Senior General Manager

Job Details

Description

The Senior General Manager role is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing the operations, strategy, performance and profitability of one of the company’s premiere retail locations. These stores are typically the most prominent locations, representing the brand, serving as the main point of contact for high-profile customers, and showcasing the brand’s identity and values. The role blends both strategic and operational responsibilities to ensure that the location operates smoothly and aligns with broader corporate goals.

Overall, the Senior General Manager is a dynamic leader who must combine operational expertise, creative thinking, business acumen, executive presence, and a deep understanding of guest needs to ensure that the location becomes a key driver of brand success.

Responsibilities

• Directing the day-to-day operations of the store, ensuring it runs efficiently and delivers top-tier guest experience.
• Managing a large team, including store managers, assistant managers, and retail associates, while also fostering a positive and motivated store culture.
• Developing and implementing strategies to optimize store layout, visual merchandising, inventory management, and stock replenishment to maximize sales, profitability, and brand impact.
• Ensuring that the store team delivers an exceptional guest experience, reflecting the brand’s identity, values, and mission.
• Monitoring guest feedback and adjusting store strategies accordingly.
• Overseeing the implementation of marketing and promotional strategies within the store to enhance the brand’s presence and engage with guests.
• Setting and managing the store’s budget, controlling costs while meeting sales targets.
• Analyzing key performance metrics, such as sales figures, guest traffic, conversion rates, and average transaction values, and adjusting strategies as needed.
• Continuously analyzing market trends and the retail landscape to keep the flagship store competitive and relevant.
• Identifying opportunities for store innovation, including new technologies, service offerings, or store formats that can enhance the guest experience.
• Leading the planning and execution of seasonal product launches, events, or exclusive collections to drive traffic and sales.
• Recruiting, training, and mentoring the store associates to ensure they have the skills to provide outstanding service and achieve performance goals.
• Setting performance goals for store associates and providing feedback, coaching, and development opportunities.
• Partnering with corporate teams such as merchandising, marketing, and HR to ensure that the store presentation aligns with the company strategy, vision, and expectations.
• Providing feedback to senior leadership on guest insights, market conditions, and product preferences that can inform future business decisions.
• Representing the brand at events and ensuring the store is integrated into broader marketing campaigns or community engagement initiatives.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 3-5 years of multi-unit or district manager experience, with a proven record of delivering results in a customer-centric business, preferably in specialty retail
• Familiarity with retail technologies and software, such as POS systems, inventory management systems, payroll/scheduling systems, and Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience in organizing and executing in-store events, product launches, and customer engagement initiatives to drive traffic and sales
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Retail Management, Marketing, or a related field
• At least 5-7 years of experience in retail management
• Experience working in a high-profile, high-volume retail store or managing luxury/specialty retail experiences
• Proficiency in multiple languages is a plus
  
  

Behavioral Traits For Success

• Has executive presence and leads with a confident, extraverted style that can enliven, engage, and positively impact individuals and groups
• Driven to achieve outstanding results
• Enjoys meeting and interacting with new people
• Displays strong initiative and self-direction
• An innovative thinker who is undaunted by failure
• Communication style is direct while being attentive to others' reactions and motivations
• Objective approach to problems and obstacles with the confidence to solve them in rapidly changing circumstances
• Operates with autonomy and self-reliance in setting priorities
• Communicates with poise and confidence even when dealing with the unexpected
• Seeks feedback, embraces challenges with a continuous learning approach
• Enjoys leading and mentoring others
  
  

Working Environment

• The ability to sit, stand, and walk for at least eight hours a day in a multi-level environment
• Ability to work in both indoor and outdoor environments
• Ability to work a typical retail schedule including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Ability to lift > 25 pounds
  
  

Your Performance Will Be Measured On

Your ability to achieve annual department objectives and corporate goals which include but are not limited to the following:

• High-level representation of the brand
• Decision-making and judgment
• Consistently meeting financial objectives
• Effective execution of brand standards and company initiatives
• Evidence of Build-A-Bear’s core values in action
• Ability to build, maintain, and develop a high-performing team
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely
• Use of tools and resources
• Ability to foster team collaboration, communication, and performance
• Stakeholder feedback
  
  

This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent an expressed or implied contract of employment, nor does it alter your at-will employment, and Build-A-Bear, Inc. reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as may deem appropriate.