Assistant in Training

The Buckle, Inc.•Rockford, IL

3d•$17 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant in Training (AIT) supports the Store Manager and Leadership Team in fulfilling Buckle’s mission to create the most enjoyable shopping experience possible for Guests. The role performs sales, merchandising, and operational tasks, including cashiering, merchandise display and pulls, register procedures, and routine store cleaning. The AIT helps develop sales, recruit Teammates, provide leadership, and share responsibility for training and motivating Teammates. The AIT may act as Store Manager in the manager’s absence. The Assistant Manager position is a progression from AIT and includes additional high-level duties, although most duties are shared. The position focuses on sales generation and Guest service; recruiting, training, and developing Teammates; visual merchandising; store operations; and supervisory leadership. It requires a flexible schedule that may include mornings, evenings, weekends, and the day of or day after Thanksgiving and Christmas, depending on store and business needs. The role assists the Store Manager in supervising and may travel to cover other stores within the district based on business needs. The listed estimated pay range is $17–$20 per hour, including estimated base pay plus sales commission. Final offers depend on factors such as skills, experience, location, and qualifications. The job description outlines full-time and part-time Teammate benefits, with eligibility depending on employment status and other requirements. The role is performed in a retail store setting, with a usually moderate noise level. Physical tasks include standing, walking, handling items, reaching, climbing or balancing, jumping, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, talking, and hearing; occasional sitting; and lifting and maneuvering up to 50 pounds throughout the store and backroom. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

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 provide customer service, sell merchandise, meet sales goals, and maintain product and sales-promotion knowledge.
Ability to train, coach, motivate, and communicate effectively with Teammates and Guests.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, potentially including mornings, evenings, weekends, and the day of or day after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Ability to complete scheduled shifts and cover shifts when needed.
Ability to travel to cover other stores within the district based on business needs.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the job, including lifting and maneuvering 50 pounds throughout the store and backroom.
Ability to meet the visual requirements of the role, including close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and adjustment of focus.

Responsibilities

Greet Guests, provide engaging and knowledgeable service, recommend and locate merchandise, anticipate Guest needs, and create wardrobing opportunities.
Meet personal sales-per-hour, average sale, total net sales, business-builder, and Guest-loyalty goals; use the Sales Presentation Guide and contribute to store sales performance.
Maintain product, promotion, payment, return, exchange, and security knowledge; build Guest relationships and support client-based business.
Plan sales goals with the Store Manager and demonstrate leadership, showmanship, product education, and consistent standards whether or not the Manager is present.
Identify recruiting opportunities; assist the Store Manager with staffing and recruitment; maintain talent contacts and referrals.
Train, coach, motivate, and develop Teammates in accountability, sales presentation, loss prevention, shift orientation, product knowledge, and non-sales roles.
Participate in daily setup, training, impacting, and review; use the Performance Tracker and execute department calendars, delegated actions, and training plans.
Promote a positive floor culture, demonstrate dress-code expectations, communicate with the Team, and help execute store segments and business goals.
Own and influence product through zone ownership; assign and teach zone work, partner with the Store Manager on visual execution, and ensure visual standards and checklists are followed.
Identify merchandising opportunities, maintain a sized and shoppable sales floor, display new freight appropriately, and uphold visual standards on the sales floor and in the backroom.
Work a flexible schedule based on store and business needs, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and specified holiday periods.
Complete opening and closing checklists; execute and teach point-of-sale procedures; complete markdowns, pulls, freight, recalls, and vendor returns.
Follow loss-prevention, security, payment, return, exchange, company policy, ethics, and handbook requirements; recognize and address security risks and theft.
Maintain a clean, organized store and adequate supply inventory; communicate merchandise-handling concerns and policy violations or Teammate or Guest concerns to appropriate leaders or Human Resources.
Complete new-hire paperwork and tasks in accordance with Human Resources guidelines and legal policies; support planning across weekly, monthly, and yearly periods.
Assist with interviews, scheduling changes, shift coverage, problem-solving, feedback, leadership development, and special projects.
Establish communication with Corporate Office departments and handle emergencies in the Store Manager’s absence according to company guidelines.
Travel to and cover other stores within the district when business needs require.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical coverage with a choice of two plans, preventive care covered at 100%, and virtual care access.
Dental and vision insurance.
24/7 virtual 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 eligible enrollment in the high-deductible medical plan.
Performance bonuses for eligible Teammates.
40% discount on Buckle products and 25% discount on Buckle gift cards.
Vacation time, sick time, a floating holiday, and bereavement leave, subject to role, service, employment status, and applicable terms.
Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance, with options for supplemental life and short- and long-term disability plans.
Paid and unpaid leave of absence support for qualifying situations; eligible salaried Teammates may receive medical leave pay that can be used as paid parental leave for qualifying Teammates.
Optional accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverage.
Legal services, identity theft protection, and pet insurance for eligible Teammates.
Eligible part-time Teammates may access medical plans, 401(k) with company match, and mental health resources.
Paid leave accrues in applicable states as required by law.