Director of Productivity & Labor
- 📁
- Salaried
- 💼
- CORPORATE
- 📅
- 2516203 Requisition #
Your Purpose
The Director of Productivity and Labor is responsible for developing and executing labor optimization strategies across all store locations and distribution. This leadership role focuses on improving store efficiency, managing labor costs, and driving productivity without compromising customer service or associate engagement. The position requires strong collaboration with Store Operations, HR, Finance, and Supply Chain teams.
What You’ll Do
- Lead labor planning and productivity initiatives for retail store operations, including front-end, center store, perishable departments, and backroom processes.
- Develop and refine labor standards by store format, department, and seasonality using time studies, transaction data, and volume drivers.
- Implement workforce management systems and scheduling tools to improve forecasting accuracy and schedule adherence.
- Analyze store labor performance and KPIs to identify opportunities for improved efficiency and service levels.
- Partner with operations and merchandising teams to streamline in-store processes such as stocking, product rotation, inventory control, and shrink reduction.
- Drive continuous improvement using Lean Retail or Six Sigma practices to reduce non-value-added activities.
- Monitor compliance with labor budgets, productivity goals, and local labor laws across all locations.
- Support change management initiatives related to new technologies, layouts, or process redesigns.
- Train and coach district and store leadership on labor utilization strategies, tools, and best practices.
- Stay informed on market trends, competitive benchmarks, and labor cost pressures in the grocery retail industry.
- Develop and maintain labor standards and productivity metrics across departments and locations.
- Lead initiatives to improve operational efficiency, reduce labor costs, and enhance performance without compromising quality or service.
- Analyze workforce data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
- Partner with HR and Operations teams to plan staffing needs and workforce models.
- Oversee labor forecasting, scheduling optimization, and capacity planning.
- Design and implement productivity measurement systems and dashboards.
- Provide strategic input to senior leadership on labor management and operational performance.
- Mentor and develop team members involved in productivity and labor planning.
Supporting Leadership Through the 5 Es
- As a leader, you are expected to model and reinforce our leadership expectations through the 5Es Leadership Framework – serving as both an example and a multiplier of leadership impact across teams and functions:
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- Envision: Craft a bold, strategic vision that aligns with the company’s direction. Communicate clearly and consistently to ensure every team understands the “why” behind the work and feels connected to the bigger picture.
- Energize: Cultivate a high-energy, resilient environment where passion, recognition, and urgency fuel momentum. Drive engagement across levels by being visible, present, and inspiring in your leadership.
- Enroll: Build alignment and commitment by involving others early and often. Create clarity around change, communicate transparently, and ensure all stakeholders feel heard, valued, and empowered to act.
- Enable: Break down barriers, advocate for necessary resources, and build capability across your teams. Champion development, empower decision-making, and foster a culture of continuous learning and ownership.
- Execute: Deliver results that matter. Turn strategy into action with prevision and agility, ensure accountability, and continuously improve outcomes through clear priorities, strong follow-through, and data-driven decisions.
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Retail Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field
- 8+ years of experience in grocery retail operations, workforce planning, or labor management.
- Deep understanding of grocery retail workflows, service standards, and customer expectations.
- Proficient in workforce management systems and data analytics tools.
- Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
- Proven track record of improving labor efficiency and driving operational performance at scale.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and implement large-scale change.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and project management skills.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be provided, in accordance with applicable laws, to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Physical Demands
Physical demands include, but are not limited to, high aptitude for standing and walking endurance, sitting while driving to various stores, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, pushing and pulling climbing ladders of various types, bending, squatting, and kneeling, and working in different temperatures inside and outside the store.
Job Title: Director of Productivity & Labor
Department: Operations Support
Reports To: VP of Operations Support
Supervises: Manager of Industrial Engineering
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Store Support Center
Created/Updated: July 2025
Benefits
You will be eligible for Harris Teeter’s group benefit plans that pertain to your position upon the completion of applicable waiting periods. Your eligibility for these benefits is subject to the terms of the applicable plan and Harris Teeter policy.