Asset Protection Manager

Role Summary:

Vaughan Executive Partners has been exclusively retained by a growing, multi-unit retailer to identify an Asset Protection Manager. This individual will be responsible for protecting company assets through investigations, loss prevention initiatives, inventory control, physical security, fraud detection, and operational compliance across multiple retail locations. The role will focus heavily on conducting internal and external theft investigations, overseeing third-party inventory audits, identifying shrink trends, improving operational controls, and partnering with store operations and Human Resources to minimize losses and mitigate risk.

Key Responsibilities:

• Implement loss prevention initiatives to reduce shrink, theft, fraud, and operational losses across multiple retail locations.

• Identify vulnerabilities across inventory management, cash handling, receiving, fuel operations, and other retail processes.

• Conduct store-level risk assessments and recommend corrective actions to strengthen operational controls.

• Investigate internal and external theft, organized retail crime, employee misconduct, cash and lottery shortages, fuel theft, credit card fraud, vendor fraud, and inventory discrepancies.

• Review CCTV footage, gather and preserve evidence, conduct investigative interviews, and prepare detailed investigative reports and case documentation.

• Partner with Human Resources on employee investigations, ensuring interviews and investigative processes are handled professionally, confidentially, and in accordance with applicable laws and company policies.

• Coordinate and oversee third-party physical inventory audits across all store locations, review audit results, investigate significant variances, and identify root causes of shrink.

• Work with store operations and third-party inventory providers to address audit findings, improve inventory accuracy, and implement corrective actions.

• Conduct periodic inventory audits, spot checks, loss prevention audits, and operational compliance reviews.

• Analyze shrink reports, inventory variances, cash discrepancies, and other loss-related data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

• Evaluate cash handling procedures, receiving controls, inventory management processes, and store security practices to identify opportunities to reduce risk and prevent losses.

• Monitor CCTV, digital video surveillance, alarm systems, and other physical security technologies; recommend enhancements when appropriate.

• Serve as the primary liaison with law enforcement agencies on theft, fraud, and other loss-related matters, coordinating investigations and supporting prosecution efforts when necessary.

• Build and maintain relationships with law enforcement, prosecutors, retail crime associations, and third-party investigative partners.

• Prepare regular reports summarizing investigative activity, shrink trends, inventory discrepancies, and loss prevention results, providing actionable recommendations to relevant stakeholders.

• Develop and deliver training to store managers and employees on theft prevention, fraud awareness, cash handling, inventory controls, security procedures, and company policies.

• Travel regularly to retail locations and maintain flexibility to respond to critical incidents outside normal business hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.

Core Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent education and experience will be considered.

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Asset Protection, Loss Prevention, Retail Investigations, Law Enforcement, Retail Security, or a related field.

• 3-5years of experience conducting or managing investigations across multi-retail locations.

• Experience conducting employee investigations and interviews, documenting evidence, and preparing professional investigative reports.

• Experience overseeing third-party physical inventory audits, analyzing inventory results, investigating variances, and implementing corrective actions.

• Proven ability to identify operational vulnerabilities, implement shrink reduction initiatives, and improve inventory accuracy and loss prevention controls.

• Knowledge of multi-unit retail operations, cash handling procedures, fuel and lottery operations, point-of-sale systems, and inventory management processes.

• Familiarity with CCTV, digital video surveillance, alarm systems, and other retail security technologies.

• Strong analytical, investigative, interviewing, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work effectively with store personnel, operations teams, Human Resources, executive stakeholders, law enforcement, and external investigative partners.

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-directed, with the ability to manage multiple investigations and priorities simultaneously.

• Willingness to travel regularly to store locations.

• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and on-call availability for critical incidents as needed.