Vice President - Head of Stores

Talent Acquisition Leader @ Gap Inc. | Talent Builder | Innovator | Operator | Mom

About Athleta

For the past 25 years, we’ve committed ourselves and our brand to a single aim: to empower all women and girls. Inspiration. Collaboration. Connection. Inclusivity. It’s what we do best, and we’re on the hunt for people who share our passion for leading an active lifestyle, growing personally as well as professionally, and creating game‑changing products and experiences.

We use business as a force for good by putting people and the planet right up there with profit, which is why Athleta is a certified B Corp. Ready to make a move? Join us. Because we know that alone we’re strong, but together we’re unstoppable.

The 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.

• 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…