Retail Operations Lead

Rivian is on a mission to keep the world adventurous forever. This goes for the emissions-free Electric Adventure Vehicles we build, and the curious, courageous souls we seek to attract. 

As a company, we constantly challenge what’s possible, never simply accepting what has always been done. We reframe old problems, seek new solutions and operate comfortably in areas that are unknown. Our backgrounds are diverse, but our team shares a love of the outdoors and a desire to protect it for future generations. 

Rivian is seeking a proven retail leader who desires the challenge of a new business and the excitement of building something from the ground up. You will play a critical role in developing the standard operating processes and procedures in all aspects of retail sales and operations, ensuring that our retail operations enable a best-in-class customer experience: authentic, engaging, educational and aligned with Rivian’s core values and culture. You are accountable for building and maintaining the retail operations best practices, playbooks, communications and tools that map to effective operations and support to achieve business KPIs.

To be successful in this role, you must have a performance oriented and team-first approach and thrive in highly cross functional, ambiguous and unexpected environments, tackling all challenges with a flexible and solution-oriented mindset. You are results driven and demonstrate an understanding of how each interaction supports the broader Sales organization.

• Develop and maintain the operational framework, best practices, resources and tools necessary to deliver the best experience possible to our customers, support retail growth, create scalability and achieve future goals
• Develop and maintain the Retail Playbook for all commercial sales typologies
• Identify & solve for market and location specific operational constraints and develop processes to support compliance
• Partner with internal comms and regional field leaders to develop, launch, and maintain a field communications platform, ensuring field teams stay connected with the business and our team
• Build and manage organizational processes to streamline communication and workflows across Retail teams and additional stakeholders, serving as a key point of integration.
• Collaborate cross-functionally and with leadership. Build relationships through listening, integrity, and trust to continuously refine our processes to support sales and operations.
• Develop and manage a operational site audit process to ensure our sites are operating consistently and efficiently.
• Develop and maintain a feedback loop process and field intake program to ensure we are solving and supporting the needs of the business
• Manage internal document storage system to ensure information is organized and easily accessible for the organization
• Own the coordination of weekly status meetings and updates and manage project tracking for all retail projects
• Maintain overall timelines for all Retail Operations initiatives and is responsible to tracking and communicating workback schedules of all initiatives
• Partner with EHS, HR, Facilities, Policy and Legal teams to develop policies, procedures and training methods for all retail locations
• Support all areas of retail operations as needed, including digital tools, fleet management and maintenance, site assets, etc.
• Travel to ensure site operational readiness for successful site launches
• Perform other activities as needed to support the retail store opening process, including turnover from Facilities, store operations readiness, and coordination with key cross-functional partners, ensuring seamless, successful, and on-time site launches.
• Support various special events (both onsite and remote) across the commercial organization as needed 
• Build and foster a strong workplace culture focused on a positive team experience and over-delivering for our customers  

• 3-5 years of experience in retail operations or retail project/program management
• New store opening support or project / program management experience is a plus
• Energy, creativity, and leadership with strong organizational skills and the ability to thrive when juggling multiple priorities in a fast paced, high performing environment
• Ability to learn quickly, work in a fast-paced environment, and adapt to changing timelines
• Deep curiosity for next generation retail formats and consumer experiences
• An obsessive approach to elevating the customer experience and commitment to taking every opportunity to over-deliver when it comes to delighting and interacting with our community
• Possess an entrepreneurial mindset and apply a scrappy and resourceful approach to everything you do. Solve problems and overcome challenges with creativity and ingenuity
• Proven ability to drive process improvements across all areas supported
• Working knowledge experience of retail systems: POS, inventory management systems, and CRM
• Working knowledge of project management processes, tools, and software to enhance productivity – Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite. Confluence and Smartsheets a plus
• Ability to analyze data and report out findings that are actionable by both business and technical teams
• Ability to build and maintain relationships, solicit cooperation, and achieve results through collaboration while managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication
• Ability and willingness to travel (up to 20% of the time)
• Physical exertion may be required to perform occupational tasks (sitting up to 6 or more hours at a time, standing for up to 8 or more hours a day, walking, bending, kneeling, laying, twisting, carrying, reaching, stretching, pushing, pulling, and lifting up to 50 lbs).

Salary Range for Southern California Based Applicants: $101,000 to $125,200 (actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law).

Benefits Summary: Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees, their spouse or domestic partner, and children up to age 26. Coverage is effective on the first day of employment, and Rivian covers most of the premiums.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Rivian is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at candidateaccommodations@rivian.com.

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) recordkeeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law. 

Rivian may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian affiliates; and (iii) Rivian’s service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services. 

Rivian may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.  

Please note that we are currently not accepting applications from third party application services.