Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Assistant Retail Manager

💰 $40,000 - $65,000

RetailManagementOperationsCustomer Service

🎯 Role Definition

The Assistant Retail Manager supports the Store Manager in driving sales, operational excellence, and exceptional customer experience across all store functions. This role supervises day-to-day store operations, leads and develops hourly associates, enforces company policies (including loss prevention and cash controls), executes merchandising and promotional plans, and uses operational metrics to improve store performance. The ideal candidate combines hands-on retail experience with strong leadership, coaching ability, and a data-informed approach to meet sales targets and store KPIs.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Sales Associate or Lead Sales Associate with supervisory responsibilities
  • Department Supervisor or Shift Lead in retail or grocery
  • Store Supervisor from a smaller-format retail location

Advancement To:

  • Store Manager / Retail Store Manager
  • Multi-Unit Supervisor or Area Manager
  • Operations Manager or District Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Visual Merchandising Manager
  • Inventory or Supply Chain Coordinator (retail-focused)
  • Loss Prevention Supervisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assist the Store Manager in achieving and consistently exceeding weekly and monthly sales targets by coaching the sales team, driving conversion, and optimizing customer engagement strategies.
  • Lead daily store operations including opening and closing procedures, cash handling, register reconciliation, and ensuring compliance with corporate cash controls and POS policies.
  • Schedule, coach and mentor hourly associates to maximize productivity and morale; conduct regular 1:1s, provide real-time feedback, and support development plans and performance reviews.
  • Monitor and analyze store KPIs (sales per labor hour, conversion, average transaction value, units per transaction) and develop action plans to address gaps and scale best practices.
  • Manage inventory accuracy through cycle counts, receiving oversight, discrepancy resolution, and partnering with replenishment teams to maintain in-stock levels and minimize overstock.
  • Execute visual merchandising and planogram compliance to brand standards, lead promotional resets, and coordinate seasonal floor changes to drive conversion and impulse purchases.
  • Drive shrink reduction and loss prevention initiatives by enforcing security procedures, training staff on cash and inventory controls, and coordinating with loss prevention teams on investigations.
  • Manage payroll and labor costs within budgeted targets by optimizing schedules and reallocating coverage during peak periods while maintaining excellent customer service.
  • Resolve escalated customer complaints and complex service issues with empathy and speed, turning negative experiences into opportunities for retention and positive reviews.
  • Conduct onboarding and role-specific training for new hires, ensuring competency on POS systems, customer service standards, product knowledge, and safety procedures.
  • Coordinate receiving, stocking, and backroom organization to ensure timely product availability on the selling floor and accurate inventory reporting.
  • Support store merchandising and local marketing execution by liaising with vendors, regional marketing, and the district team to implement in-store events and cross-promotions.
  • Maintain store safety and regulatory compliance by conducting safety inspections, ensuring OSHA and local health code standards are met, and facilitating emergency preparedness.
  • Prepare and submit daily/weekly operational reports (sales, shrink, labor variance, markdowns, receipt discrepancies) to the Store Manager and district leadership.
  • Assist in hiring decisions by participating in interviews, evaluating candidate fit against role competencies, and onboarding new team members for retention and performance.
  • Lead by example during peak service periods by selling on the floor, coaching through live situations, and modeling high standards of customer interaction.
  • Implement pricing and promotional changes accurately and timely, ensuring front-line teams understand promotion mechanics and upsell opportunities.
  • Partner with the Store Manager to review P&L drivers, identify margin improvement opportunities, and recommend changes to product mix or promotional cadence.
  • Facilitate merchandising audits and third-party or corporate visits by ensuring store presentation, compliance documentation, and operational readiness are maintained.
  • Troubleshoot POS, payment, and transaction issues in partnership with IT or support teams to minimize downtime and impact on customer experience.
  • Coordinate with regional operations on store projects such as remodels, technology rollouts, and test-and-learn initiatives to deliver consistent execution.
  • Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture by recognizing strong performance, supporting career development, and promoting cross-functional teamwork.
  • Implement and maintain loyalty and CRM initiatives at the store level to improve customer retention, increase basket size, and grow lifetime value.
  • Manage vendor relationships and service technicians for in-store equipment, ensuring timely resolution of maintenance and repair needs that affect operations.
  • Oversee markdown and clearance strategies to maximize sell-through while protecting margin and inventory health.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc reporting requests such as sales trend analysis, labor variance deep dives, or customer feedback summaries to inform district-level decisions.
  • Assist the Store Manager with seasonal labor forecasting and resource planning for peak shopping periods (holidays, back-to-school, special events).
  • Participate in cross-store initiatives such as inter-store transfers, central pick-up programs, and click-and-collect process improvements to streamline omnichannel fulfillment.
  • Contribute to local community outreach efforts and store-level events to increase brand awareness and drive foot traffic.
  • Help develop and test new SOPs or pilot programs and provide detailed feedback on operational viability and team adoption.
  • Provide input to merchandising and buying teams on localized product performance and customer preferences to inform assortment decisions.
  • Maintain training records and compliance documentation to support HR audits and corporate governance requirements.
  • Act as interim Store Manager during absences, ensuring continuity of operations and leadership across all store functions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Point-of-Sale (POS) system expertise — ability to manage transactions, handle returns/exchanges, and troubleshoot register issues.
  • Inventory management and cycle-count proficiency, including discrepancy investigation and reconciliation procedures.
  • Labor scheduling and payroll management experience with workforce management tools (e.g., Kronos, ADP, Deputy).
  • Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, basic formulas) for analyzing sales reports, inventory data, and labor metrics.
  • Familiarity with retail KPI tracking and analytics (sales per square foot, conversion rates, basket sizes, shrink).
  • Visual merchandising and planogram execution knowledge to maintain brand standards and maximize product visibility.
  • Cash handling, banking procedures, and deposit reconciliation experience with strong internal control awareness.
  • Experience with CRM, loyalty, or omnichannel retail systems and the ability to drive in-store adoption.
  • Basic P&L and margin understanding to support cost-control and profitability initiatives.
  • Loss prevention techniques and basic incident reporting protocols to reduce theft and operational risk.
  • Knowledge of local health, safety, and accessibility regulations relevant to retail store operations.

Soft Skills

  • Leadership and people development: ability to coach, motivate, and drive performance across hourly teams.
  • Exceptional customer service orientation with strong conflict resolution and de-escalation capabilities.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication for clear delegation, feedback, and cross-functional coordination.
  • Problem-solving and decision-making under pressure while maintaining composure during peak retail periods.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to balance operational tasks, team needs, and customer demands.
  • Adaptability and resilience to pivot quickly during stock shortages, promotions, or unexpected team changes.
  • Attention to detail and accountability for compliance, merchandising precision, and cash controls.
  • Team-building and cultural leadership to foster inclusivity, retention, and high morale.
  • Coaching and training competency to build a multi-skilled frontline team capable of achieving store goals.
  • Analytical mindset with a bias for using data to inform operational improvements and sales strategies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent (required).

Preferred Education:

  • Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Retail Management, Marketing, or a related field (preferred).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Business Administration
  • Retail Management
  • Marketing
  • Supply Chain / Logistics
  • Hospitality Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2–5 years of retail experience, with 1–3 years in a supervisory or lead role.

Preferred:

  • 3+ years of progressive retail leadership experience, including store operations, inventory control, and team development; prior experience in multi-unit environments or with high-volume seasonal peaks considered an advantage.
Explore More Careers