FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

Leadership opportunity awaits as Store Manager at AO’s Huntsville location!

As an AO Store Manager, you will be a part of the retail management team that helps deliver the top-quality products and service that AO provides.  We require our management team to be enthusiastically passionate about creating a work environment that supports the people you manage, promoting the enjoyment of the outdoors and delivering value to our customers.

You need to be able to assess your store from the customer perspective and communicate obstacles and opportunities, and your ideas for improvements for the daily operations to Senior Management. Your focus on the sales floor will help to ensure that all facets of the day-to-day business exceed our standards from presentation to customer service. Working with a broader organizational team to track and achieve financial goals.

As a leader, you recognize the strengths of the team and focus on developing talent.  At the same time, you know when and how to have effective performance management conversations.  You will promote ownership and accountability amongst your team along with respectful communication.

Working at AO is not just a job – it is an experience!  We provide a full range of innovative and leading-edge quality equipment, coupled with expert advice, that stems from our enthusiasm for outdoor adventure.  As an AO leader, you will be instrumental in creating an awesome experience for our employees and our customers.

Come join our leadership team and have fun in the great outdoors!

Want to know more about this opportunity?  Read on…

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Below is a sampling of the things you will be accountable for as a Store Manager.

The ideal candidate will have an ability to manage the daily operations of the retail store and complete tasks related to inventory tracking, marketing, and customer service. You should be a confident salesperson and able to share your best practices to effectively onboard new, and enhance the skills of, existing employees.

More specifically, this involves:

 

Team Leadership and Development:

• Create an engaged and energized work environment where employees are excited and proud to work!
• Lead your team to success and show them how to be an AO Ambassador exhibiting positivity, friendliness, respect, knowledge, and professionalism.
• Recruit and hire employees – full-time, part-time, and seasonal.
• Coach team members on problem solving, customer service, safety, and ways to be successful in their roles.
• Assess performance and address any issues proactively by delivering honest and constructive feedback, holding team members accountable when necessary.
• Create and maintain accurate schedules for your team, ensuring optimal coverage in the store.
• Hold regular team meetings to improve service and sales.

 

Store Operations:

• Ensure the efficient execution of store operations with timely management of ordering, receiving, expense management, and other day-to-day processes.
• Create an awesome experience and deliver excellent customer service every day.
• Open and close the store – you will be a keyholder and have cash handling duties.
• Manage curbside sales and summer / winter rental operations for all equipment and gear we offer.
• Audit and investigate any cash shortages and inventory variations.
• Attend regular management meetings and communicate effectively with internal departments (e.g., finance, marketing, buying, distribution centre, etc.).
• Protect employees and customers by providing a safe and clean store environment.
• Manage and staff a satellite location at Hidden Valley Resort.

 

Sales:

• Ensure consistent, friendly, and informed service to customers, first by the example you set and second by the training and encouragement of first-class service by all your team.
• Help meet sales targets / drive sales growth by selling on the floor and growing the sales skills of your team.
• Assist customers in finding the products that fit their needs – AO is a hands-on operation so the Manager will still answer phones, welcome customers to the store, work cash, etc.
• The goal is to provide an exceptional customer experience and encourage repeat business.

 

Merchandising & Inventory:

• Work with our merchandising teams (hard and soft goods) on tasks such as tracking inventory levels, creating product displays, promoting our brands and events, providing feedback on what is selling (or not), etc.
• Ensure the store engages in effective and appealing visual merchandising.
• Provide feedback to help tailor the inventory, selection and assortment of items to reflect your community and customer.
• Receive shipments and ensure stock gets onto the floor in a timely manner.
• Assist with buying of various retail product lines.

 

What You Will Need    

You will bring to us previous management or supervisory experience (3-6 years) in a retail and customer service environment – and it would be awesome (but not mandatory) if this experience was in the outdoor retail industry!  We look for our Managers to be hands-on individuals with the ability to multitask and prioritize effectively. Flexibility in this management role is a necessary ingredient for success.

Here are a few other things that will help to make you a successful Store Manager with AO.

• Knowledge and love of the outdoors, apparel, and gear and a passion to live an active lifestyle.
• Natural talent for motivating and developing teams that consist of individuals at all skill levels.

• Able to delegate and work through others, as opposed to having to do it all yourself.

• Experience driving positive key financial results.
• Ability to organize, plan and prioritize operational workloads – this includes managing your own time efficiently and effectively.

• Superior customer service and communication skills.

• Comfort with communicating clearly and comfortably across all levels of the business, focusing on building collaborative relationships.
• Positive energy, outstanding interpersonal skills and an engaging and approachable personality.
• Comfort with presenting information and ability to respond to questions and address issues proactively, remaining calm under pressure.

• Technological savviness with previous POS experience.
• Desire to go above and beyond with a can-do attitude.

AO is a retail operation so evening, weekend and some holiday work is part of the norm.  As you know, in a retail setting you also need to be able to be on your feet throughout much of the day.  The successful candidate will be expected to work alongside their team daily to train, motivate and coach them on how to provide top-quality service and knowledge to our customers.

 

What We Offer

This is a permanent full-time opportunity with AO, with a pay range of $45,000 – $60,000 per annum, commensurate with experience. In addition to your base pay, AO also offers a range of initiatives to support our employee’s well-being and work experience.

 

How to Let Us Know About You

We would love to receive your resume along with a brief cover letter that tells us more about you!  Please be sure to include a brief note (1-2 paragraphs) on who you are and why you would be a great addition to the AO team.

 

Who We Are

Algonquin Outfitters is an Outdoor Adventure Store with locations in Algonquin Park, Haliburton Highlands and Muskoka. We are family owned and have been fueling adventures since 1961!

Our operations are diverse and provide opportunity for individuals with a variety of skill sets.  If you have an interest in Algonquin Park, Canoe Trips, Camping, Hiking, Technical Outdoor Products or Retail Operations, we have several opportunities that may appeal to you!

AO looks for individuals who want to join a team that is passionate about enabling people to get outside and lead active and adventurous lifestyles!  For many of us at AO, it’s not so much a job as it is a way of life.

 

What it is Like to Work Here

Working at AO isn’t so much about work as it is a life experience. We firmly believe in staff expertise in the products and services that we provide, and that means we encourage you to try as many of the activities AO has to offer.  We are a team that ramps up to 175 employees during our peak seasons and embrace the diversity that so many team members bring to us.

 

Check out What It Is Like to work at the Outfitters!

Thank you for your interest in Algonquin Outfitters!