Thrift Store Manager - San Marcos

Austin Pets Alive•Austin, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is a leading nonprofit in the no-kill movement, rescuing and adopting out approximately 10,000 homeless dogs and cats annually. APA! Thrift stores sell quality used items to fund lifesaving animal welfare programs. This role will establish and lead a new thrift store location in Hays County, build a local team, enhance customer experience, and convert community support into resources for animal welfare. The Thrift Store Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of an individual APA! Thrift store, leading on-site volunteer and staff teams to maximize profits and impact. This is a full-time, exempt position averaging 40 hours per week, reporting to the Director of Retail Operations. The role oversees the strategic direction, growth, and daily operations of APA!’s Thrift Store Program, ensuring alignment with APA!’s mission to increase live release rates across Texas. The manager will manage daily workflows, supervise staff, set mission-aligned goals, use data to guide decisions, and foster a collaborative, volunteer-powered culture. This position requires high responsiveness and Manager on Duty (MOD) availability, with flexibility for weekend or shift work. The manager is expected to be present, solutions-oriented, and ready to support the team with real-time problem-solving. A core part of this role involves creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and engagement as part of the daily workflow.

Requirements

Love of animals and commitment to the No Kill cause is essential.
3+ years of retail management experience preferred with a proven track record of success.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and prioritize workload to manage multiple projects with strict deadlines.
Must be a collaborative team player who can both nurture and develop staff and volunteers.
Proven leadership ability, as well as strength in building internal partnerships.
Strong personnel management and retail operations knowledge, including inventory control, loss prevention, retail systems, merchandising, customer service, and store budget preparation.
Energetic, self-motivated self-starter, flexible and adaptable with a sense of humor.
Able to multitask and work independently within a small, hands-on work environment.
Computer proficiency in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint (G Suite is a plus).
Willing and committed to working well with volunteers and staff in all roles.
Committed to embodying APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart.
Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations.
Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers—helping all individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!’s mission.
Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support; dedicated to working well with volunteers across all roles.
Comfortable working cross-functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members.
Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials.
Self-starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively.
Excellent interpersonal skills; maintains a calm and professional presence in all situations.
Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality.
Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed.
Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience.
Must be able to routinely stack, lift and sort boxes and individual donations which may be up to or over 50 lbs.
Must be able to access merchandise, tools and other necessary items in places that may be out of reach from a standing or sitting position.
Some stores have stairs-only access to areas that will be required for this position to work in on a daily basis.
Can be on the sales floor providing active service for an entire 8 or 10-hour shift.
All new store managers will be required to go through a 5-week training program.
Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment.

Nice To Haves

G Suite proficiency.

Responsibilities

Manage staff and volunteers by providing ongoing support through effective communication, clear expectations, and mentorship, ensuring policies and procedures are followed, revenue targets are met, and store aesthetics align with brand standards.
Ensure staff and volunteers receive adequate and updated training.
Provide ongoing appreciation to staff and volunteers to maintain high engagement.
Assist with creating, implementing, and updating policies and procedures and ensure dissemination and implementation.
Assist with sourcing and coordination of in-store events to drive new customers.
Oversee compliance of staff with all established agency policies and procedures.
Work with Human Resources to facilitate staff recruitment, selection, and onboarding.
Maintain a neat, clean, and organized store environment.
Responsible for the overall productivity results in the store.
Drive operational efficiencies to minimize risk and protect store assets.
Maintain safe working conditions for staff, volunteers, contractors, vendors, and customers.
Create and administer work schedules to ensure proper workforce coverage.
Provide regular reports to the Director of Retail Operations.
Collaborate across other APA! department leaders to optimize resources and initiatives.
Assist with marketing initiatives, including building and maintaining relationships with local businesses for cross-promotion.
Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about volunteer programs and manage volunteers interested in the department.
Foster and model a volunteer-powered culture, ensuring staff partner with volunteers to empower them to lead and grow.
Serve as a facilitator and coach to staff and volunteers, ensuring work is shared and volunteers are supported in daily tasks.
Ensure active recruitment, onboarding, and engagement of volunteers using engagement tools and resources.
Support volunteer retention by matching volunteers to appropriate tasks, offering guidance, and providing regular check-ins and staff mentorship.
Identify strong volunteers for deeper roles and seek out customer to volunteer conversion opportunities.
Recognize volunteer contributions through consistent appreciation and shoutouts.
Provide clear expectations, hands-on training, and in-the-moment coaching to set volunteers up for success.
Perform other duties as assigned by manager.