Retail Area Manager

Guitar Center • Sterling, VA

4d

About The Position

The Retail Area Manager leads the performance of 2 to 5 retail stores within a defined district. This management-focused role is responsible for building effective teams, driving sales, rentals, and lessons performance, developing store-level leaders and associates, and ensuring operational standards across the assigned stores. The role has multi-unit P&L responsibility for sales, margin, and EBITDA and reports to the District Manager.

Music & Arts is part of the Guitar Center enterprise and operates more than 225 retail stores, 200 educational representatives, and 250 affiliate locations. The company’s mission is to help people experience the joy of playing music, guided by customer focus, respect, integrity, and passion.

The position requires regular travel between assigned stores, approximately 50–70%. Full-time employees are offered benefits and perks including medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) with company match, mental health support, paid sick, holiday, and vacation time, an employee discount program, tuition reimbursement options, and gig leave for employee musicians.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least 3 years of retail store leadership or equivalent experience.
• Proven success managing P&L and delivering strong sales performance.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, coach, and retain high-performing teams.
• Strong operational execution and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across field and corporate teams.
• Ability to travel regularly between assigned stores (50–70%).

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own P&L results for an assigned cluster of 2–5 stores.
• Deliver sales, margin, and EBITDA targets across product sales, rentals, and lessons.
• Analyze store- and associate-level KPIs, develop action plans, set expectations, and hold teams accountable.
• Ensure execution of promotions, seasonal campaigns, and upsell initiatives.
• Directly manage part-time and full-time retail associates and teachers across multiple stores.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and train employees; provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance management.
• Foster an inclusive, engaged, performance-driven culture aligned with Music & Arts values.
• Ensure rental-season readiness across assigned stores.
• Drive compliance, task completion, and adherence to operational and merchandising standards.
• Ensure adoption of enterprise tools and systems to improve efficiency and reporting.
• Maintain physical store standards, facilities, and safety compliance.
• Champion a customer- and educator-first culture and ensure seamless experiences for rentals, lessons, and product purchases.
• Coach associates to improve customer experience and resolve escalated issues directly and quickly.
• Partner with local Ed Reps to improve educator relationships and the rental experience.
• Travel regularly between assigned stores, approximately 50–70%.

Benefits

• For employee musicians, gig leave to take time off to share their music and return to the job after a tour.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits for full-time employees.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Mental health support.
• Paid sick, holiday, and vacation time.
• Employee discount program.
• Tuition reimbursement options.

What This Job Offers

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