Assistant Manager - The Mall at University Town Center

Lush Handmade Cosmetics•Sarasota, FL

About The Position

The Assistant Manager (ASM) supports the Shop Manager in all areas of the business as needed and as delegated by the Retailer. As second-in-command, the ASM takes on Manager duties when required to help deliver a strong customer and staff experience, operational excellence, and sales results. The role applies Lush’s Leadership Practices—Be Real, Be Curious, Lead Fearlessly, Adapt and Evolve, Grow Talent, and Live with Purpose—in interactions with customers, staff, and shop operations. The ASM helps create an inclusive customer experience, build customer and staff knowledge of Lush’s brand values, and drive sales through product knowledge and understanding of business metrics. The role also supports team leadership, recruitment, staff development, inventory, shop standards, visual merchandising, scheduling, and time and attendance. The position is listed at 40 hours per week. Lush describes its retail environment as fun and individualistic, with opportunities for growth and a 50% discount on products.

Requirements

1–3 years of managing or supervising in a retail environment.
Excellent listening and communication skills.
Excellent analytical, critical-thinking, and troubleshooting skills.
Excellent organization and time-management skills.
Strong customer-service, supervisory, and sales skills.
Knowledge of and interest in skincare, natural beauty, and ethical business.
Ability to work flexible hours to meet shop needs, including holidays, evenings, and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Experience with consultation-based customer-service models.
Ability to develop and train staff through positive coaching and feedback.
Proficiency in Excel and Microsoft Suite, and adaptability to other systems.
Basic human-resources skills in hiring, scheduling, training, and performance management.
Experience in cross-cultural collaboration and DEIB or social-justice training.
Fluency in Spanish, French, or other languages.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the team on plans to exceed daily sales goals and provide a unique, inclusive customer experience.
Educate customers and staff about Lush’s brand values and communicate its positions on Fighting Animal Testing, Freshest Cosmetics, Ethical Buying, 100% Vegetarian, Handmade, and Naked Packaging.
Build product knowledge through ongoing learning and make informed product recommendations.
Understand sales metrics, budgets, and reports, and use behaviors on the sales floor to contribute to profitable results.
Support the team on the sales floor by answering questions, removing obstacles, solving problems, and motivating staff to meet sales goals.
Develop personal skills by assessing performance, seeking feedback, and pursuing resources and opportunities to improve.
Support team growth through coaching and leading by example.
Communicate needs and feedback to team members and leaders, and adapt to business needs.
Engage the team to support motivation, strong peer and customer relationships, and connection to brand values.
Support shop staffing by networking, recruiting, hiring, and succession planning.
Collaborate with the Manager on plans to improve staff engagement, retention, performance, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging practices.
Support the Manager in maintaining shop compliance and company standards for opening and closing, product integrity, respectful workplace practices, health and safety, and daily communication.
Support inventory team training on freshness standards and rotation rules, and manage ordering to maintain appropriate stock within the allocated budget.
Help develop the team’s ownership of a clean, attractive work environment and adherence to merchandising and design standards.
Ensure appropriate staffing and skill coverage at peak times, and ensure breaks and meals are allocated and recorded appropriately.