Store Team Leader - Retail Merchandising - Skokie, IL

L.L.Bean • Skokie, IL

3d • $21 - $26 • Onsite

About The Position

L.L.Bean is seeking a Store Team Leader of Retail Merchandising for its Old Orchard Retail Store in Skokie, Illinois. This support role in the Product area drives business results, directs team talent, supports the store leadership team, and helps deliver the L.L.Bean customer experience in an outdoor lifestyle retail store. The role promotes the company’s values of Outdoor Heritage, Integrity, Service, Respect, Perseverance, and Safe and Healthy Living.

The position plans and executes merchandise presentations, floor sets, visual displays, signage, promotions, markdowns, and replenishment in coordination with the Operations Productivity team. It uses business reports and sales trends to identify opportunities, improve customer service and loyalty, and drive sales. The team leader also supports service standards, acts as Leader on Duty when scheduled, ensures fitting room service and size availability, and develops customer-facing activations and selling efforts.

The role trains and supports associates, delivers product and GUIDE training, develops store champions and experts, maintains employee communications, and helps foster an inclusive and respectful workplace. It also contributes to store financial and operational results, staffing and task planning, coaching, expense and payroll management, peak readiness, and health and safety. As assigned, responsibilities may include maintaining the cash office, stocking and organizing the service hub, and overseeing cashier execution.

Requirements

• Associate degree or equivalent.
• At least 2 years of retail experience with a relevant retailer.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Knowledge of systems including POS, Word, and Excel, and comfort with social media platforms.
• Ability to build strong partnerships and collaborate to achieve goals.
• Ability to inspire and motivate others and maintain enthusiasm and a positive attitude.
• Demonstrated ability to foster an inclusive work environment and customer experience.
• Ability to collaborate in a retail environment and serve customers and teams from a variety of backgrounds.
• Demonstrated interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Nice To Haves

• Mobility and willingness to relocate.

Responsibilities

• Plan, map, and execute floor sets by translating Trail Guide and floor-set materials into compelling merchandise presentations.
• Analyze business reports and use business acumen to make decisions that drive sales.
• Complete and support visual displays, window execution, marketing signage, promotions, markdowns, and merchandise recovery.
• Work with the Operations Productivity team to plan and efficiently process floor sets and replenishment.
• Model and foster a customer-first service environment, seeking to convert customers and build sales and brand loyalty.
• Act as Leader on Duty as scheduled to drive conversion and sales.
• Use Qualtrics, variance reporting, merchandise-group sales, and other business reports to analyze trends, identify opportunities, and develop actions that enhance customer loyalty and service metrics.
• Execute recognition programs, including Living the Legend efforts and in-store contests.
• Review upcoming business events, holidays, promotional weekends, and market trends; develop activations and selling efforts to improve sales results.
• Maintain a full sales floor with all sizes represented through regular size audits, and ensure high-quality fitting room service.
• Support and train associates by communicating standards, processes, company policies, and procedures.
• Deliver GUIDE training for new hires and ongoing GUIDE training for year-round team members; ensure assessments are completed.
• Support, direct, and develop store champions (buddies) and product experts.
• Facilitate new-hire product training and plan and deliver seasonal product training materials.
• Maintain employee-facing communications, including break-room messaging and communication boards, and ensure start-up meetings take place with compelling content.
• Model inclusive and fair hiring practices and foster respectful communication and collaboration across differences.
• Contribute to financial measures and area-specific metrics.
• Serve as a key holder and potential store opener or closer as required.
• Prepare and communicate daily task responsibilities, support team development, and recommend staffing or schedule adjustments to meet work requirements.
• Address day-to-day employee issues and conflicts within defined parameters and company policies, and provide in-the-moment input, feedback, and coaching; refer performance concerns to store management.
• Contribute to peak planning, preparation, and readiness.
• Manage expenses and resources in accordance with budget guidelines, with a focus on payroll.
• Follow health and safety policies, report unsafe conditions or at-risk behaviors, and work safely; leaders are also expected to model safe behaviors and evaluate and reduce risk.
• As assigned, maintain the cash office according to policy, including proper signatures, accurate reconciliation, and organization.
• As assigned, keep the service hub stocked, uncluttered, and operating effectively.
• As assigned, ensure effective and efficient cashier execution with a focus on service delivery.

Benefits

• Benefits package with programs and perks designed to support health and financial goals.
• Programs and support intended to promote work-life balance and time to recharge outdoors.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree