Operations Manager

Ulta Beauty, Inc.•Buckeye, AZ

About The Position

The Operations Manager (OM) leads through Ulta Beauty’s mission, vision, and values to develop a high-performing team and support store sales growth. The OM leads Task Associates and the Merchandise Manager and supports retail-store operations, including realignments, planograms, and inventory lifecycle processes such as cycle counts, damages, testers, returns to vendors, destroy-in-field, and inventory adjustments. The role drives store performance, talent acquisition and development, and compliance with operating procedures and standards. The position calls for operational excellence, results orientation, adaptability in complex situations, and the ability to lead, influence, and develop a team. The OM promotes sales and service goals, manages operational execution and expenses, reviews store results, and supports guest service. The role also recruits and develops associates, fosters an inclusive and engaged team, and ensures store policies, safety, inventory controls, and loss-prevention practices are followed. The role requires a flexible, full-time schedule that includes days, evenings, weekends, and holidays, with availability for Sunday and Monday shifts. Attendance at corporate business meetings and conferences is required. The work involves continuous mobility and object coordination, frequent bending and reaching, lifting or moving up to 25 pounds, and frequent computer and telephone use.

Requirements

2–3+ years of fast-paced retail management or other relevant work experience.
Financial management experience, including driving sales, interpreting reporting data, managing payroll budgets, and controlling expenses.
Retail management ability, including monitoring inventory, achieving operational excellence, driving a service culture, and executing merchandising directives.
Leadership experience attracting, developing, and motivating talent; adapting to and leading through change; building collaborative relationships; and influencing a team.
Proficiency with basic technology, such as point-of-sale systems, Microsoft Office programs, and Apple devices.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks.
Ability to react under pressure, exercise good judgment in ambiguous situations, and remain flexible and adaptable.
Availability for a flexible, full-time schedule that includes days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Availability to work shifts on Sundays and Mondays.
Ability to attend corporate business meetings and conferences.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Promote accountability for store goals in retail and service sales, guest loyalty, payroll, omni-channel, and retail shrink.
Drive profitability through operational excellence, sales growth, and expense control.
Use store forecasts and payroll budgets to support scheduling, productivity, sales and payroll goals, and timely workload completion.
Review and respond to financial and operational reporting, including store visit and audit results.
Use company programs, tools, and resources to improve store results.
Provide makeup applications, skincare analysis, and product demonstrations to guests.
Stay informed about industry trends, products, services, ingredients, and benefits to serve guests effectively.
Maintain regular attendance and hold store associates accountable to the attendance policy.
Attract, hire, and retain diverse talent and address staffing needs and open positions.
Build an engaged team through collaboration, open communication, and work prioritization.
Create an inclusive environment that encourages associate growth and engagement.
Support professional development through training, feedback, coaching, performance reviews, succession planning, and individual development plans.
Participate in ongoing brand and category training and ensure direct reports do the same.
Build professional vendor partnerships to support shipment and planogram expectations.
Model operational excellence alongside the leadership team by setting priorities, providing direction and support, and sharing best practices.
Execute the Guest Engagement Leader program through business ownership, associate coaching, and a helpful guest experience.
Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, standards, and dress code.
Oversee operational execution, including advertising sets, visual sets, planograms, realignments, and inventory lifecycle processes.
Use the company scheduling tool to adjust schedules and manage attendance during manager-on-duty shifts.
Use the company task management tool to prioritize store workload, including resets, pricing updates, inventory tasks, cleaning, and replenishment.
Manage service, boutique, and store supply inventories and ordering within allocated budgets.
Protect company assets and minimize loss through workplace safety, inventory control, cash management, and loss-prevention standards.
Execute inventory control processes, including handling known theft, damages, hazardous waste, inventory adjustments, and product returns, and complete theft reporting as needed.
Support adoption of company initiatives and technology and ensure store tasks are executed.
Communicate business trends, opportunities, events, operational challenges, merchandise needs, and competitive conditions to field leadership.