Assistant in Training

White Oaks Plaza•Springfield, IL

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant in Training (AIT) supports the Store Manager and Leadership Team in creating an enjoyable shopping experience for Guests. The role combines sales, guest service, merchandising, and store operations, while developing skills in recruiting, training, motivating, and leading Teammates. The AIT may act as Store Manager in the manager’s absence. The Assistant Manager role is a progression from AIT and includes additional higher-level duties, though most duties are shared. The position involves meeting personal and store sales goals, delivering attentive service, developing Guest relationships, and supporting Teammate development. It also includes visual merchandising and zone ownership, maintaining store standards, completing operational and planning tasks, following loss-prevention and company policies, and assisting with staffing and store leadership. The listed pay range is $17–$20 per hour, estimated as base rate plus commission for sales positions. Final offers depend on factors including skills, experience, location, and qualifications. Buckle describes benefits for both full-time and part-time Teammates; eligibility varies by benefit and employment status. The role is performed in a retail store setting, with a usually moderate noise level. The schedule is flexible and may include mornings, evenings, weekends, and the day of or day after Thanksgiving and Christmas, depending on store and business needs. The role requires regular standing, walking, handling merchandise, reaching, climbing or balancing, jumping, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and talking or hearing; sitting is occasional. Teammates must be physically able to lift and maneuver 50 pounds throughout the store and backroom.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, or one to three months of related retail experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to work a flexible schedule that may include mornings, evenings, weekends, and the day of or day after Thanksgiving and Christmas, based on store and business needs.
Ability to travel to and cover other stores within the district based on business needs.
Ability to lift and maneuver 50 pounds throughout the store and backroom.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including regular standing, walking, handling or feeling objects, reaching, climbing or balancing, jumping, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and talking or hearing; occasional sitting is required.
Ability to execute and teach point-of-sale procedures and follow company policies, including loss-prevention procedures.
Ability to communicate professionally, give and receive feedback, problem-solve, and support Teammate development.

Responsibilities

Greet Guests, provide attentive service, answer merchandise questions, recommend and locate products, and help create a wardrobing experience.
Meet personal sales-per-hour, average-sale, and total-net-sales goals, and contribute to store sales performance and Guest loyalty.
Demonstrate product knowledge and showmanship, share sales and product education with the Team, and use the Sales Presentation Guide (SPG) to support sales goals.
Build Guest relationships and client-based business, recognize Guest levels, and support fit appointments, Buckle credit card applications, and Guest Connect.
Plan sales goals with the Store Manager and demonstrate ownership of store sales performance, including sales, average sale, business builders, and denim.
Recognize recruiting opportunities and assist the Store Manager with recruiting and staffing needs.
Assist in leading, directing, motivating, training, and educating Teammates on accountability, shift orientation, loss prevention, sales presentation, and non-sales positions.
Help maintain a positive floor culture, model the dress code, coach Teammates, support daily setup and training, and use the Performance Tracker.
Support department results, execute department-calendar actions, complete check-ins, and help implement the store’s education focus and business goals.
Own and influence product zones; assign zones and projects, demonstrate zone-ownership tools, and partner with the Store Manager to delegate, demonstrate, and review visual zones.
Monitor visual standards and checklists, identify merchandising opportunities, ensure freight is displayed appropriately, and maintain a sized, organized sales floor and backroom.
Work a schedule that may include mornings, evenings, weekends, and the day of or day after Thanksgiving and Christmas, based on business needs.
Use the planner and complete opening and closing checklists; complete markdowns, pulls, freight processing, recalls, and returns to vendors.
Watch for security risks and theft, follow loss-prevention practices, perform required bag and purse checks, and execute and teach point-of-sale procedures.
Handle calls from the Corporate Office and follow policies for payments, returns, exchanges, loss prevention, and other company procedures.
Maintain a clean, organized, and shoppable store; communicate merchandise-handling concerns and policy violations or Teammate or Guest concerns to appropriate leaders or Human Resources.
Complete assigned shifts and cover shifts when needed; handle schedule changes professionally and travel to or cover other district stores based on business needs.
Assist the Store Manager in supervising, conducting interviews as needed, supporting Team development, and addressing emergencies in the Store Manager’s absence.
Complete new-hire paperwork and tasks promptly and accurately according to Human Resources guidelines and legal policies.
Build relationships and communicate with Corporate Office departments to support effective store operations.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Benefits

Medical coverage with a choice of two plans; preventive care is covered at 100%, and plans include virtual care access.
Dental and vision insurance.
24/7 virtual care for general, behavioral, and dermatology consultations.
Employee Assistance Program with confidential counseling, wellness coaching, and self-care tools.
401(k) with traditional and Roth options and discretionary company matching contributions for qualifying Teammates.
Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts; Buckle contributes to an HSA for Teammates enrolled in the high-deductible medical plan.
Performance-based incentive bonuses for eligible Teammates.
40% discount on Buckle products and 25% discount on Buckle gift cards.
Vacation time earned according to role and years of service, with stated starting amounts of 80 or 120 hours depending on employment status and prorated for the first partial year.
40 hours of sick time per year, or more where required by law, prorated for the first partial year; up to 80 hours may carry over, subject to an 80-hour annual maximum including carryover.
One floating holiday and up to three days of bereavement leave.
One paid volunteer day for salaried Teammates.
Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance, with optional supplemental life and short- and long-term disability plans.
Paid and unpaid leave of absence options for qualifying situations, with Benefits Team guidance; eligible salaried Teammates may receive medical leave pay usable as paid parental leave for qualifying circumstances.
Optional accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverage.
Optional legal services, identity theft protection, and pet insurance for eligible Teammates.
Eligible part-time Teammates may choose between two medical plans; preventive care is covered at 100%, and plans include virtual care access.
Paid leave accrual in applicable states, at one hour for every 30 hours worked.