. The position is responsible for developing and maintaining a strong, dynamic, and unique identity for the shop at The Broad, as well as managing the overall operation and performance of all retail at the museum. Duties will include sourcing and purchasing merchandise, sales, visual merchandising, staff selection and supervision, training and development, loss prevention, and development of procedures to ensure efficient daily operations. The director of retail operation’s primary job function is to be fully accountable for the success of retail for The Broad, which includes supporting and enhancing The Broad brand, enhancing the visitor experience of the museum as a whole, and driving sales and profitability while directing all aspects of retail operations. The director of retail operations must create an environment that activates the visitor’s desire to buy, increases customer loyalty, and maintains close compatibility with The Broad’s purpose as a unique institution dedicated to contemporary art.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Pre-Opening Responsibilities

• With The Broad management team, develop retail operation goals, startup and annual budgets, and metrics for measuring success.
• Work with designer and contractors to build out and install the museum shop with high quality design appropriate to a contemporary art museum that will support the visual merchandising of the inventory and be aesthetically compatible with The Broad lobby.
• Develop and implement merchandise plan for the shop, work effectively with specialists and curators as needed.
• Work with The Broad team to develop an inventory storage and restocking plan.
• Select and implement software for managing retail operations at The Broad.
• Select and stock new, interesting, desirable, and high quality merchandise that reflects the collection, supports engagement efforts, and attracts visitors in its own right.
• With The Broad management team, develop a marketing and event plan specific to the shop that supports the museum’s goal to expand public access to and engagement with contemporary art, with a focus on the artists in the collection.
• Create and prepare budgets, projections costs, and overhead costs.
• Develop, implement, and maintain retail staff pay scale and incentives.
• Coordinate with the associate director of visitor services for the recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of a retail team.
• Orient and train new employees.
• Develop an online presence for retail operations.

Post-Opening Responsibilities

• Open the museum shop for business to the general public and the visitors and patrons of the museum, fully stocked and staffed in fall of 2015.
• Monitor and coordinate the daily operations of the shop ensuring proper staffing levels, sales, inventory, visual merchandising, and service.
• Maintain and analyze all financial records relevant to the shop’s operation.
• Continue to select and stock new, interesting, desirable, and high quality merchandise and display it in a tasteful and professional manner.
• Coach, monitor, and appraise retail staff to provide first-class retail services to visitors to The Broad while encouraging enthusiasm for and knowledge about artists and artwork in the collection.
• Develop product lines, sales goals, promotions, procedures, and visual merchandising.
• Work collaboratively with The Broad team to develop and produce events such as book releases and signings, product launches and other public events that support the museums goal to expand public access to and engagement with contemporary art, with a focus on the artists in the collection.
• Disseminate information about retail operations to museum management and staff.
• Maintain a safe and clean retail environment.
• Work with security to minimize shrinkage.
• Monitor staff customer service levels; lead by example in providing service of the highest quality.
• Increase customer loyalty by establishing rapport with potential and actual repeat customers.
• Oversee any customer service requests that originate online or over the phone.
• Facilitate the onsite sale of tickets to special events at the museum via the shop cash wrap.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position will supervise retail staff and additional contractors as required.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The ideal candidate will have experience in all aspects of successful high-end, high-caliber art and design-focused retail with an emphasis on contemporary art. She or he should be entrepreneurial with the ability to work in a team environment. The ability to work in a fast-paced environment while thinking creatively and problem solving is a must as are management, communication, thought-processing, and technology skills necessary for a profitable retail environment.

SCHEDULE
Prior to the opening of The Broad, standard office hours will be Monday through Friday. After the opening of The Broad, the work schedule for this position may include Saturday and Sunday shifts.

LOCATION AND TRAVEL
The Broad is currently under construction. This position will be based at The Broad Art Foundation’s current offices in Santa Monica, California until the new facility is complete, at which time the position will relocate to downtown Los Angeles. This position will have limited travel domestically and internationally.

SALARY AND BENEFITS
The appointee’s compensation package will be based on his or her experience and salary history. The foundation offers excellent benefits including a variety of health plans and a 401k retirement savings plan with an employer match.

TO APPLY
For consideration, please upload a letter of interest and resume at https://thebroad.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk05pt. We will only contact candidates chosen for further consideration.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or other characteristics covered by law with regard to employment opportunities.

The statements in this description represent typical elements, criteria, and general work performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the job.

• At least 10 years proven retail management experience, including buying, and supervising direct reports, sales associates, and back of house positions.
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of retail business experience sufficient to successfully perform essential functions of the job.
• Knowledge of contemporary art.
• Experience with recognized, successful high-end, high-caliber art and design-focused retail strongly preferred.
• Ability to create, evolve and maintain an aesthetic for the retail area compatible with The Broad.
• Must be customer-focused.
• Ability to communicate effectively and provide feedback with strong verbal and written communication skills; encouraging excellent sales performance.
• Ability to build relationships in order to foster teamwork and develop partnerships.
• Strong computer skills, including POS systems and Excel. Knowledge of web retail platforms.
• Flexibility to work evenings, holidays, and weekends.
• Ability to actively supervise the sales floor.
• Experience working in a museum environment or in retail with similar contemporary and advanced aesthetic preferred.

Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background and reference check, which will include a credit and criminal report as well as verifications of employment and educational records. You must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer.