Director of Retail Sales

AKIRA Director of Retail Sales

Founded in 2002 in Chicago, AKIRA has grown to 35+ boutiques nationwide and a thriving ecommerce business ( shopAKIRA ). As we build our next-chapter growth, our culture stands apart : we deliver fanatical, obsessive attention to the consumer's needs and desires. Every team member is empowered to "Act and Think Like an Owner."

We are seeking a dynamic industry-leading retail sales executive to elevate our store performance, build a high-impact field leadership team, and drive exceptional growth and customer loyalty.

Job Title : Director of Retail Sales

Location : Chicago HQ | Travel : ~50-75% across ~40 stores and new openings

Role Purpose

You will own the strategy, leadership and performance of the store sales organization. Your mission : build and coach a best-in-class field leadership bench (District Managers, Store Managers, Stylists), drive sales productivity and customer-centric performance, and build long-term loyalty among our clientele. You will partner with the Director of Retail Operations to ensure the store network is not only operating with excellence, but truly selling at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Talent Development

• Build and lead the store-sales leadership ecosystem : recruit, develop, mentor and retain District Managers and Store Managers; create a succession pipeline across field roles.
• Design and deploy a leadership development program (e.g., "Store Leadership Academy") for Store Managers and Stylists - including field-ride trainings, 30-60-90 onboarding plans, ongoing coaching cadences and performance forums.
• Define clear performance goals for every store leadership role : comp sales, conversion rate, average transaction value (ATV), repeat client ratio, client book penetration.
• Conduct field visits (~50-75% travel) to lead store-strategy check-ins, coach in-store teams, celebrate top performers, and diagnose under-performance for rapid turn-around.
• Foster an inclusive and high-performing culture : build a sense of ownership, accountability, team collaboration, client-obsession and continuous improvement.
• Set recognition and incentive programs that celebrate high-performing stores and individual leaders; partner with HR to manage under-performance proactively.

Sales Strategy & Performance Management

Customer Experience & Brand Elevation

Market & Competitive Insight

Qualifications & Skills

Diversity & Inclusion :

At AKIRA we believe that treating everyone in a first-class manner is essential to fostering an inclusive environment that reflects our values and our community. This is deeply rooted in our company's principles, culture, and fashion. We continuously strive to cultivate a company where employees feel a sense of belonging and contribute to a culture that values differences, ideas, and experiences. Our unique workforce is directly linked to our success and makes us stronger collectively.

Benefits and Perks :

AKIRA offers competitive benefits for full-time employees, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet, Life, LTD, FSA / HSA / Dependent Care FSA, Flex Transit (CTA), 401(k), and employee discount. We are committed to encouraging internal development and providing significant career enrichment opportunities. Most importantly, what has propelled AKIRA's growth and success over the years has been the dynamic culture within the company - if you're filled with passion, have a strong desire to get things done, and if you want to go to a place where you know your work matters and where you can implement your ideas and decisions, then AKIRA just might be the place for you.

Job Type : Full-time

At AKIRA, we are committed to fair and transparent compensation practices. The starting pay for this position is $135,000 - $205,000 annually, and may be adjusted based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors. Additional compensation and benefits may also apply and will be discussed during the hiring process.