Vermont State University Gear Shop Store Manager

Job Title: Vermont State University Gear Shop Manager

Department: Retail Sales

Location: Castleton, Vermont

Reports to: EVP of Retail Operations

Part Time: Summer hours: 4 – 5 hours per day Monday – Friday, unless otherwise specified. School year hours: 8 hours per day Monday – Friday, unless otherwise specified. Holidays and days when the school is closed (spring break, winter break, etc…) you’ll have off. Some weekend and/or evening hours are required.

Health Insurance Benefits: Included

Position Summary: The Store Manager at Vermont State University Gear Shop will oversee all aspects of the retail store and is responsible for supervising daily activities, ensuring overall store performance sales goals and profitability are met, and supervising a customer focused part-time sales team. In this role you’ll set the standard of success and develop operational action plans, manage store inventory and cash flow, and work with students, staff, faculty, and alumni to fulfill their product needs. Additionally, you will seek daily to implement and execute the mission of UGS: Drive community engagement and brand recognition by delivering high-quality branded merchandise with passionate, world-class service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

In-store Selling Effectiveness:

• Demonstrates/sells products to customers, explains benefits, features, prices, quality, value, and other information to build business through outstanding customer service
• Drive store sales and traffic results, executing strategic merchandising initiatives, and consistently achieving key store metrics
• Uphold positive working relationships with university officials, UGS partners, and third-party vendors
• Maintain optimal floor coverage and schedules to maximize store productivity while staying within established sales per labor hour metrics.
• Build and maintain a store environment that is sharply focused on branding and visual merchandising to optimize the shopping experience.
• Maintain an organized floor plan with compelling visual product and branded signage standards that are met at all times
• Ability to oversee and attend temporary pop-up store events outside of the physical store location

Direct Selling Effectiveness:

• Build relationships with campus department and organization leads and promote our ability to provide unique branded merchandise for events, projects and groups.
• Work with support team to source apparel and branded merchandise, selecting items that meet the needs of campus department and organization customers, keeping within product pricing, decorating and freight expense standards set by the customer and/or our VP of Retail Operations
• Work with support team to secure/create necessary artwork and quotes to be shared with our customers, assuring that all product, pricing, and shipping details are accurately represented
• Work with support team and customers to approve virtual samples
• Monitor status of open purchase orders to ensure on-time delivery of all products, including timely resolution, communication, and mitigation of future potential problems
• Work with support team to assure timely invoicing of direct customers

Build High Performing Teams

• Hire, train and inspire a part-time sales team that is committed to exceeding customers’ expectations while always delivering the highest level of customer service
• Provide ongoing team leadership and coaching; lead periodic team meetings, one-on-one staff meetings, yearly performance reviews
• Identify, document, and resolve performance issues and policy violations in partnership with the human resources manager
• Partner with human resources manager on all benefits, payroll, on-boarding, and off-boarding matters.

Operational Excellence:

• Implement action plans to improve key performance indicators to maximize business
• Work with the UGS team members to help identify opportunities to improve store operations efficiency
• Receive products into the ordering systems to validate delivery and inventory levels
• Review online orders and prepare merchandise for shipping
• Manage controllable expenses and work with the accounting team to provide necessary documentation
• Perform and or delegate opening and closing routines including execution of bank deposits, receipt of shipment, and interpret / disseminate UGS directives
• Maintain store policies and procedures
• Incorporate loss prevention and safety messages into daily operations and work with university officials as the need arises
• Maintain a safe and clean environment in accordance with university and UGS policies
• Collect and analyze information and data to generate reports
• Troubleshoot and aid in problem solving backend and frontend issues as they arise
• Work hours are primarily 9am to 5pm Monday – Friday, however availability for varied weekly shifts including occasional weekends, evening events and peak shifts hours required

Community Outreach:

• Weekly outreach to departments, faculty, administration, student groups and other auxiliary services for the purpose of building trustworthy relationships
• Monthly meeting/communication with UGS contract administrator
• Implement all additional services and programs that pertain to community involvement
• Be present and available for as many community activities and events as possible
• Establish an Advisory Committee that meets four times a year for the purpose of understanding branded needs and measure the success of past performance

Other Duties

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Knowledge and Experience

• 3 years’ retail store management, customer service and/or merchandising experience
• 3 years’ experience staffing and leading a high performing, customer focused retail sales team
• Demonstrated technical expertise in point-of-sale systems and troubleshooting POS issues
• Broad range of product knowledge including apparel, hardgoods and tech accessories a plus
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite of products, especially Outlook, Excel, Word, and Teams
• Proficiency with mobile point-of-sale hardware technology
• Experience with shipping software a plus

Core Competencies:

• Ability to lead and coach individuals and teams, give constructive feedback, and motivate others to be high performers
• Consultative customer service through active listening and interpersonal communication
• Proven ability to drive sales results
• Ability to think critically, problem solve and use sound judgment
• Willingness to learn and embrace new procedures and new technologies
• Willingness to be flexible with time and adjust to a fast-paced and ever-changing work environment
• Detail oriented with proven organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and collectively with the team and across multiple entities (vendors, partners, corporate teams)
• Strong self-motivation toward the achievement of strategic and tactical goals
• High sense of urgency and willingness to take initiative
• Positive and professional demeanor with the ability to remain calm in high pressure situations
• Ability to maneuver around sales floor, stockroom and mailroom, bend, stoop, and kneel frequently, and lift up to 40 lbs. with or without reasonable accommodation

Education and Training:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in related field preferred

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $24.00 per hour

Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Shift:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to Commute:

• Castleton, VT 05735 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Castleton, VT 05735: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $24