Galeries Lafayette Head of Operational Unit
- Location
- ParisÎle-de-FranceFrance
- Seniority
- Manager
- Department
- Retail & Boutique Operations
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- May 15, 2026
About Galeries Lafayette
A distinguished maison within the global luxury sector, the employer combines artisanal savoir-faire with an international retail footprint. The maison operates within a leading luxury group and is recognised for rigorous quality standards, client-centric retail experiences and a commitment to craftsmanship.
Leading luxury maison | Paris — Head of Operational Unit (Responsable Pôle Opérationnel): senior retail operations role for a prestigious fashion house.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate the operational unit overseeing multi-site retail or service activities, ensuring consistent application of brand standards and operating procedures.
- Define, monitor and deliver KPIs related to store productivity, service quality, inventory accuracy and operational efficiency.
- Manage, coach and develop a team of operational supervisors and on-site staff; define staffing plans, rotas and workforce development actions.
- Own operational budgets and cost control levers; partner with finance to oversee forecasts, expense management and basic P&L responsibilities.
- Drive stock flow and inventory control processes in collaboration with merchandising, supply chain and logistics teams to minimise shrinkage and optimise availability.
- Implement and continuously improve standard operating procedures, compliance, health & safety and loss-prevention measures across the estate.
- Spearhead operational projects (openings, refurbishments, systems rollouts) and liaise with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure timely delivery.
Qualifications
- Proven leadership capability with previous line-management responsibility in a multi-site retail or luxury environment.
- Strong operational acumen with experience setting and delivering KPIs, managing budgets and supervising inventory controls.
- Excellent organisational skills, able to manage competing priorities across locations and drive process improvements.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills; able to collaborate effectively with merchandising, supply chain and HR.
Skills
Experience
Typically requires 5+ years of progressive experience in retail or luxury operations, including several years managing teams and coordinating multi-site activities. Experience in project delivery and cross-functional collaboration across merchandising and supply-chain functions is expected.
Education
Bachelor's degree in business, retail management, hospitality or equivalent professional experience; advanced studies in management or operations are an asset.
Workplace
This position is based in Paris, Île-de-France, France.
Culture
The maison fosters a high-performance, service-oriented culture rooted in craftsmanship and client excellence. Teamwork, attention to detail and a commitment to continual improvement are emphasised across all levels, within an international and fast-paced retail environment.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Galeries Lafayette, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Operational Manager», «Head of Retail Operations», «Operations Lead», «Retail Operations Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.