KHAITE Head of Retail

About KHAITE

Founded in New York in 2016 by Catherine Holstein, KHAITE is a luxury womenswear brand distinguished by its interplay of strength and softness, structure and fluidity. Its ready-to-wear, leather goods and footwear reinterpret American dressing through refined materials, precise silhouettes and a distinctive balance of ease and sensuality. As an employer, KHAITE connects creative vision with the disciplines of product development, merchandising, retail and business operations. The brand offers a compelling setting for professionals drawn to contemporary luxury, where craftsmanship, attention to detail and a coherent aesthetic identity underpin the work of building an internationally recognised fashion house.

Role & Responsibilities

• Define and execute KHAITE’s global retail strategy, aligning growth, commercial objectives, and brand positioning with broader business priorities.
• Lead the evolution and expansion of directly operated retail, strengthen existing markets, evaluate new market opportunities, and develop expansion recommendations for the CEO and CCO.
• Establish the strategic vision and operating framework for the retail organization, including the infrastructure, resources, and capabilities required for growth.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the retail business through new initiatives, evolving luxury retail practices, and competitive landscape analysis.
• Own the retail business’s financial performance and profitability, including revenue, operating expenses, and store-level P&Ls.
• Develop and execute annual retail business plans, budgets, and financial objectives with Finance and executive leadership.
• Establish and monitor commercial KPIs, translating performance into actionable strategies to drive growth and profitability.
• Partner with Store Directors to improve sales productivity, client development, conversion, average transaction value, and overall store performance.
• Evaluate business trends, identify opportunities and risks, and implement strategies to improve individual store and retail portfolio performance.
• Manage expenses and operational efficiency while maintaining luxury service and brand presentation standards.
• Provide executive leadership with regular retail performance reporting, analysis, and strategic recommendations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop Store Directors and corporate retail team members, building a strong leadership culture and clear organizational accountability.
• Develop the retail organizational structure, talent strategy, and leadership capabilities needed to support growth.
• Set performance expectations, business objectives, and development priorities for retail leaders in alignment with company goals.
• Foster accountability, collaboration, and continuous development, empowering leaders to drive performance and develop strong store teams.
• Partner with Human Resources and Talent Acquisition to identify, attract, develop, and retain retail talent at all levels.
• 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.
• Define and lead the global retail client experience strategy across stores, pop-ups, and other retail environments.
• Develop client strategies that strengthen relationships, drive recruitment and retention, and build 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.
• Deepen relationships with top clients and VICs through personalized engagement, clienteling initiatives, and global client development opportunities.
• Support the commercial and experiential success of VIC events and client experiences with the events and marketing teams, aligning activity with brand objectives and budget; those teams lead creative concepting and event production.
• Use client insights and performance data to improve the retail experience and strengthen client relationships, establishing KPIs to track client experience and development.
• Monitor the evolving luxury landscape and identify opportunities to elevate service standards and differentiate KHAITE’s retail experience.
• Serve as the primary retail business partner to executive leadership, providing insight and recommendations on retail performance, expansion, and organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, Visual Merchandising, Marketing, Creative, Finance, People, and other corporate functions to ensure business alignment.
• Translate seasonal creative direction, product strategy, and brand initiatives into cohesive retail execution that reflects KHAITE’s identity and positioning.
• Represent retail in broader company initiatives, contributing a commercial and customer-centric perspective to business decisions.
• Ensure retail execution reflects KHAITE’s standards of excellence, integrity, and brand expression across customer and employee touchpoints.

Qualifications

• Exceptional leadership capabilities and the ability to build, develop, and inspire high-performing teams.
• Values-driven leadership that fosters collaboration, models integrity, and upholds KHAITE’s culture, values, and standards of excellence.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking, with the ability to turn business objectives into actionable strategies and measurable results.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to lead through growth, change, and organizational complexity.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making, 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 across all organizational levels.
• Analytical and solutions-oriented, with the ability to interpret business performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to talent development, accountability, and an inclusive, collaborative culture.
• Passion for luxury retail, exceptional client service, and differentiated brand experiences.
• 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 achieving sustained growth across multiple locations.
• Experience managing multi-unit retail P&Ls, budgets, and financial planning, with a strong understanding of retail 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.
• 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.

Skills

Experience

15+ years of progressive retail leadership experience, including significant experience leading a multi-unit retail organization; luxury fashion experience required.

Compensation

The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 225,000 to USD 275,000 per annum.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision programs; company bonus plan; employee discounts and perks; 401(k) plan with employer match; other ancillary benefits.

Culture

KHAITE’s professional environment reflects its New York identity and distinctive approach to luxury, balancing creative confidence with understated sophistication. Its emphasis on exceptional materials, craftsmanship, and precise design creates a shared focus on quality and a coherent creative vision.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.