Head of Operations - Protection Services

Coles; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Gym facility & wellness perks

Discounts on Coles products

MyThanks recognition platform

Parental leave

Job summary

Coles Group seeks a strategic Head of Operations – Protection Services to lead enterprise Total Loss initiatives across shrink, waste and markdowns. You will drive prevention programs, partner with key functions, and leverage data to deliver financial outcomes.

You will oversee a national team, champion transformation, and work with law enforcement and industry partners to embed a proactive loss-prevention mindset across Coles’ operations.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in Total Loss, loss prevention or asset protection.
• Track record delivering measurable improvements in shrink and loss.
• Strong commercial acumen linking interventions to P&L outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute enterprise Total Loss strategy across shrink, waste and markdowns.
• Lead national loss prevention programs including theft, ORC, inventory accuracy and internal fraud.
• Use data/ intelligence to identify loss trends and deliver measurable financial outcomes.
• Drive transformation with automation, new tech and prevention capabilities.
• Partner with Operations, Commercial, Supply Chain, Technology and other functions.

Skills

Leadership

Loss prevention

Data-driven

Transformation

Stakeholder leadership

Job description

Head of Operations - Protection Services

We’ve been proudly serving Australian communities since 1914 and have grown to become a top 30-listed company on the ASX with a portfolio of iconic homegrown brands. At the heart of our continued success is over 115,000 team members working across the country, all contributing to bringing our customers smiles. You’ll not only get to see your work make a difference, you’ll be part of a team working together to help Australians eat and live better every day.

About the team

Central Operations keeps our business moving. Our team supports, coaches, and empowers our retail teams across the country. We help them be at their best, so they can deliver the best experiences for our team members and customers every day.

At Coles Group, we’re focused on protecting our people, customers and business while reducing loss across our operations. We’re looking for aHead of Operations – Protection Services to lead our enterprise Total Loss strategy and continue to evolve our approach to loss prevention at national scale.

This is a senior, strategic leadership role spanning shrink, theft and organised retail crime, waste and markdowns, with a strong focus on transformation, technology, data and commercial outcomes.

About the role

Leading a national team and working across our store and operational network, you’ll set the direction for Total Loss and build a more proactive, intelligence-led and commercially focused approach.

In this role, you will:

• Set and execute Coles’ enterprise Total Loss strategy across shrink, waste and markdowns.
• Lead and optimise national loss prevention programs, including theft, organised retail crime, inventory accuracy and internal fraud.
• Use data and intelligence to identify emerging loss trends, target interventions and deliver measurable financial outcomes.
• Drive innovation and transformation across Loss, including automation, emerging technology and new prevention capabilities.
• Partner closely with Operations, Commercial, Supply Chain, Technology and other functions to embed loss considerations into business decisions.
• Lead relationships with law enforcement, crime intelligence networks, industry bodies and strategic security partners.
• Build capability across a national team and broader store network, creating a strong prevention mindset and disciplined execution.

About you

You’re a commercially minded senior leader who combines deep loss prevention expertise with the ability to think strategically, influence broadly and get things done.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Significant leadership experience in Total Loss, loss prevention, asset protection or retail operations within a large, multi-site environment.
• A track record of delivering measurable improvements across shrink and loss.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to connect operational interventions to P&L outcomes and investment decisions.
• Experience using data, technology and intelligence to drive targeted loss prevention strategies.
• Demonstrated success leading transformation and taking new initiatives from pilot through to scale.
• Strong internal and external stakeholder leadership, including the credibility to engage senior executives, law enforcement and industry partners.
• A proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams through change.

Why Coles Group?

This is an opportunity to shape a critical enterprise capability at significant national scale. You’ll have the scope to challenge traditional approaches, harness data and emerging technology, and build a more proactive and sophisticated approach to Total Loss across Coles.

At Coles Group, we’re committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone feels they belong.

What’s in it for you?

• Flexible working options: We know that work is only one part of your life, so we actively encourage a positive work-life balance and provide hybrid working options to help you achieve it.
• Office perks: Take advantage of our gym facility and fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, fooderie hub where you can sample new products before they hit the shelves, school holiday program and so much more when you come in.
• Discounts: Eligible team members receive 5% discount all year round on your Supermarket and Liquor online and in-store purchases. We also offer additional periods of double discount (10%) at various times throughout the year. As well as hotdeals exclusive to team members that translate into additional savings.
• Reward through recognition: Give and receive recognition, linked to our Coles values, through our digital recognition platform ‘mythanks’. You can accumulate points to redeem in the online shop for exciting gifts and electronic gift cards from an extensive range of retailers.
• Opportunities for learning and development: No matter where you start within our diverse business, you’ll have experiences, exposure, and education to satisfy you. Discover and explore a variety of career development programs and job-specific training.
• Paid parental leave: We understand how important your life outside work is and offer permanent team members paid parental leave to support you in balancing work and family.
• Investment in your future: Our annual team member share plan offer allows eligible team members to make regular pre-tax salary sacrifice deductions to purchase Coles Group shares.

About the recruitment process

We’re continuing to build a gender equitable team, and a culture that is just as diverse, inclusive and welcoming as the communities we serve. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe and respectful for our team. We encourage applications from people of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities.

We’re happy to adjust our recruitment process to support candidates with disability. For further information and additional contact details visit the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ section of our careers site or email ••••@coles.com.au

Job ID:199187

Employment Type:Full time

Unlock job insights

Hirer responsiveness Salary match Number of applicants

Supermarkets, Grocery & Petrol Retailing More than 10,000 employees

Coles is one of Australia’s leading retailers, with an extensive footprint of over 1,800 retail outlets nationally. We employ more than 115,000 team members, engage with more than 8,000 suppliers, and we welcome millions of customers through our store network and digital platforms every week.

We are one of Australia’s largest employers and our workforce includes in store, corporate, manufacturing, distribution, and fulfilment. Our team members reflect the diverse communities in which we operate and we strive to make Coles a great place to work.

Coles is one of Australia’s leading retailers, with an extensive footprint of over 1,800 retail outlets nationally. We employ more than 115,000 team members, engage with more than 8,000 suppliers, and we welcome millions of customers through our store network and digital platforms every week.

We are one of Australia’s largest employers and our workforce includes in store, corporate, manufacturing, distribution, and fulfilment. Our team members reflect the diverse communities in which we operate and we strive to make Coles a great place to work.

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