Head of Retail

ABOUT KHAITE

KHAITE is a way of looking at the world. Shaped by formative encounters, cultural touchstones, and secret desires, this point of view comes to life through womenswear and accessories that find confidence in contrast. Each piece proposes a fresh balance of opposing elements- masculine and feminine, strength and softness, structure and fluidity- while embodying a signature sensuality and ease. 

Founded in 2016 by creative director Catherine Holstein and based in New York, KHAITE evolves with each season, building upon a foundation of robust yet polished items distinguished by exceptional materials, exquisite craftsmanship, and subtle yet striking details. 

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a Head of Retail to lead and evolve KHAITE’s global retail business as the Brand continues its expansion. This individual will oversee the performance, profitability, and strategic development of KHAITE’s directly operated retail stores, establishing the vision, infrastructure, and organizational capabilities necessary to support continued growth.

As a senior leader within the organization, the Head of Retail will be responsible for executing the retail strategy, driving commercial performance, cultivating exceptional client relationships, and developing a high-performing retail organization. This individual will ensure that every retail touchpoint reflects KHAITE’s distinctive brand identity, delivering an elevated and consistent luxury client experience while balancing commercial objectives with operational excellence.

The Head of Retail will collaborate closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to translate the brand’s vision and business objectives into purposeful retail strategies, identifying new opportunities for growth while strengthening brand equity and shaping an exceptional client experience that secures the long-term success of the retail business. A strong commercial mindset, entrepreneurial approach, and demonstrated ability to lead and scale a multi-unit luxury retail organization are essential to success in this role.

This position is based in our NYC office and reports to the CCO.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Retail Strategy & Business Development:

• Define and execute KHAITE’s global retail strategy, aligning retail growth, commercial objectives, and brand positioning with the Company’s broader business priorities.
• Lead the continued evolution and expansion of KHAITE’s directly operated retail business, identifying opportunities to strengthen existing markets and identify and evaluate new market opportunities, developing recommendations for the CEO and CCO to guide the brand’s expansion and establish the brand in new markets.
• Establish the strategic vision and operating framework for the retail organization, ensuring the infrastructure, resources, and capabilities necessary to support continued growth.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the retail business through new initiatives, evolving luxury retail practices, and a deep understanding of the competitive landscape.

 Commercial & Financial Performance:

• Own the overall financial performance and profitability of the retail business, including revenue, operating expenses, and store-level P&Ls.
• Develop and execute annual retail business plans, budgets, and financial objectives in partnership with Finance and executive leadership.
• Establish and monitor commercial KPIs across the retail organization, translating business performance into actionable strategies to drive growth and profitability.
• Partner with Store Directors to drive sales productivity, client development, conversion, average transaction value, and overall store performance.
• Evaluate business trends, identify opportunities and risks, and implement strategies to improve performance across individual stores and the broader retail portfolio.
• Ensure disciplined expense management and operational efficiency while maintaining the highest standards of luxury service and brand presentation.
• Provide regular reporting, analysis, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership regarding retail performance, opportunities, and business priorities.

Team Leadership:

• Lead, mentor, and develop the retail leadership organization, including Store Directors and corporate retail team members, establishing a strong leadership culture and clear organizational accountability.
• Build and evolve the retail organizational structure, talent strategy, and leadership capabilities necessary to support the Brand’s continued growth.
• Establish clear performance expectations, business objectives, and development priorities for retail leadership, ensuring alignment with Company goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous development, empowering leaders to drive performance and cultivate strong store teams.
• Partner with Human Resources and Talent Acquisition to identify, attract, develop, and retain exceptional retail talent across all levels of the organization.
• Oversee succession planning, leadership development, and talent pipeline initiatives to strengthen the retail organization and support internal growth.
• Champion KHAITE’s Mission, Vision, and Values of Creativity, Integrity, Kindness, Agility, and Tenacity throughout the retail organization.

Client Experience & Development:

• Define and lead the global retail client experience strategy, ensuring a consistent, elevated, and distinctly KHAITE experience across all stores, pop-ups, and retail environments.
• Establish and evolve client development strategies that strengthen client relationships, drive recruitment and retention, and cultivate long-term loyalty and engagement.
• Partner with Brand Marketing, Merchandising, and Visual Merchandising to translate seasonal storytelling, product strategy, and brand initiatives into compelling retail experiences.
• Develop and implement strategies to deepen relationships with top clients and VICs, including personalized engagement, clienteling initiatives, and global client development opportunities.
• Champion the commercial and experiential success of VIC events and client experiences, working in close partnership with the events and marketing teams, who lead creative concepting and event production, to ensure alignment with brand objectives and budget.
• Leverage client insights and performance data to continuously enhance the retail experience and strengthen client relationships, establishing KPIs that track client experience and development.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the evolving luxury landscape, identifying opportunities to elevate service standards and differentiate KHAITE’s retail experience.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Brand Alignment:

• Serve as the primary retail business partner to executive leadership, providing strategic insight and recommendations on retail performance, expansion, and organizational priorities.
• Collaborate closely with Merchandising, Visual Merchandising, Marketing, Creative, Finance, People, and other corporate functions to ensure alignment across the business.
• Translate seasonal creative direction, product strategy, and brand initiatives into cohesive retail execution, ensuring each store reflects the Brand’s distinctive identity and positioning.
• Represent the retail organization in broader Company initiatives, contributing a commercial and customer-centric perspective to business decisions.
• Ensure retail execution consistently reflects KHAITE’s standards of excellence, integrity, and brand expression across all customer and employee touchpoints.

SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS

Interpersonal Skills:

• Exceptional leadership capabilities with a demonstrated ability to build, develop, and inspire high-performing teams.
• A values-driven leader and steward of KHAITE’s culture and values, who leads with integrity, fosters collaboration, and models the brand’s standards of excellence in every interaction.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking, with the ability to translate business objectives into actionable strategies and measurable results.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to lead through growth, change, and organizational complexity.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making capabilities, balancing long-term strategic priorities with day-to-day business needs.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of an organization.
• Highly analytical and solutions-oriented, with the ability to interpret business performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to developing talent, fostering accountability, and cultivating a collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Passion for luxury retail, exceptional client service, and delivering a differentiated brand experience.

 

Education/Experience:

• 15+ years of progressive retail leadership experience, including significant experience leading a multi-unit retail organization; luxury fashion experience required.
• Proven track record of leading and scaling a retail business, driving commercial performance, and delivering sustained growth across multiple locations.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-unit retail P&Ls, budgets, and financial planning, with strong understanding of retail business metrics and profitability drivers.
• Experience developing and executing retail expansion strategies and overseeing new store openings.
• Extensive experience leading, developing, and retaining senior retail talent and building high-performing organizations.
• Strong understanding of luxury client development, clienteling, and elevated customer experience strategies.
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with corporate leadership and business functions to drive strategic initiatives.
• Strong analytical capabilities and proficiency in retail systems, reporting tools, and business software.

Please note: This job description does not list all the duties of the job. Employees may be asked by management to perform other duties. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time.

OUR VALUES

• Creativity ~ We are always imagining, never imitating.
• Integrity ~ We do the right thing.
• Kindness ~ We value people and their ideas, so we act and speak with compassion.
• Agility ~ We move with intention, flexibility, and speed to stay ahead.
• Tenacity ~ We are insatiable. Our drive is relentless.

WE OFFER

The salary range is $225,000-275,000. The rate of pay offered will be dependent upon the candidates' relevant skills and experience. Other benefits include medical, dental, and vision programs, a company bonus plan, employee discounts and perks, a 401k plan with employer match, and other ancillary benefits.

 

KHAITE is an equal opportunity employer. We want to offer an inclusive environment of mutual respect where we welcome diversity and all our employees feel included, developed, and heard. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. KHAITE recruits and recognizes all types of talent and singularities.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

New York Pay Range

$225,000—$275,000 USD