District Manager

KITS is a rapidly growing, Vancouver-based company redefining how people experience vision care. By combining cutting-edge technology, vertically integrated manufacturing, and a customer-first approach, we deliver high-quality eyewear that is stylish, accessible, and affordable. Our team is driven by innovation, speed, and a shared commitment to making exceptional vision care available to everyone.

SUMMARY

As KITS expands its retail footprint across the Vancouver area, the District Manager will own performance and standards across multiple stores, ensuring every location delivers the same exceptional experience our flagship set out to prove. This role leads a team of Store Managers, and Assistant Managers, translating KITS' retail strategy into consistent execution store by store, while building the operating rigor of a growing multi-site business needs. You'll spend your time between stores, coaching retail team members, cafe associates and leaders, solving problems that cross store lines, and making sure growth doesn't come at the cost of consistency. This is still a floor-based role. You will be in your stores daily and ready to step onto the floor as a working team member whenever a location needs the extra hands.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach and develop a team of Store Managers, and Assistant Managers across the district
• Build bench strength by identifying and developing future Store Managers and Assistant Store Managers
• Set clear performance expectations and hold store leaders accountable to them
• Foster a consistent culture and standard of excellence across every location
• Own P&L performance across all stores in the district
• Standardize operating processes across stores as KITS expands, adapting the flagship playbook for a multi-site model
• Monitor inventory accuracy, replenishment, and visual merchandising standards across the district
• Ensure consistent integration between retail, optical, and café operations at every location
• Roll out KITS' marketing initiatives and in-store activations consistently across the district
• Own the district's labour model, including scheduling and payroll processing across stores, in accordance with P&C-approved pay rates and policies.
• Develop and execute district-level sales strategies to meet revenue targets and KPIs
• Manage supplier relationships and pricing at a district level to protect margin
• Partner with Store Managers on local café offerings while maintaining brand consistency

Community & Customer Engagement

• Support Store Managers in building each location into a community gathering space
• Represent KITS in community and local business relationships across the district
• Act as a brand ambassador, ensuring a welcoming, inclusive environment at every store

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure adherence to health and safety regulations across all stores in the district
• Standardize food preparation, equipment, and training standards across locations
• Oversee store maintenance calendars across the district
• Conduct regular store visits and audits to maintain standards consistency

WHAT YOU BRING

Must-Haves

• 9+ years in a retail management role, including experience managing multiple locations or a multi-unit territory
• Direct experience leading people leaders (managing managers), not just individual contributors
• Proven track record owning P&L performance across more than one location
• Experience standing up or scaling operating processes across a growing store network
• Composure under pressure across multiple sites. You've managed escalations across teams and locations and come out ahead
• Available to travel regularly between store locations across the Vancouver area
• Willing and able to jump onto the retail floor or café counter as a working team member during peak periods, callouts, or launches. You lead by being there, not just checking in

Nice-to-Haves

• Optical or eyewear category experience (LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Clearly, Hakim, or similar)
• Multi-unit retail leadership experience at a DTC or growth-stage retailer (Warby Parker, Aritzia, Lululemon, Arc'teryx, Indochino, MEC, Mejuri, Frank & Oak, Allbirds)
• Experience building a multi-site operating playbook from a single flagship or pilot location

How You Operate

• You lead from the floor. When a store's short-staffed or slammed, you're behind the counter or on the register helping close the gap, not observing from the office
• You act fast across stores. When something's falling apart at any location, you're the one solving it, not escalating and waiting
• You ow