Aerie - Merchandising Team Leader (Assistant Manager)

American Eagle Outfitters Inc.; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40% off product year-round

Opportunities for career advancement

Participation in store contests

Job summary

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. is seeking a full-time Merchandising Team Leader in Kelowna, Canada. You will be responsible for executing merchandising strategies and leading your team to meet sales goals while ensuring compliance with brand standards.

Your role includes motivating associates, optimizing store operations, and fostering a customer-centric environment. A background in retail management and strong leadership skills are required.

Benefits include employee discounts and opportunities for career advancement.

Qualifications

• Retail management experience is required.
• Ability to lead and develop teams effectively.
• Strong attention to detail and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive sales by maximizing productivity and guest loyalty.
• Ensure store merchandising aligns with AEO Brand Standards.
• Recruit, hire, and develop team members.
• Provide real-time coaching and feedback to associates.
• Maintain operational standards and safety.

Skills

Retail management experience

Team leadership

Attention to detail

Multi-tasking abilities

Business acumen

Job description

Your Role

As the full‑time Merchandising Team Leader, you are the Store Team Leader's "go‑to" for developing and executing the merchandising strategy. You train and coach your team to deliver AEO brand visual standards, lead floor set execution, and maintain guest‑ready replenishment while embodying the company's values and authenticity.

Your Responsibilities

• You have a passion for driving sales: As a key LOD (Leader on Duty), you are an expert at driving sales by maximizing Fitting Room and Salesfloor productivity and building guest loyalty through a best-in-class guest experience. You contribute to the overall financial success of the store by analyzing reporting and daily trends to make strategic business decisions. You are the Store Team Leader's right hand in developing short and long‑term business plans to drive key KPIs.
• You are a merchandising innovator: You coach your team to deliver an outstanding guest experience by ensuring your store is always representative of AEO Brand Standards. You ensure your store stays in tip‑top shape by #leading day‑to‑day merchandising, sell‑through adjustments and replenishment. You have a keen eye for merchandising opportunities and are always ready with a game plan to take action!
• You are a people leader: You are all about motivating and inspiring your team through AEO's core values. You are a role‑model leader and you always hold your team accountable to rocking AEO's customer service standards, especially on the Salesfloor and in the Fitting Room.
• You have an eye for talent and a love of training: You make it a top priority to recruit and hire strong talent to ensure the store is always staffed to meet business needs. You take pride in training and developing your team to ensure they continue to provide outstanding service to the best of their abilities.
• You know that teamwork makes the dream work: You know that building a great team requires you to consistently provide ongoing performance feedback through real‑time coaching. You make team touchbases, development plans, and performance reviews a priority and you drive associate engagement by celebrating your team's outstanding performance - #winning!
• You are an operational innovator: You are a natural at executing and innovating daily operational procedures, you support the team in maintaining visual standards throughout every zone in the store, and most importantly, you ensure the Fitting Rooms are always guest‑ready and rocking AEO Brand Standards.
• Integrity is your middle name: You ensure store safety standards are maintained, you are committed to Asset Protection standards, you always adhere to AEO's policies and procedures, and you do the right thing - always.

Qualifications

• You love AE and Aerie products!
• You've led teams in a retail management role previously - #practicemakesperfect!
• You can multi-task and have attention to detail; priority-setting and time management are your strong suits.
• You know how to lead and develop teams and have a general understanding of employment law.
• Business acumen? You've got it!
• You have flexible availability - you're available to work when the guest shops!

Benefits

• They work with REAL people - there's nothing like your #AEOFamily.
• They're given opportunities for development, the chance to learn new skills, and are offered great potential for career advancement.
• They receive 40% off product at both AE & Aerie year‑round (plus additional seasonal discounts with new Floorsets!)
• They participate in store contests for the chance to win FREE merchandise and other exclusive prizes.

About Us

Built on a platform of power, positivity and no photo retouching - inspiring people to love their real selves. Aerie is a fast-growing lifestyle brand offering intimates, apparel, activewear, and swim collections. With the #AerieREAL™ movement, we celebrate our community by advocating for body positivity and the empowerment of all women. As part of our Real Good promise, we create swimsuits, bras, and underwear with materials made from recycled polyester, recycled nylon fabric or sustainably sourced cotton.

AEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all federal and provincial equal employment opportunity and human rights laws. AEO prohibits discrimination against associates and applicants for employment because of the individual's race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability, a conviction for which a pardon has been granted or any other ground protected by applicable human rights legislation. This applies to all AEO activities, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, assignment, training, promotion, performance evaluation, discipline and discharge. AEO also provides reasonable accommodation of religion and disability in accordance with applicable law.