Operations & Visual Manager - Willowbrook

The Operations & Visual Manager at Alo Yoga plays a pivotal role in executing the store's operational and visual strategies. This position is responsible for inventory management, labor planning, and ensuring the visual presentation aligns with our brand's standards. By overseeing key operational processes and maintaining a customer-ready environment, this role significantly contributes to the overall business performance.

Candidates for the Operations & Visual Manager position at Alo Yoga should possess 3-5 years of leadership experience in retail or a related industry. A strong working knowledge of MS Office, along with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, is essential. The ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment while embodying Alo's guiding principles is also crucial for success in this role.

The Operations & Visual Manager at Alo Yoga ensures that the Operations and Visual team communicates effectively about the brand's mission and values. This role emphasizes accountability and fosters talent development through continuous coaching. With a focus on succession planning and recruitment strategy, the manager helps build a strong internal pipeline for future leadership.

This role requires constant movement within the store, including the sales floor and back of house. Candidates should be prepared for physical demands, including lifting up to 50 pounds and being able to stand or move for an entire shift. Flexibility in scheduling is also expected, particularly during peak retail periods such as the holiday season.

Alo Yoga offers a variety of perks to its Operations & Visual Manager, including a generous employee discount on Alo products, competitive medical and dental plans, a clothing allowance, a 401K with company matching, and access to free yoga classes. Additionally, full-time employees can enjoy enhanced benefits like mental health support and new parent resources.

When answering this question, be specific about your past roles and responsibilities related to inventory management. Discuss the tools and systems you've used to track inventory accuracy and how you addressed any challenges. Mention how your efforts improved stock levels and sales responsiveness.

Share examples of how you have implemented visual merchandising strategies in past positions. Describe your process for reviewing visual standards and how you gather and use data to optimize visual displays. Highlight your collaboration with team members to ensure consistency and excellence.

Focus on your leadership style and provide examples of how you've fostered a supportive environment. Discuss specific initiatives you've undertaken to encourage team communication and development, such as mentorship programs or team-building activities.

Highlight your time management and prioritization skills. Describe your approach when unexpected challenges arise and your methods for delegating tasks effectively. Provide an example of a busy day and how you successfully managed competing priorities.

Emphasize the importance of data in making informed decisions. Discuss the KPIs you consider relevant and how analyzing data rather than relying on gut feeling has led to operational improvements in your past roles.

Explain your recruitment strategy, focusing on how you assess candidates for cultural fit. Highlight your training methods and how you ensure new hires are embraced by the team. Provide an example of a successful training program you've implemented.

Use this opportunity to showcase your conflict resolution skills. Describe the situation, your response, and the positive outcome that resulted. Emphasize active listening and mediation skills that facilitated a resolution.

Discuss your philosophy on customer service, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs and being proactive. Provide examples of how you trained your team to elevate service levels and respond to feedback.

Talk about the sources you use to stay informed, whether through industry publications, webinars, or networking opportunities. Share how applying these insights in your previous roles has positively impacted business outcomes.

Express your passion for the brand mission and community at Alo Yoga. Highlight how your values align with theirs and how your skills and experiences will contribute to the success of the store and brand while enhancing the customer and team experience.