DSW Associate Store Manager

Designer Brands • Algonquin, IL

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Store Manager supports and performs store management functions across customer service, merchandising, omnichannel activities, and inventory operations to drive sales and results. The role partners with the management team to understand store priorities and participates in merchandise placement, fulfillment, store recovery, policy compliance, asset protection, assigned projects, and opening and closing activities.

The Associate Store Manager models customer experience behaviors, coaches associates, responds promptly to customer and associate feedback, and helps maintain store standards. The role reviews and communicates action plans, tracks progress against sales and other performance metrics, and uses inventory reports to improve productivity and merchandise presentation. It also supports audits, donations, transfers, mismates, damages, freight receipt, product placement, markdowns, out-of-stock processes, and in-store omnichannel services such as Charge/Send and Buy Online Pick Up In Store.

The position helps ensure a safe store environment, reports equipment issues, supports associate timekeeping and labor deliverables, and assists with associate relations matters. It also contributes to team development through training, coaching, feedback, recognition, and motivation; assists with recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding; and performs other store duties as assigned by the Store Manager and/or Co-Manager.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of management experience.
• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Excellent customer service skills, including professionalism, a positive mindset, and enthusiasm.
• Ability to develop collaborative working relationships.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work at a fast pace and hold the team accountable to time-bound expectations.
• Availability to meet business needs, including nights, weekends, holidays, and shifts outside traditional business hours.
• Proficiency with technology used for customer interactions, including a register, register keyboard, iPhone, and calculator.
• Ability to spend up to 100% of working time standing or walking around the store.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds on an occasional to frequent basis.
• Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl on a frequent basis.

Nice To Haves

• Some college.

Responsibilities

• Model Customer Experience Leader behaviors and coach associates to achieve store goals and key performance indicators.
• Respond to customer and associate requests or feedback with a high sense of urgency.
• Maintain store standards and complete daily opening and closing tasks, including cleaning, recovery, and maintenance.
• Review and communicate action plans to ensure tasks are completed throughout the day, week, and month.
• Review, understand, and communicate progress toward metric-based goals.
• Use inventory reports to improve productivity and merchandise presentations on the sales floor.
• Ensure execution of processes related to audits, donations, transfers, mismates, damages, and similar inventory activities.
• Work with the Store Manager to ensure policies and procedures are followed.
• Set expectations, participate in, and follow up on inventory activities, including freight receipt, product placement, markdowns, and mark out of stock processes.
• Set expectations, participate in, and follow up on in-store omnichannel activities, including Charge/Send and Buy Online Pick Up In Store.
• Collect and submit supply needs for store operations.
• Help ensure a safe environment for customers and associates, and report equipment issues to the Store Manager.
• Ensure associates are equipped to resolve customer concerns and know when to escalate them to the Store Manager.
• Support the Store Manager with scheduling, forecasting, payroll management, and other associate timekeeping and labor deliverables.
• Support the Store Manager in resolving associate relations matters and provide feedback on associate performance and issues.
• Recognize the store team using company recognition tools.
• Support team development through training, coaching, feedback, and motivation.
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding Store Associate candidates.
• Delegate or perform other associate duties and carry out other duties assigned by the Store Manager and/or Co-Manager.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED