Vice President, Asset Protection & Safety

The Asset Protection & Safety department at PetSmart includes leaders and certified practitioners focused on workplace health & safety, food safety and pet health & safety compliance; as well as asset protection and investigations across stores, distribution centers, digital and corporate offices. In partnership with leaders across the business, we keep the pack safe while enabling Anything for Pets!

Collaborative Work Environment:
At PetSmart, teamwork and connection are core to how we thrive. This role is based at our Phoenix Home Office, with an expectation of working a minimum of four days in the office each week. In a standard work week, associates may work up to one remote “flex day” (with leader approval). Our hybrid approach is designed to foster strong collaboration while also supporting flexibility and individual success.

Vice President, Asset Protection & Safety

About the Role

The Vice President, Asset Protection & Safety is a senior enterprise leader responsible for protecting PetSmart’s associates, customers, pets, assets, and brand across stores, distribution centers, corporate facilities/offices, and digital channels.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this leader oversees Field Asset Protection & Safety, Investigations, Enterprise Security, Theft & Fraud, eCommerce Fraud, Pet Health & Safety, Safety & Compliance, Strategy & Analytics, and Distribution Center AP&S support.

This role requires a retail executive with deep store operations knowledge, strong AP&S expertise, and the ability to translate enterprise strategy into practical field execution.

What You’ll Do

Lead Enterprise AP&S Strategy

• Set and execute PetSmart’s enterprise AP&S strategy aligned with business priorities and financial objectives.
• Identify emerging risks and use data, analytics, and field insights to prioritize investments, staffing, resources, and budget in alignment with business priorities.
• Advise executive leadership on significant AP&S risks, incidents, trends, and opportunities.
• Ensure programs effectively mitigate risk while remaining practical and scalable for the business.

Lead Field Asset Protection & Safety

• Set AP&S strategy and expectations across PetSmart’s store network.
• Maintain strong connectivity to stores and field leaders to understand operational realities and emerging risks.
• Ensure policies, programs, and tools support effective store execution and positive associate, customer, and pet experiences.
• Partner with Store Operations to reduce losses and improve business performance.

Protect Associates, Customers & Pets

• Lead enterprise safety strategies focused on reducing workplace injuries, customer incidents, and critical risks.
• Provide oversight for workplace violence prevention, threats, critical incidents, and emergency response.
• Lead Pet Health & Safety strategy and oversight, including pet safety investigations, risk identification, and corrective actions.
• Partner across Operations, Services, Legal, Human Resources, and Risk to address systemic issues and strengthen standards.

Reduce Loss & Protect the Business

• Lead strategies to reduce retail loss, theft, organized retail crime, fraud, and operational loss.
• Oversee internal and external investigations, eCommerce fraud, and enterprise physical security.
• Use analytics, technology, and field intelligence to identify risks and improve program effectiveness.
• Build strong partnerships with law enforcement, industry organizations, and external partners.

Drive Compliance & Enterprise Risk Reduction

• Provide executive oversight for AP&S compliance across stores, distribution centers, and other company operations.
• Lead governance for safety, regulatory compliance, DC AP&S support, and applicable food safety responsibilities.
• Partner cross-functionally to identify trends, address root causes, and strengthen enterprise risk controls.

Build a High-Performing Organization

• Lead and develop a geographically dispersed AP&S organization.
• Establish clear operating rhythms, priorities, accountability, and succession plans across a geographically dispersed organization.
• Build strong senior leadership capability and an AP&S organization viewed as a trusted business partner.
• Evaluate and evolve the AP&S organization structure, talent, and capabilities to meet PetSmart’s current and future needs.
• Build leadership capability, strengthen team connectivity, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and trust.

What You’ll Bring

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within a large, multi-unit retail organization.
• Deep retail and store operations experience is essential, with firsthand understanding of how enterprise decisions affect field execution.
• Significant leadership experience across Asset Protection, Loss Prevention, Safety, Investigations, Corporate/Campus Security, Store Operations, Enterprise Risk, or related functions.
• Proven success reducing loss, improving safety, mitigating risk, and driving business performance.
• Knowledge of investigations, fraud, organized retail crime, physical security, workplace safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated financial acumen, including ownership of a significant operating budget and/or P&L, and the ability to align investments with business priorities.
• Proven ability to influence executive leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Experience leading senior leaders and large, geographically dispersed teams.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to PetSmart stores, distribution centers, and other company locations.  Travel will likely include at least one domestic trip to stores and DCs per month.

The Leader We’re Looking For

We are looking for a retail executive who brings deep Asset Protection & Safety expertise and understands the realities of running stores and serving associates, customers, and pets.

This leader will be visible and connected to the field, comfortable operating with Store Leaders and executive leadership alike, and able to balance risk mitigation with operational simplicity and business performance. This leader will build confidence in AP&S by creating a connected, capable, and trusted function that effectively partners with stores, field leaders, and enterprise stakeholders.   

• This role requires collaboration, teamwork, and face-to-face interaction with colleagues, leaders, and/or clients.
• Being in the office ensures access to leaders, cross-functional partners, and resources necessary to make timely decisions and drive results.
• On-site presence in accordance with our FlexSmart policy supports our culture of innovation, mentorship, and engagement, which is integral to our success in developing the best team.

* This is not intended to be an all-inclusive, exhaustive list of all essential job functions for this position. PetSmart retains the right to change or assign other required job duties to this position.

Our associates are the heart of Team PetSmart. Together, we’re building the best team in retail through our values-based culture, connection, and teamwork. Our goal is to create a culture where associates learn and grow together, thrive as effective teams and challenge each other to be the best they can be.

Our home office offers outstanding amenities in a fun and rewarding workplace including:

• Pet-friendly environment, bring your pets to work and enjoy the on-site dog park!
• On-Site Events & Adoptions, enjoy community-building opportunities, including pet adoption days, seasonal celebrations, family events, art events, & holiday festivals
• “Top Dog” gym with equipment, fitness classes, massage therapists, personal trainers, and wellness spaces
• “Sit & Stay” Café serving fresh breakfast and lunch options, snacks, & more
• “Lil Paws” NAEYC-accredited onsite childcare facility providing high-quality early education
• Paid Volunteer Opportunities to spend time doing good for causes close to heart
• Print Center and Business Services, Dry Cleaning, Mother's Rooms, Sustainable Infrastructure & more

PetSmart provides an equal opportunity for all associates and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.