Director, Retail Innovation

About the Role

Lead and drive strategic initiatives that redefine the future of The Gap, Inc. retail stores. This role will focus on identifying, developing, and implementing The Gap, Inc. solutions that create inspiring, innovative, industry-leading store experiences that quantifiably improve brand financial performance. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of innovation frameworks, methodologies, and their practical, collaborative, implementation as well as of emerging trends and advanced technologies combined with the leadership skills to help others turn bold ideas into actionable plans and measurable results.

What You'll Do

Develop and Guide Retail Innovation Strategy

• Define and execute a comprehensive innovation roadmap to help the brand leaders and their teams enhance store performance and customer engagement.
• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies, market trends, and customer insights to integrate transformative solutions into The Gap, Inc.’s retail strategy.
• Build a culture of innovation across the organization and the brands by promoting forward-thinking approaches and fostering cross-functional collaboration.  

 

Oversee Technology Integration

• Lead the exploration and encourage the adoption of advanced retail technologies, including AR/VR, smart mirrors, cashier-less checkout systems, IoT, and AI-driven solutions (where and when appropriate).
• Collaborate with brands, IT, external vendors, and technology partners to ensure seamless deployment and integration of new tools and platforms
• Guide technology implementations to align with brand omnichannel strategy

 

Reimagine the Customer Journey

• Help the brands redefine their in-store experiences by integrating personalization, convenience, and interactivity into the customer journey.
• Partner with store design teams to help them innovate store layouts, fitting rooms, and experiential spaces to drive engagement.
• Leverage customer data and feedback to help them continuously refine and elevate the shopping experience.  

 

Lead Strategic Partnerships and Vendor Relationships

• Build relationships with technology providers, startups, and industry thought leaders to stay ahead of retail innovation trends.
• Negotiate and support the negotiation of contracts and manage vendor relationships to ensure quality and alignment with company goals.
• Explore partnership opportunities with complementary brands or services to create unique in-store experiences.  

 

Measure and Report Impact

• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) for innovation initiatives, such as increased sales, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
• Regularly assess the ROI of projects and provide insights and recommendations to the executive team.
• Communicate progress and results through detailed reports and presentations to senior leadership.

Financial and Risk Management that would include:

• Monitor Economic Indicators: Keep a close watch on economic indicators and market conditions to make informed decisions about store openings, closures, and investments. This includes understanding the impact of interest rates, inflation, and consumer spending patterns
• Risk Mitigation Strategies: Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies to address potential challenges such as supply chain disruptions, regulatory changes, and market volatility

Who You Are

• Track record of supporting and implementing sustainable and profitable innovation strategies
• Proven leadership experience leading cross-functional teams and driving strategic initiatives to deliver outcomes
• Extensive market, real estate and/or technology knowledge
• Strong understanding of where to access and how to evaluate new business recommendations and sizing (internal and external sources)
• Able to filter, prioritize, analyze, and validate complex in-depth understanding of concepts and procedures