Head of Retail

**About Yepoda**:
At Yepoda, Korean effectiveness meets sustainable solutions: our mindfully produced skincare products are made with love in Korea. Our mission is to bring the best beauty innovations from Korea straight to Europe - without ever compromising on our values, quality and sustainability. All our products are made with the best natural and active ingredients, are vegan and cruelty-free. We aim to make the K-Beauty routine easy, effective, and fun.

We are a beauty start-up founded in 2020 and located in the heart of Berlin. Our team is composed of over 100 brilliant human beings who came from all over the world to write Yepoda’s story actively.

**Your Tasks**:
The **Head of Retail** will own the strategy and lead the operations, and be responsible for the growth of the entire brand’s offline retail business — across both **partner retail (e.g., Sephora)** and **owned store models**.
They will build a high-performing team, own the entire Retail P&L, ensure consistent brand experience, and integrate Retail seamlessly with our D2C and omnichannel ecosystem.

This role requires a balance of **strategic thinking**, **hands-on execution**, and **deep understanding of beauty retail dynamics**and **willingness to learn and discover insights**about our Yepoda customer segments.

**Key responsibilities**
- Strategy and Expansion
- Shape & execute the Yepoda’s **offline retail strategy** (partner + own stores) in alignment with overall business goals.
- Develop the **store rollout roadmap**, including location strategy, sizing, and format decisions.
- Identify **new retail channels and formats** (e.g., airport, pop-ups, shop-in-shop) to expand brand reach.
- P&L and Commercial Management
- Own the **Retail P&L** - revenue, margins, productivity, and cost control.
- Build and track **sales forecasts, targets, and KPIs** (e.g., LFL growth, ATV, conversion).
- Optimize assortment and pricing & discount strategy across channels to maximize profitability.
- Partner with Finance on budgets and ROI for new stores and activations.
- Retail Partner Management
- Manage and mentor the **KAM** for partner retailers.
- Build joint business plans, negotiate trade terms, and ensure sell-through performance.
- Align retailer promotions, training, and visual merchandising with brand standards and internal campaign calendars.
- Owned Store Operations
- Lead and scale the **own-store retail operations** — from flagship to multi-location network.
- Implement **SOPs** for daily operations, customer service, inventory control, and visual standards.
- Recruit, train, and retain **store leaders** who embody the brand ethos.
- Drive store-level performance, engagement, incentive programs, and performance reviews.
- Brand Experience, VM & Training
- Ensure **consistent brand experience** across all physical touchpoints.
- Oversee **visual merchandising, store design, and training** programs for beauty advisors.
- Embed the brand’s storytelling, rituals, and service excellence into every store.
- Data & Omnichannel Integration
- Partner with D2C and Tech teams to integrate **retail CRM, loyalty, and omnichannel tools**.
- Leverage in-store data for consumer insights, inventory optimization, and marketing planning.
- Develop dashboards for sales, traffic, and customer KPIs.
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Collaborate with Marketing, Product, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure retail alignment.
- Act as a key voice in leadership meetings for retail opportunities and challenges.
- Represent the brand externally with landlords, partners, and agencies.

**Your Profile**:

- 7+ years in retail leadership across beauty, lifestyle, or consumer brands in an omnichannel environment
- Proven success scaling from D2C or small network to multi-store retail presence.
- Strong **P&L ownership**, negotiation, and retail analytics skills.
- Experience managing both **retail partners** and **own stores**.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Deep understanding of **consumer experience** and **brand storytelling** in retail.
- People-first leader who thrives on developing teams, coaching managers, and leading through change.
- Strategic thinker and hands-on executor at once: you can zoom out to plan a European rollout, and zoom in to help optimise a store launch checklist.
- Deep understanding of omnichannel dynamics, visual merchandising, and operational excellence.
- Fluent in English; other European languages are a plus.
Based in (or open to relocating to) Berlin, with flexibility for frequent travel across Europe.

**What We Offer**:

- Dynamic Environment: The opportunity to work in a start-up environment surrounded by a passionate and dedicated team.
- Accelerate Your Career: Take on responsibility from day 1, with room for professional growth and advancement as the company continues to expand.
- Inspiring Workspace: Located in the heart of Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg, a dog-friendly office, with free drink