Area Manager (In Training)

Universal Store; Newcastle City Council; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discounts

Ongoing training & leadership pathways

Wellbeing initiatives

Workplace where your ideas matter

Job summary

Universal Store in Australia seeks an Area Sales Manager in Training to support our Central Coast stores. You will work with an Area Sales Manager and Regional Manager to develop multi-site leadership, coach high-performing teams, drive sales results and deliver operational excellence across the region.

The role is built on extensive store-management experience, offering a structured development pathway toward an Area Sales Manager position.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience as a Store Manager, or 2+ years as a Cluster Manager within a high-volume retail environment.
• Demonstrated ability to drive sales results and coach teams to success.
• Ability to travel throughout Victoria as required.

Responsibilities

• Support the Area Sales Manager in driving sales performance and achieving regional targets.
• Partner with Store Managers to enhance team performance, customer experience and operational standards.
• Assist in coaching, mentoring and developing future leaders across the region.
• Monitor store KPIs and identify opportunities to improve sales and productivity.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and retention initiatives.
• Conduct store visits to ensure visual merchandising, presentation and operational excellence standards are achieved.
• Assist with workforce planning and scheduling to support trade periods and key business initiatives.
• Contribute to building a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture.
• Develop a strong understanding of retail financials, budgeting and performance reporting.
• Step into leadership responsibilities as required across the region.

Skills

Leadership

Sales coaching

Strategic planning

Communication

Retail operations

Job description

From our humble beginnings as a suburban unisex clothing store in 1999, we've grown to more than 100 stores nationally and now deliver the latest in apparel to customers around the world through our thriving online store. Our team carefully curates a mix of local and international labels, working collaboratively to develop exclusive styles and collections that give our customers head-to-toe outfitting options for every occasion.

Today, we're proud to be recognised as one of Australia's leading youth-fashion retailers. We've built and grown brands such as Neovision, Common Need, Luck & Trouble, and Worship, and we continue to partner with global favourites including Lee, Wrangler, AS Colour, Calvin Klein, Stussy and Abrand. As our business has expanded, we've welcomed the Perfect Stranger and Thrills Co brands into our portfolio, allowing us to offer an even broader range of fits, styles and pieces that reflect the diversity of our customer base.

The Role

We are looking for a driven and inspiring Area Sales Manager in Training to support our stores across the Central Coast region of NSW.

This is the perfect opportunity for an experienced Store Manager ready to take the next step into multi-site leadership. Working alongside an experienced Area Sales Manager and Regional Manager, you'll develop the skills to lead multiple locations, coach high-performing teams, drive sales results, and deliver operational excellence across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Area Sales Manager in driving sales performance and achieving regional targets
• Partner with Store Managers to enhance team performance, customer experience and operational standards
• Assist in coaching, mentoring and developing future leaders across the region
• Monitor store KPIs and identify opportunities to improve sales and productivity
• Support recruitment, onboarding and retention initiatives
• Conduct store visits to ensure visual merchandising, presentation and operational excellence standards are achieved
• Assist with workforce planning and scheduling to support trade periods and key business initiatives
• Contribute to building a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture
• Develop a strong understanding of retail financials, budgeting and performance reporting
• Step into leadership responsibilities as required across the region

Skills & Experience

• 5+ years' experience as a Store Manager, or 2+ years as a Cluster Manager within a high-volume retail environment
• Demonstrated ability to drive sales results and coach teams to success
• Strong leadership potential with a genuine desire to progress into a multi-site management role
• Commercially minded with an interest in retail financials and performance metrics
• Excellent organisational, planning and time management skills
• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities
• Passion for fashion retail and delivering exceptional customer experiences
• Ability to travel throughout Victoria as required

What We Offer

• Structured development pathway towards an Area Sales Manager position
• Staff discounts across our brand
• Ongoing training, development and leadership pathways
• Wellbeing initiatives and team engagement activities
• A workplace where your ideas and contributions truly matter

Our Values

• Care for Everyone
• Here to Help
• Make it Work
• Better than Good
• Contribute